MINOR IN ETHNIC STUDIES

Office:

Craven Hall, Room 6220

Telephone:

(760) 750-8030

Program Coordinator:

Susie Lan Cassel, Ph.D.

Faculty:

Communication:

Dreama Moon, Ph.D.

Liliana Castañeda

Rossmann, Ph.D.

Barry Saferstein, Ph.D.

World Languages and Hispanic Literatures:

Carlos von Son, Ph.D.

History:

Jeffrey Charles, Ph.D.

Reuben MeKenye, Ph.D.

Carmen Nava, Ph.D.

Earl A. Schwartz, Ph.D.

Jill Watts, Ph.D.

Liberal Studies:

Bonnie Bade, Ph.D.

Vivienne Bennett, Ph.D.

Kimberley Knowles-Yanez, Ph.D.

Marcia Sawyer, Ph.D.

Bob Yamashita, Ph.D.

Anibal Yánez-Chávez, Ph.D.

Literature and Writing Studies:

Susie Lan Cassel, Ph.D.

Yuan Yuan, Ph.D.

Political Science:

Edward Thompson, III, Ph.D.

Psychology:

Gerárdo M. González, Ph.D.

Sociology:

Sharon Elise, Ph.D.

Garry Rolison, Ph.D.

Sheldon Zhang, Ph.D.

Visual and Performing Arts:

David Avalos, M.F.A.

Bill Bradbury, D.M.A.

Loni Berry, M.F.A.

Marcos Martínez, M.A.

Program Offered:

• Minor in Ethnic Studies

The Ethnic Studies Minor at CSUSM offers students majoring in another discipline the opportunity to study critically and systematically the experiences of racial/ethnic groups that have been economically, educationally, politically, legally, and/or socially disadvantaged. It analyzes how these groups have been integrated or not into societ(ies) and how race/ethnicity has shaped identity. Offering global and U.S. perspectives, the minor supports the founding Mission Statement of the University by helping to prepare students "to live cooperatively and competitively in a world of cultural and ethnic diversity." Since the minor helps students better understand the multi-ethnic cultures of which many modern nations are comprised, it enhances courses of study leading to career fields in both public and private sectors, such as business, education, law, medicine, public health, corrections, social work, journalism, public relations, politics, psychology, international relations, and creative writing. It also helps to prepare students for graduate study in related fields.

Course Requirements

Completion of twenty-one (21) units of credit, eighteen (18) of which must be at the upper-division level. Students must take three (3) units in each of five areas.

Special Requirements

Each course counted towards the minor must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher. At least nine (9) units of study must be unique to the minor (i.e. may not be counted towards other major, minor, or general education requirements). Recommended Course of Study: In the minor, coursework is arranged in five (5) areas: Introduction to Comparative Ethnic Studies, Historical Approaches, Identity and Culture, Power and Social Justice, and Voices. The first two areas represent foundations, and these courses should be taken first. The next three areas are explorations, and these courses may be taken in any order.

Advising

Information and advising will be provided by the Coordinator for the Ethnic Studies Minor. Interested students should meet with the Coordinator as soon as possible to declare the minor and to develop an appropriate, personalized theme of study that complements a student's interests and career goals (e.g. African-American, Borderlands, Comparative Multicultural Studies). Petitions for lower-division course credit, and petitions to apply to the minor courses not listed on next page, must be submitted to the Coordinator.

a. Introduction to Comparative Ethnic Studies is an introduction to the struggles of racial and ethnic groups, their relationships to each other, and to the organization of society. This course includes issues such as immigration, slavery, confinement, institutional inequality, and resistance. Interdisciplinary approaches and examination of critical race/ethnic theory provide a foundation for the minor.

Select one course 3 units

ID 340 ID 371

SOC 313

b. Historical Approaches is an intensive study of the history of groups and issues over time. It provides students with in-depth understanding of the dynamics of racial/ethnic struggles.

Select one course 3 units

HIST 334 HIST 335

HIST 337 HIST 338

HIST 343 HIST 345

HIST 346 HIST 347

HIST 350 HIST 374

HIST 375

c. Identity and Culture is a comparative examination of the process of formation of racial/ethnic groups and their practices. Analysis is approached through various mediums of culture, such as human geography, language and communication patterns, gender and belief systems.

Select one course 3 units

ANTH 301 ID 304

ID 305 LING 371

LING 451 COMM 330

COMM 455 COMM 450

PSYC 341

d. Power and Social Justice emphasizes conflicts involving race and ethnicity in the contemporary time period, such as inequality, social movements, voting rights, and gender roles.

Select one course 3 units

COM 430 SOC 311

SOC 323 SOC 347

SOC 419 PSCI 305

TA 323

e. Voices examines texts produced by and about people from various racial/ethnic groups. It fosters analysis of the cultural and aesthetic values represented in these works.

Select one course 3

LTWR 410 LTWR 420

LTWR 450 SPAN 350A

SPAN 350B MUSC 421

MUSIC 422 MUSC 423

MUSC 424 MUSC 425

MUSC 426 MUSC 427

TA 326 TA 325

TA 420 TA 327

VPA 320 TA 421

VSAR 325 VSAR 323

Two (2) elective courses 6 units

selected from any of the five categories. A course may also be petitioned through the Coordinator for acceptance, providing at least half the course is devoted to studies of race/ethnicity.

Total Units 21 units