Ethnic Studies B.A.

View information for the Department of Ethnic Studies .

View the degree program Roadmaps , which provide recommended advising maps to complete the degree program. Please consult your academic advisor as you develop your academic plan.

Ethnic Studies at Stanislaus State is a transdisciplinary department that applies critical, intersectional, and decolonial approaches to the study of racism, racialization, and sovereignty. The department centers the histories, contemporary experiences, and cultural expressions of Native American/Indigenous peoples, Black/African Americans, Chicano/a/xs-Latino/a/xs, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders within a regional, national, and/or global context. Integrating scholarship, art, and community engagement, the Ethnic Studies curriculum and pedagogy equip students with the analytical skills to examine racial privilege and oppression in relation to intersecting axes of power, including class, gender, sexuality, and legal status.

The major provides students with a critical understanding of complex topics, such as colonialism, imperialism, structural inequities, social movements, and liberation, fostering both personal and collective transformation. A degree in Ethnic Studies prepares students for careers in education, business, law, healthcare, social services, community organizations, and the arts. Committed to teaching and mentoring diverse students, Ethnic Studies faculty produce innovative and creative scholarship while actively working toward social change.

Program Learning Outcomes

Examine the field of Ethnic Studies, including foundational principles, key concepts, theories, pedagogies, and methodologies.
Describe the histories, experiences, and cultural expressions of marginalized racial and ethnic groups in the United States from regional, national, and/or global perspectives.
Engage and participate in community activities that highlight the knowledge, culture, and/or contributions of marginalized populations.
Create original projects that advance social awareness and equity through intellectual inquiry, creative expression, and/or collaborative approaches.

Requirements

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

A student must comply with all University regulations and satisfy the following requirements:

Units and Residency (minimum of 120 units: 40 units of upper division coursework and 30 semester units at Stanislaus State. At least 24 of these 30 units must be earned in upper-division courses, at least 12 must be in the major, and at least 9 must be applicable to General Education-Breadth requirements)
Baccalaureate Degree Requirements (minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better)
General Education Program (minimum of 43 units)
Upper Division Writing Proficiency (minimum of 3 units)
- Writing Proficiency (WP) Course (may double count in the major)
United States Constitution and California State and Local Government (minimum of 3 units)
Sociocultural Inquiry Requirement (minimum of 3 units) (may double count with General Education requirements or in the major)
Skills for Student Success (minimum of 1 unit) and Lifelong Learning (minimum of 1 unit)

Subsequently, all students must submit an application for graduation and receive approval from the major advisor and department chair. For more information see the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements .

2. Prerequisites

(6 units)

ETHS 2050 - Introduction to Ethnic Studies 3 unit(s)
Plus choose ONE of the following:
ETHS 2000 - Introduction to Black/African American Studies 3 unit(s)
ETHS 2100 - Introduction to Chicanx and Latinx Studies 3 unit(s)
ETHS 2200 - Introduction to Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies 3 unit(s)
ETHS 2300 - Introduction to Native American/Indigenous Studies 3 unit(s)
ETHS 2400 - Contemporary Ethnic Studies 3 unit(s)

The Major

(24 units)

Core Courses

(6 units)

ETHS 4360 - Theories and Concepts in Ethnic Studies 3 unit(s)
Plus choose ONE of the following:
ETHS 3225 - Black/African American Experiences 3 unit(s)
ETHS 3275 - Chicanx and Latinx Experiences 3 unit(s)
ETHS 3350 - Asian American and Pacific Islander Experiences 3 unit(s)
ETHS 3400 - Native American/Indigenous Experiences 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4200 - Racial and Ethnic Experiences 3 unit(s)

Methodology

(6 units)

Choose TWO of the following:

ETHS 3115 - Chicanx/Latinx Cultural Production 3 unit(s)
ETHS 3125 - Fandango Methodologies of Son Jarocho 3 unit(s)
ETHS 3700 - Decolonial Spiritualities and Healing Practices 3 unit(s)
ETHS 3900 - Writing, Race, and Power (WP) 3 unit(s)
ETHS 3950 - Producing Media for Social Change 4 unit(s)
ETHS 4340 - Ethnic Studies Research Methods (WP) 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4560 - Chicano/a/x - Latino/a/x Theatre 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4920 - Community Event Practicum 1-3 unit(s)
ETHS 4940 - Field Work in Ethnic Studies 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4970 - Community Organizing and Activism 3 unit(s)

Electives to complete the major:

(12 units)

Choose FOUR of the following:

ETHS 3100 - Asian Americans in Media and Popular Culture 3 unit(s)
ETHS 3110 - Chicano/a/x-Latino/a/x Film 3 unit(s)
ETHS 3250 - Black/African American Film 3 unit(s)
ETHS 3300 - Hmong Americans and Other Refugee Populations 3 unit(s)
ETHS 3600 - Indigenous Perspectives in Theatre 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4000 - Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x Families 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4025 - Women of Color Feminisms 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4040 - Education for Social Justice 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4050 - Latinx Communities 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4250 - California Racial and Ethnic Awareness 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4350 - Racial Inequities in Education 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4430 - Contemporary U.S. Immigration 3 unit(s)
ETHS 4950 - Selected Topics Ethnic Studies 1-5 unit(s)
ETHS 4980 - Individual Study 1-4 unit(s)