College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Department of Ethnic Studies
109 Morris Hall
Phone: 507-389-2798
Fax: 507-389-6377
Website: Ethnic Studies Department
Chair: Lois Posas
Wayne Allen, Kebba Darboe, Maricela DeMirjyn, Elden Lawrence, Hanh Huy Phan
The Department of Ethnic Studies (ES), an interdisciplinary program, is academically committed to promoting multicultural and ethnic knowledge, skills and values both within and outside the United States and to preparing our students for effective functioning across the culturally diverse and global community. A major in ethnic studies gives students exposure to and understanding of those historical, economic, social and political forces which have contoured the cross-cultural and ethnic experience in and outside the United States. This program prepares the students to cope with social injustice (e.g., racism, discrimination, social conflict) effectively and also aims to provide students with multicultural/ethnic knowledge, multicultural/ethnic values and skills (e.g., cultural competency skills and other professional skills) so that ES majors will be academically strong and competitive on the market. ES majors must take both ES core courses and skill-oriented or applied courses that will focus on one of the following areas-Governmental/Public Area, Business/Corporate Area, Community/Human Services Area, and Extended Program courses.
Students enrolling in 300-400 level courses must be admitted to the program. Admission to Major is granted by the department. Minimum University admission requirements are:-
Contact the department for application procedures.
One introductory course (Prerequisite to ES major)
(Instructor in the upper level course could waive this requirement, though ETHN 100 or 101 should be a prerequisite for upper-level courses in Ethnic Studies)
One Research Method/Skills Course:
One Critical Thinking/Theoretical Course:
Two of the following courses:
Three ES electives, two must be 4XX level courses from the suggested list below:
Choose five courses from:
(The courses in the category above are related to public and governmental settings. Students who focus on this category are strongly encouraged to minor in Political Science, Law Enforcement, or Urban Studies or in other social sciences.)
Choose five courses from:
(The courses in the category above are related to the business and corporate settings. Students who focus on this category are strongly encouraged to minor in marketing, human resource management, international business or in other business related areas.)
Choose five courses from:
(The courses in the category above are related to the local community and human services. Students who focus on this category are strongly encouraged to minor in gerontology, psychology, social work, counseling/education or in other community services related areas.)
Choose five courses from:
(The courses in the category above are related to the global community and human services. Students who focus on this category are strongly encouraged to minor in international relations or any foreign languages or in other world community services related areas.)
One computer skills course or quantitative/ statistical skills course (3)Four multicultural electives are to be taken within or outside Department of Ethnic Studies but subject to the approval of ES advisors.*
* [Example of multicultural electives outside the ES Department may include but are not limited to: the curricula of social/behavioral sciences, arts/humanities, education or other academic areas-e.g., Anthropology (ANTH 240: Language and culture), History (one Advanced African/African American History-HIST 437 or 477, or Asian History-HIST 434 or Latin American History-HIST 442), Geography (GEOG 103: Introductory Cultural Geography), Music (MUS 125 or 126: Pop Music USA, Jazz or R&B) Philosophy (PHIL 115: Race, Class and Gender; or PHIL 205: Culture, Identity and Diversity), Sociology (SOC 446: Race, Culture and Ethnicity), Theater (THEA 285 Theatre of Diversity) Women's Studies (WOST 220: Perspectives on Women and Change or WOST 251: Coming Age: Gender and Culture.) All these are just examples subject to the approval of ES advisors.]
Required Minor: Yes. Any.
Select 3 credits from the following:
ETHN 201W ETHN 202W ETHN 203W ETHN 204W
Select 9 credits from the following:
ETHN 401 ETHN 402 ETHN 410 ETHN 420 ETHN 430 ETHN 440 ETHN 450 ETHN 460 ETHN 470
Select 6 credits from the following:
ETHN 101 ETHN 150 ETHN 200 ETHN 220 ETHN 240 ETHN 295 ETHN 296 ETHN 300 ETHN 330 ETHN 400 ETHN 480 ETHN 481 ETHN 486 ETHN 490 ETHN 495 ETHN 496 ETHN 497 ETHN 498 ETHN 499
The mission of this minor is to offer students an opportunity to explore the connections between ethnic experiences and cultural contexts of ethnic groups, as well as assess the values, beliefs, and ideologies of varying perspectives. This joint minor will expose students to an interdisciplinary approach to understanding human culture and the contributions of Western and Non-Western cultures. All students will be encouraged to focus in-depth on culturally diverse issues in order to gain a broader perspective of their community, both locally and globally.
ETHN 100 or ETHN 101 (3 credits)
HUM 150, 151, 155 or 156 (4 credits)
Choose one:
Choose one (in addition to GE requirements above):
Choose one:
Choose one:
Three to four credits of 300-400 level courses with advisor approval in the areas of ART, ENG, HIST, MODL, MUS, PHIL, or THEA.
GPA Policy. 2.0 GPA.
P/N Grading Policy. No more than 1/4 of total undergraduate credits may be taken as P/N.
ETHN 100 (3) American Racial Minorities
A study of American racial/ethnic minorities, especially the histories of Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans. Their roles and contributions to American society will be emphasized.
F, S
GE-5, 7 CD-Core
ETHN 101 (3) Introduction to Multicultural & Ethnic Studies
This course introduces students to multicultural and ethnic knowledge and values in and outside the United States. Students are exposed to such issues as race, culture, ethnicity, dominance, immigration, stereotypes, discrimination, and intergroup relations through interdisciplinary approaches-anthropological, economic, historical, political, psychological and/or sociological.
F, S
GE-5, 7 CD-Core
ETHN 150 (3) Multi-Cultural/Ethnic Experience
Students will participate in field trips, activities, and guest discussions that will enable them to interact with people ethnically (race, religion, lifestyle, etc.) different from the students, to understand their perspectives and to appreciate their unique experiences and/or contributions to the U.S. pluralistic society. Students are expected to learn actively in and outside the classroom by experiencing events or people from diverse cultural groups.
F
GE-7 CD-Core
ETHN 200 (3) Interracial/Interethnic Dating/Marriage
This course deals with the history of interracial/interethnic and intergroup (sex, age, religion, etc.) dating and marriage in the U.S. It will explore dating patterns, mate selection theories and impacts on multi-racial children in the area of identity and adjustment.
Variable
GE-7 CD-Core
ETHN 201W (3) Perspectives on African Americans
This course will explore the historical, social, political, and cultural experience of African Americans. It will also examine the contributions of African Americans to the growth and development of the United States.
GE-1C, 5, 7 CD-Core
ETHN 202W (3) Perspectives on American Indians
This course is an examination of the historical and contemporary issues and forces affecting American Indian peoples.
GE-1C, 5, 7 CD-Core
ETHN 203W (3) Perspectives on Asian Americans
Introduction to the history and cultures of the major Asian American ethnic groups with a comparative approach to their similarities and differences.
GE-1C, 5, 7 CD-Core
ETHN 204W (3) Perspectives on Latinos/Hispanics
A survey of the history and present status of Hispanics/Latinos in the United States from 1848. Emphasis will be on culture, history, and socio-political patterns.
GE-1C, 5, 7 CD-Core
ETHN 220 (3) Civil Rights in the U.S.
This course will focus on the struggle for civil rights by diverse groups in the United States. Emphasis will be on how these struggles have impacted their communities and cultural pluralism in the U.S.
Variable
CD-Core
ETHN 240 (3) Rural Studies
Students will explore some of the major variables that impact the lives of rural populations. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the diversity in experiences and history of both national and international rural communities, as well as on understanding which public policies can maximize the success of rural environments.
Variable
ETHN 295 (1-4) Selected Topics
The course is offered according to student demand and instructor availability/expertise. A variety of topics related to ethnic and cultural areas will provide curriculum enrichment on an ongoing, but irregular basis.
Variable
ETHN 296 (1-3) Workshop
Courses will employ changing topics from year to year and will deal with cogent issues of current interest to ethnic and minority communities.
Variable
ETHN 299 (1-3) Individual Study
Exploratory independent study and research. Areas of interest not addressed in regular courses are given priority. Maximum three credits toward the major; one credit toward the minor.
Pre: Two other ETHN courses. F, S
ETHN 300 (3) American Indian Leaders
The course surveys the social and cultural dimensions of traditional and contemporary American Indian leadership. This leadership is understood through a study of the lives, strategies, and words of American Indian leaders who played significant roles in the history of contact between Euro-American and indigenous North American peoples.
Pre: ETHN 120, or consent Variable
CD-Core
ETHN 330 (3) Immigration and Ethnicity
Examines the history, identity, conflict and ethnic relations related to immigration as explored from an Ethnic Studies perspective as well as from American and global perspectives.
CD-Core
ETHN 400 (3) Cultural Pluralism
This course will examine issues confronted in a multicultural society. It will study ethnic/minority groups not usually included in mainstream society, including their uniqueness and harmonious coexistence with other ethnic groups.
F, S
CD-Core
ETHN 401 (3) Applied Cultural Research
This course introduces concepts and methods of applying socio-cultural understanding to contemporary problems to bring about the empowerment of affected people. Case/field studies and other research methods in social sciences will be used to illustrate the impact and problems of cultural change with special attention to its affect on disadvantaged groups of people. Students will also design their own applied projects.
Pre: ANTH 101, 103 or 230 or consent; ETHN 100, 101 or 150 or consent Variable
ETHN 402 (3) Ethnic Research Methods/Skills
This course deals with scientific methods and professional and/or investigative skills in Ethnic Studies. From an interdisciplinary perspective, students are expected to learn how to do research on ethnic and cross-cultural issues (e.g., hypothesis, different methods, data collection/ analysis and report writing.) Other professional skills/issues related to Ethnic Studies are also discussed to meet the needs of students.
Pre: ETHN 100 or 101 or 150, or Consent Variable
ETHN 410 (3) Foundations of Oppression
Students will examine the forces which create and maintain prejudice, discrimination and racism within global perspectives. Special attention will be given to the work of Paulo Freire.
Pre: ETHN 100 or 400 FCD-Core
ETHN 420 (3) African American Studies
This course will provide students with an in-depth examination of the issues affecting present-day Africans, and those of the Black Diaspora. Possible topics are fair representation in the media, education, cross-cultural interactions, economics, politics/law, and racial identity.
Pre: ETHN 110 or 400 or consent VariableCD-Core
ETHN 430 (3) American Indian Studies
This course will provide multiple perspectives about the issues facing American Indian peoples today. Topics to be considered are education, health care, gender, land rights, religious freedom, cultural identity, natural resource management, law enforcement, economic development, selfdetermination, and mass media images.
Pre: ETHN 400, or consent Variable
CD-Core
ETHN 440 (3) Asian American Studies
Examination of current issues affecting the status of Asian Americans. The focus of this course will vary to reflect students' interests in the area of politics, education, economics, social and/or cultural dealing with Asian Americans.
Pre: ETHN 400, or consent Variable
CD-Core
ETHN 450 (3) Latino/Hispanic Studies
Thematic examination of major issues surrounding Latino/Hispanic communities in the United States. Emphasis will be on education, labor, politics, social welfare and migration.
Pre: ETHN 400, or consent Variable
CD-Core
ETHN 460 (3) Urban Minority Problems
This course is concerned with racial/ethnic minorities who live in large urban (inner city) areas. It is especially concerned with the roles that culture and discrimination play in the shaping of America's ghettos, barrios, reservations, and Chinatowns.
S
CD-Core
ETHN 470 (3) Women of Color
Examines the effects of sexism and racism on women of color and provides an understanding of the significant contributions they have made in their struggle against oppression.
Pre: ETHN 400, or consent S
CD-Core
ETHN 480 (3) Social Justice in Ethnicity & Gender
Survey of institutional sexism and racism including their impact on U.S. society. Special attention will be given to their interconnectedness.
Pre: ETHN 400 or consent Variable
CD-Core
ETHN 481 (4) U.S. Civil Rights Since 1945
This course will examine the Civil Rights Movement, broadly defined, from 1945 to the present, but focusing on the period from 1945 to 1970. We will also explore the way in which African Americans and their white supporters mobilized for equality in the face of massive white resistance and seeming federal indifference.
F
ETHN 486 (3) Racial and Ethnic Politics
The course examines racial and ethnic minorities, and the mutual influences between these groups and the structures, procedures and issues of US politics. Major topics include: opinion on racial issues, the representation of minorities in elective and appointive offices, and the nature of value conflicts underlying contemporary racial issues, including affirmative action, immigration, welfare, language policies and Native American tribal issues.
Variable
ETHN 490 (3) Racial/Ethnic Families in the U.S.
This course will examine the different definitions of "family" through time in the United States. It will focus on changes in the African, Native, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian-American families. It will compare and contrast differences and similarities among ethnic minority families as well as between them and white ethnic families.
Pre: ETHN 400, or consent Variable
CD-Core
ETHN 495 (3) Selected Topics
Multiple perspectives on the selected topic(s) will be addressed. Student scholars may contribute to the selection and/or refinement of the topic(s). Highly motivated seniors will join with graduate students in a graduate-type seminar.
Pre: ETHN major Variable
ETHN 496 (1-3) Workshop
Courses will employ changing topics from year to year and deal with cogent issues of current interest to one or more minority communities.
Variable
ETHN 497 (1-10) Internship
Supervised, scholarly experience to which the theories and methodologies of ethnic studies can be applied. Opportunities may be on-campus and/or off-campus, including work in other countries.
Pre: ETHN major or minor F, S
ETHN 498 (1-6) College Teaching Internship
Students assist a faculty member in teaching an ethnic studies 100 or 101.
ETHN 499 (1-3) Individual Study
Advanced independent study and research. Maximum of three credits toward the major; one credit toward the minor.
Pre: 2 ETHN courses at 300/400 level F, S
