Ethnic Studies
[major | minor | graduate program | courses | faculty ]
Social Science Building, Room 201
http://www.ethnicstudies.ucsd.edu
Ethnic studies is the study of the social, cultural, and historical forces that have shaped the development of America’s diverse ethnic peoples over the last five hundred years and that continue to shape our future. Focusing on immigration, slavery, and confinement, those three social processes that combined to create in the United States a nation of nations, ethnic studies intensively examines the histories, languages, and cultures of America’s racial and ethnic minority groups in and of themselves, in their relationships to one another, and particularly, in structural contexts of power.
The curriculum of the Department of Ethnic Studies is designed (1) to study intensively the particular histories of different ethnic and racial groups in the United States, especially intragroup stratification; (2) to draw larger theoretical lessons from comparisons among these groups; (3) to articulate general principles that shape racial and ethnic relations both currently and historically; and (4) to explore how ethnic identity is constructed and reconstructed over time both internally and externally.
A degree in ethnic studies offers training of special interest to those considering admission to graduate or professional schools and careers in education, law, medicine, public health, social work, journalism, business, city planning, politics, psychology, international relations, or creative writing. A major in ethnic studies is designed to impart fundamental skills in critical thinking, comparative analysis, social theory and research analysis, and written expression. These skills will give students the opportunity to satisfy the increasingly rigorous expectations of graduate admissions committees and prospective employers for a broad liberal arts perspective.
The Major
To receive a BA degree with a major in ethnic studies, students must meet the following requirements:
- A three-quarter course lower-division sequence (Ethnic Studies 1A-B-C). Ideally this sequence should be taken during the sophomore year as an intensive introduction to the history and theoretical dimensions of ethnic diversity in the United States. Ethnic Studies 1A-B-C, Introduction to Ethnic Studies, will consist of the following three courses: Population Histories of the United States, Immigration and the Transformation of American Life, Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States.
- A minimum of twelve four-unit upper-division courses in the Department of Ethnic Studies must be completed from the following five categories:
- One four-unit upper-division course that intensively explores the theory and comparative methods of ethnic studies (Ethnic Studies 100, Theories and Methods of Ethnic Studies). All ethnic studies majors should complete this course before proceeding with the other requirements listed below.
- Four upper-division ethnic studies history and social science courses
from those listed below
ETHN 102. Science and Technology in Society: Race/Gender/Class
ETHN 103. Environmental Racism
ETHN 104. Race, Space, and Segregation
ETHN 105. Ethnic Diversity and the City
ETHN 106. Life, Death, and the Human
ETHN 107. Fieldwork in Racial and Ethnic Communities
ETHN 108. Race, Culture, and Social Change
ETHN 109. Race and Social Movements
ETHN 112A. History of Native Americans in the United States I
ETHN 112B. History of Native Americans in the United States II
ETHN 113. Decolonizing Education
ETHN 114A. Representing Native America
ETHN 115. Monsters, Orphans, and Robots
ETHN 116. The United States-Mexico Border in Comparative Perspective
ETHN 117. Organic Social Movements
ETHN 118. Contemporary Immigration Issues
ETHN 119. Race in the Americas
ETHN 120. Race and Performance: The Politics of Popular Culture
ETHN 121. Contemporary Asian American History
ETHN 123. Asian American Politics
ETHN 125. Asian American History
ETHN 126. Comparative Filipino- and Vietnamese-American Identities and Communities
ETHN 127. Sexuality and Nation
ETHN 129. Asian and Latina Immigrant Workers in the Global Economy
ETHN 130. Social and Economic History of the Southwest I
ETHN 131. Social and Economic History of the Southwest II
ETHN 134. Immigration and Ethnicity in Modern American Society
ETHN 137. Latina Issues and Cultural Production
ETHN 143. Chicana/o Film and Media Studies
ETHN 149. African American History in the Twentieth Century
ETHN 151. Ethnic Politics in America
ETHN 152. Law and Civil Rights
ETHN 155. US Militarism
ETHN 156. Colonial Institutions and the Beginnings of the Modern World
ETHN 159. Topics in African American History
ETHN 165. Sex and Gender in African American Communities
ETHN 166. Arab/Muslim American Identity and Culture
ETHN 167. African American History in War and Peace: 1917 to the Present
ETHN 169. Origins of the Atlantic World, c. 1450–1650
ETHN 170. Slavery and the Atlantic World
ETHN 171. African American Humor
ETHN 183. Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Class
ETHN 188. African Americans, Religion, and the City
*ETHN 197. Fieldwork in Racial and Ethnic Communities
*ETHN 198. Directed Group Studies
*ETHN 199. Supervised Independent Study and Research
*Only two will be counted in fulfillment of this requirement.
Colloquia
ETHN 180. Topics in Mexican American History
ETHN 184. Black Intellectuals in the Twentieth Century
ETHN 189. Special Topics in Ethnic Studies (students may repeat this course three times for credit toward major requirements)
- At least three upper-division courses that focus on language, ethnicity,
and institutional discourses
ETHN 102. Science and Technology in Society: Race/Gender/Class
ETHN 106. Life, Death, and the Human
ETHN 113. Decolonizing Education
ETHN 114A. Representing Native America
ETHN 115. Monsters, Orphans, and Robots
ETHN 120. Race and Performance: The Politics of Popular Culture
ETHN 137. Latina Issues and Cultural Production
ETHN 140. Language and American Ethnicity
ETHN 142. Medicine, Race, and the Global Politics of Inequality
ETHN 143. Chicana/o Film and Media Studies
ETHN 145. Spanish Language in the United States
ETHN 155. US Militarism
ETHN 156. Colonial Institutions and the Beginnings of the Modern World
ETHN 164. African Americans and the Mass Media
ETHN 166. Arab/Muslim American Identity and Culture
ETHN 171. African American Humor
ETHN 185. Discourse, Power, and Inequality
ETHN 186. The Ethnic Press in the United States
Students may petition to count one course on language, ethnicity, and institutional discourses offered by other departments. In addition, one course in foreign language at the upper-division level may be counted in partial fulfillment of this requirement, with the consent of the department. Students must seek faculty advice on which courses would best satisfy the requirement and yield the most rigorous training. - At least three upper-division ethnic studies courses on the literature
and cultural expressions of American racial and ethnic minorities
ETHN 101. Ethnic Images in Film
ETHN 102. Science and Technology in Society: Race/Gender/Class
ETHN 106. Life, Death, and the Human
ETHN 110. Cultural World Views of Native Americans
ETHN 111. Native American Literature
ETHN 113. Decolonizing Education
ETHN 114A. Representing Native America
ETHN 115. Monsters, Orphans, and Robots
ETHN 120. Race and Performance: The Politics of Popular Culture
ETHN 122. Asian American Culture and Identity
ETHN 123. Asian American Politics
ETHN 124. Asian American Literature
ETHN 126. Comparative Filipino and Vietnamese American Identities and Communities
ETHN 128. Hip Hop: The Politics of Culture
ETHN 132. Chicano Dramatic Literature
ETHN 133. Hispanic American Dramatic Literature
ETHN 135A. Early Latino/a-Chicano/a Cultural Production: 1848 to 1960
ETHN 135B. Contemporary Latino/a-Chicano/a Cultural Production: 1960 to Present
ETHN 137. Latina Issues and Cultural Production
ETHN 138. Chicano/a-Latino/a Poetry
ETHN 139. Chicano Literature in English
ETHN 143. Chicana/o Film and Media Studies
ETHN 146A. Theatrical Ensemble
ETHN 148. Latino/a and Chicano/a Literature
ETHN 155. US Militarism
ETHN 156. Colonial Institutions and the Beginnings of the Modern World
ETHN 166. Arab/Muslim American Identity and Culture
ETHN 168. Comparative Ethnic Literature
ETHN 171. African American Humor
ETHN 172. Afro-American Prose
ETHN 174. Themes in Afro-American Literature
ETHN 175. Literature of the Harlem Renaissance
ETHN 176. Black Music/Black Texts: Communication and Cultural Expression
ETHN 178. Blues: An Oral Tradition
ETHN 179A. Jazz Roots and Early Development (1900–1943)
ETHN 179B. Jazz Since 1946: Freedom and Form
- One four-unit field methods course (Ethnic Studies 190, Research Methods: Studying Ethnic and Racial Communities).
- Since the goal of the Department of Ethnic Studies is to intensively study both the particular histories of various ethnic and racial groups in the United States and to draw larger theoretical lessons from comparisons among and between groups, students may not fulfill requirements 2B and 2D by focusing all of the seven required courses on only one ethnic or racial group.
- Ethnic studies majors, including students who are double majors, may petition up to four upper-division courses to fulfill major requirements as long as each of the following three conditions is met for each course: (1) the course is taken from another UC San Diego department, taken from a UC San Diego approved study abroad program, or taken at another UC campus; (2) the course work is appropriate to the ethnic studies major; and (3) the student completes at least one course offered by the UC San Diego ethnic studies department in each of the five upper-division categories.
- To satisfy the requirements for the major, lower- and upper-division courses must be completed with a P, C–, or better grade.
- Except for independent study course electives (ETHN 197, 198, or 199) which are always taken with a Pass/Not Pass grade option, students majoring in ethnic studies may take up to two courses, either lower or upper division, with a Pass/Not Pass option.
The Honors Program
Consistent with other research opportunities offered to undergraduates on the UC San Diego campus, the department offers the Honors Program to ethnic studies majors in their senior or junior year the opportunity to conduct original research using interdisciplinary methodologies in the comparative study of race and ethnicity. To enroll in the Honors Program, an undergraduate must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in ethnic studies classes counted toward the major. Students with a GPA lower than 3.5 in the major may be admitted by exception if they show promise of success in research.
The Honors Program will be an extension of current departmental offerings using existing faculty resources. Ethnic studies and affiliated faculty will choose to advise students who successfully complete ETHN 191A and continue in the Honors Program based on related research interests. The student will enroll in ETHN 191B and ETHN 191C and work with the appropriate faculty adviser. Students will present their research projects at the annual Ethnic Studies Honors Symposium in June. Students who complete the sequence ETHN 191A, ETHN 191B, and ETHN 191C will receive one credit toward the B (Social Studies/Humanities) requirements for the ethnic studies major. Students who complete their research project with a grade of B or better and maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA in the ethnic studies major will receive Distinction in the major upon graduation from UC San Diego. Ethnic Studies 191A, 191B, and 191C must be taken for letter grade only.
191A. Undergraduate Research in Ethnic Studies (4)
This course is designed to help students conduct their own research rather than merely read the research of others. The course will introduce students to research paradigms in ethnic studies, familiarize them with finding aids and other library resources, and involve them in the design of research plans.
191B. Honors Research in Ethnic Studies (4)
This course is a continuation of Ethnic Studies 191A, Undergraduate Research in Ethnic Studies. Students who have completed ETHN 191A and selected a faculty research adviser may enroll in this course. During the quarter the research for the honors project will be completed under the faculty adviser’s supervision. Faculty advisers will meet weekly with their honors students to oversee the progress made in carrying out the plan of research. Formerly ETHN 192. Prerequisites: upper-division standing, consent of instructor, and completion of 191A.
191C. Honors Research in Ethnic Studies (4)
This course is a continuation of Ethnic Studies 191B, Honors Research in Ethnic Studies. Students who have completed ETHN 191B and are continuing to work with a faculty research adviser may enroll in this course. During the quarter the written drafts and final honors paper will be completed under the faculty adviser’s supervision. The student will meet weekly with the faculty adviser in order to prepare drafts and the final version of the honors paper. Formerly ETHN 193. Prerequisites: ETHN 191A and ETHN 191B.
Education Abroad Program
Students are able to participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) or UC San Diego’s Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP) while still making progress toward completing their major. Students considering this option should discuss their plans with the undergraduate adviser prior to going abroad, and courses taken abroad must be approved by the department. Interested students should contact the Programs Abroad Office in the International Center.
The Minor
Students may minor in ethnic studies. Students wishing to minor in ethnic studies must satisfy the following requirements:
- Students must take two four-unit courses in the history and theoretical dimensions of ethnic diversity in the United States from the lower-division sequence (Ethnic Studies 1A-B-C); or students must take two four-unit upper-division courses in analytic and comparative study of ethnicity. Theories and Methods of Ethnic Studies (ETHN 100); and Research Methods, Studying Ethnic and Racial Communities (ETHN 190).
- Students must take five four-unit upper-division ethnic studies elective courses; at least two, but no more than three of the five elective courses must be selected from either the ethnic studies history and social studies courses (listed above in section 2B) or the ethnic studies literature and cultural expressions courses (listed above in section 2D). While language and ethnicity courses offered by the department (listed above in section 2C) may also be used to satisfy this requirement, foreign language and area studies courses from other departments may not. No more than two independent study courses (ETHN 197, 198, or 199) may be used to satisfy this requirement.
- To satisfy the requirements for the minor, lower- and upper-division courses must be completed with a grade of P, C–, or better.
- Except for independent study course electives (ETHN 197, 198, or 199) that are always taken with a Pass/Not Pass grade option, students minoring in ethnic studies may take one course, either lower or upper division, with a Pass/Not Pass grade option.
Students interested in the African American experience may consider the following courses:
ETHN 149. African American History in the Twentieth Century
ETHN 159. Topics in African American History
ETHN 164. African Americans and the Mass Media
ETHN 165. Sex and Gender in African American Communities
ETHN 167. African American History in War and Peace 1917 to the Present
ETHN 170A. Origins of the Atlantic World, c. 1450–1650
ETHN 170B. Slavery and the Atlantic World
ETHN 172. Afro-American Prose
ETHN 174. Themes in Afro-American Literature
ETHN 175. Literature of the Harlem Renaissance
ETHN 176. Black Music/Black Texts. Communication and Cultural Expression
ETHN 178. Blues: An Oral Tradition
ETHN 179A. Jazz Roots and Early Development (1900–1943)
ETHN 179B. Jazz Since 1946: Freedom and Form
ETHN 184. Black Intellectuals in the Twentieth Century
ETHN 188. African Americans, Religion, and the City
Students interested in the Latino/a Chicano/a experience may consider the following courses:
ETHN 116. The United States-Mexico Border in Comparative Perspective
ETHN 130. Social and Economic History of the Southwest I
ETHN 131. Social and Economic History of the Southwest II
ETHN 132. Chicano Dramatic Literature
ETHN 133. Hispanic American Dramatic Literature
ETHN 135A. Early Latino/a-Chicano/a Cultural Production: 1848 to 1960
ETHN 135B. Contemporary Latino/a-Chicano/a Cultural Production: 1960 to Present
ETHN 136. Topics in Chicano/a-Latino/a Cultures
ETHN 138. Chicano/a-Latino/a Poetry
ETHN 139. Chicano Literature in English
ETHN 145. Spanish Language in the United States
ETHN 148. Latino/a and Chicano/a Literature
ETHN 180. Topics in Mexican American History
Students interested in the Asian American experience may consider the following courses:
ETHN 20. Introduction to Asian American History
ETHN 120. Race and Performance: The Politics of Popular Culture
ETHN 121. Contemporary Asian American History
ETHN 122. Asian American Culture and Identity
ETHN 123. Asian American Politics
ETHN 124. Asian American Literature
ETHN 125. Asian American History
ETHN 126. Comparative Filipino- and Vietnamese-American Identities and Communities
Students interested in the Native American experience may consider the following courses:
ETHN 110. Cultural World Views of Native Americans
ETHN 111. Native American Literature
ETHN 112A. History of Native Americans in the United States I
ETHN 112B. History of Native Americans in the United States II