Ethnic Studies Concentration

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The Ethnic Studies Concentration provides students with an understanding of the forces that have made African Americans, Native Americans, and Latinos integral, and yet distinct, groups in American society. This interdisciplinary course of study, offered by departments in the humanities and social sciences, introduces analytical skills that are required to understand the cultural, economic and political factors, both historical and modern, that have shaped these ethnic groups.

The inclusion of theories of ethnicity and race assists students in developing the critical tools necessary to understand and evaluate issues of democracy and cultural pluralism in a complex country and world. The concentration also encourages comparative study of ethnicity, thus emphasizing that the study of ethnic identity and relations is a part of understanding the human experience.

Requirements:

1. Completion of six courses to include:

a. Ethnic Relations Course

ANT 205 - Ethnic Relations Credits: 1
SOC 205 - Racial And Ethnic Relations Credits: 1

b. Track Selection

Three courses from one track and one course from a second track. At least two of these four courses must be at the 300 level or higher. An approved independent study course may substitute for one of these four courses.

Africana Track

ANT 222 - African Civilizations Credits: 1
ANT 232 - Contemporary Ghanaian Society And Culture Credits: 1
ENG 282 - African American Literature Credits: 1
ENG 383 - Caribbean Literature Credits: 1
FRE 361 - Francophone Africa And The Caribbean Credits: 1
HIS 302 - African American History To 1877 Credits: 1
HIS 303 - African American History Since 1877 Credits: 1
HIS 350 - African American Intellectual History Credits: 1
HIS 357 - The Civil Rights Movement In The United States Credits: 1
HIS 440 - Slavery In The Americas Credits: 1
HIS 451 - African American Cultural History Credits: 1
POL 240 - Politics Of Africa Credits: 1
PSY 250 - African American Psychology Credits: 1
REL 261 - African American Religious Traditions Credits: 1

Native American Track

ANT 251 - Mesoamerican Civilizations Credits: 1
ANT 253 - Contemporary Peoples Of Mesoamerica Credits: 1
ANT 354 - Art And Writing Of The Ancient Maya Credits: 1
ANT 356 - Art, Myth, And History Of Ancient Central Mexico Credits: 1
ENG 384 - Native American Literature Credits: 1
HIS 441 - Natives And Newcomers In Early America Credits: 1

Latin American Track

HIS 161 - Latin America
HIS 361 - Greater Mexico Since 1810
POL 345 - Contemporary U.S.-Latin American Relations
POL 475 - Politics of the Andes

MUS 241 - Music Of Latin America Credits: 1
POL 233 - Politics Of The Americas Credits: 1
SPA 244 - U.S. Latino Literature In English Credits: 1
SPA 374 - Caribbean Peoples, Ideas, And Arts Credits: 1
SPA 375 - Latin American Women Writers Credits: 1

c. Choose one elective from the following

One course from among the following electives that emphasizes comparative ethnic studies or a course from one of the above tracks provided that no more than three courses are chosen from a single track). An approved independent study course may substitute for this requirement.

Electives

SOC 245 - The Family in Comparative Perspective

ANT 208 - Early Cities And States Credits: 1
ANT 257 - The African Continuum Credits: 1
ANT 350 - Art, Society And Culture Credits: 1
ENG 281 - Literature Of The American South Credits: 1
ENG 284 - Ethnic American Literatures Credits: 1
HIS 340 - Colonial America Credits: 1
HIS 343 - The Old South Credits: 1
HIS 344 - The South Since 1865 Credits: 1
MUS 141 - World Musics Credits: 1
REL 261 - African American Religious Traditions Credits: 1

d. Concentration Satisfaction

Of the six courses applied to the concentration no more than three may also satisfy the student’s academic major. The six courses must also represent no fewer than three academic disciplines.

2. An approved essay

An approved essay based on a first-hand experience directly related to the student’s special focus—Africana, Native American, or Latino. Topics may be related to participation in an internship, field research, or international study. The essay is due to the faculty liaison no later than the fifth week of classes in the semester following the completion of the first-hand experience. Standards for the paper are established by the faculty liaison.

3. A grade of “C” or higher is required in all courses applied toward the concentration.

4. Only one course in any track can be taken pass/fail, and this depends on GPA.

Application Procedure:

The Ethnic Studies Concentration is administered by the Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee. The faculty liaison is Dr. Brenda A. Flanagan. Students shall submit a written proposal to the Ethnic Studies faculty liaison by the last day of the fall semester of the junior year. The proposal must specify the courses to be used to satisfy the concentration requirements. Certification of completion of all the requirements for the concentration is made by the Registrar upon the recommendation of the Ethnic Studies faculty liaison.