Ethnic Studies

College of Ethnic Studies

Dean: Kenneth P. Monteiro
Ethnic Studies and Psychology Building, Room 121
Phone: (415) 338–1694

Associate Dean: Amy Sueyoshi
Graduate Coordinator: Katynka Martinez

Program Scope

The Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies increases students’ knowledge and understanding of the experiences of people of color. The program provides training in techniques for the analysis of historical and contemporary social issues related to these experiences, and the curriculum develops students’ capacity to structurally assess, plan, and evaluate social policies aimed at the resolution of these issues. Although the focus remains primarily on the condition of Asian Americans, African Americans, Latinos, and American Indians, the program is increasingly concerned with mixed race studies, sexuality studies, diaspora studies, postcolonialism, theories of racial formation, the experiences of other communities of color, and theory/practice of resistance and social movements. The Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies is collectively administered by the Chairs' Council of the College of Ethnic Studies.

The Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies is designed to prepare individuals for advanced graduate work leading to the doctorate or professional roles in teaching, research, and administration within both the public and private sectors. The theoretical and conceptual tools of several disciplines are critically utilized and analyzed. The program applies cutting-edge analyses, such as cultural studies, postcolonial, feminist, and queer perspectives, to instruction, research, and community involvement. Both scholarly and activist engagements with the surrounding San Francisco Bay Area communities of color are encouraged and expected.

Career Outlook

The Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies is designed to be a versatile degree—one that is inclusive rather than exclusive of employment opportunities. These possibilities range from ethnic-oriented teaching, community research, multicultural resource development, to practical application in the business and technical fields. Program graduates are also eligible to apply for teaching positions at the California community colleges in ethnic studies and related fields.

Graduates with this increasingly sought after expertise have begun establishing an impressive employment history. Approximately 25 percent of graduates go directly into teaching at community colleges or four-year institutions. An additional 25 percent enter various professional fields, including K-12 teaching, youth-related social programs, and community advocacy research.

Approximately 50 percent of the graduates proceed on to doctoral studies in a wide range of subject areas, including ethnic studies, anthropology, sociology, American studies, health education, multicultural education, communication studies, and African American studies. Although the graduate program only has been in existence since 1988, alumni of the M.A. in Ethnic Studies have gone on to Ph.D. programs at a broad array of prestigious institutions. These include various University of California campuses, Temple University, Stanford, Yale, Purdue, the University of Michigan, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Hawaii, and Harvard University.

Professors

Almaguer, Barker, Carrillo, Chew, Cordova, Dong, Esquibel, Gonzales, Hom, Jeung, Jolivette, Murguia, Pelaud, Richards, Sueyoshi, Tintiangco-Cubales, Tsuruta, Yoo

Associate Professors

Abdulhadi, Akom, Bakrania, Collins, Dariotis, Duncan-Andrade, Ferreira, Fischer, Ginwright, Le, Lee, Martinez, McDougal, Nelson, Reyes, Soe, Ueunten

Assistant Professors

Flannery, Guzman-Garcia, Perea, Pido, Sasaki, Sudhakar, Wright

Masters

Certificates

Explanation of Course Descriptions, Symbols, and Terms

ETHS 100 Introduction to Ethnic Studies (Units: 3)

History, objectives, and philosophy of Ethnic Studies. Student's personal, educational, and career development in a pluralistic society and in an institute of higher education. [CSL may be available]
(This course is offered as ETHS 100 and RRS 100. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • D1: Social Sciences
  • Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

ETHS 101 First Year Experience in Ethnic Studies (Units: 3)

Foundations of intellectual, academic, and career preparation for majors and minors in the College of Ethnic Studies.

ETHS 102 Basic Achievement Techniques (Units: 3)

Examination and application of basic skills development among diverse students. Use of appropriate strategies and methods to support the intellectual and spiritual advancement of the student. Concurrent enrollment in another specified course may be required. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. (ABC/NC grading; CR/NC allowed)

ETHS 110 Critical Thinking and the Ethnic Studies Experience (Units: 3)

Basic skills involved in understanding, criticizing, and constructing arguments by using materials reflective of experiences of ethnic/racial groups in the U.S.
(Note: In order for this course to satisfy General Education, students must earn a C- or CR or higher grade if taken fall 2014 or later.)

Course Attributes:

  • A3: Critical Thinking
  • Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities

ETHS 300GW Writing in Ethnic Studies - GWAR (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Asian American Studies, American Indian Studies, Africana Studies, or Latina/Latino Studies major; ENG 214, AFRS 214, LTNS 214, AA S 214, or equivalents, with grades of C- or better.

Foundations of writing in the disciplines of Ethnic Studies: Africana Studies, American Indian Studies, Asian American Studies, and Latina/Latino Studies. Draws on the behavioral and social sciences, the humanities, and the creative arts to prepare students for advanced work in Ethnic Studies, and for careers requiring breadth and depth of knowledge. (ABC/NC grading only)

Course Attributes:

  • Graduation Writing Assessment

ETHS 400 Islam and Fiction in English (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.

Introduction to various representations of Islam in modern fiction, both in the Islamic world and beyond, focusing on the literary cultural influences portrayed in texts that address Islam and Muslims whether centrally or peripherally.
(This course is offered as ARAB 400 and ETHS 400. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

ETHS 473 Unfree Labor in Early America (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper division standing; ENG 214 or equivalent; or consent of instructor.

An examination and comparison of various forms of unfree labor in early America from the colonial period to the Civil War, tracing change over time and investigating the relationship among economic systems, ideology, and social relations.
(This course is offered as HIST 473, ETHS 473, and LABR 473. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

ETHS 499 Culminating Experience Continuous Enrollment (Unit: 0)

ETHS 510 History of Arabic Literature I: Classical Arabic Literature (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Four semesters of lower division Arabic or equivalent or consent of instructor.

Introduction to major themes and ideas in classical Arabic literature, focusing on major poetry and prose works from the pre-Islamic and early Caliphate eras.
(This course is offered as ARAB 510 and ETHS 510. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

ETHS 511 History of Arabic Literature II: Modern Arabic Literature (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Four semesters of lower division Arabic or equivalent or consent of instructor.

Introduction to major themes and ideas in modern and contemporary Arabic literature from various countries (e.g., Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Syria, Sudan), focusing on major works from the late 19th century to the present.
(This course is offered as ARAB 511 and ETHS 511. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

ETHS 545 Traditional Kulintang Music and Dance of the Southern Philippines (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.

Music and dance of Southern Philippines, emphasis on Kulintang tradition of Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago. Lectures and hands-on workshops on dance movement and music of Kulintang culture. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.
(This course is offered as ETHS 545, DANC 545, and MUS 545. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

ETHS 590 Ethnic Studies Travel Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.

Sponsored group travel study to a designated location.

ETHS 637 Experimental Novel: 1950-1980 (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ENG 214 or equivalent or consent of instructor.

Survey of experimental novels from North and South America merging between 1950-1980, and changing how we view extended narratives.
(This course is offered as ENG 637 and ETHS 637. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

ETHS 675 Variable Topics in Ethnic Studies (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.

Examination of variable issues and topic in ethnic studies. Topic to be specified in Class Schedule. May be repeated for a total of 9 units.

ETHS 685 Projects in the Teaching of Ethnic Studies (Units: 1-4)

Prerequisites: Upper division standing and consent of instructor.

Academic service learning practicum/internship experience as an undergraduate instructional aide. Participation in the teaching of a regular instructionally-related class. Limited to undergraduate students only. (Students may earn a maximum of 4 units toward the baccalaureate degree for any course(s) numbered 685 regardless of discipline.)

ETHS 697 Field Research or Internship in Ethnic Studies (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.

Development of research methodology of Third World societies in the U.S. Gathering materials through non-written sources such as artifacts, oral evidence, participation-observation. May be repeated for a total of 6 units with departmental approval. [CSL may be available]

ETHS 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Consent of adviser, instructor, and program coordinator.

Supervised individual study of a particular inter-ethnic problem in ethnic studies. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.

ETHS 700 Race and Resistance in Historical Perspective (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Relational history of people of color in the U.S., their experience in the development of society, and the contested role of race in their collective experiences. A comparative examination of organized and unorganized forms of resistance to emerge within and/or across communities to achieve racial justice and self-determination.

ETHS 710 Theories and Issues in Ethnic Studies (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Concepts and theories in ethnic studies. Identifies, analyzes, and critically reviews the American history and experience of people of color.

ETHS 720 Research Methods in Ethnic Studies (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Basic course in statistics and consent of instructor.

Research methods pertaining to African Americans, Asian Americans, La Raza, and American Indians in third world critical perspective: research proposal, data collection analysis, interpretation, statistical summarization. Examples from the third world experience.

ETHS 750 Ethnic Studies Community Practicum (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Philosophies, strategies, and methods in community studies. Evaluation of alternatives in terms of issues facing third world communities. Internship in a community-based agency or organization. Classwork, 2 units; fieldwork, 1 unit.

ETHS 820 Advanced Research Seminar in Ethnic Studies (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ETHS 720 or consent of instructor.

Seminar on advanced research in ethnic studies. Key elements in developing a research or creative work project.

ETHS 885 Graduate Projects in the Teaching of Ethnic Studies (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Ethnic Studies and consent of instructor.

Academic service learning practicum/internship experience as an undergraduate instructional aide. Participation in the teaching of a regular instructionally related class.

ETHS 895 Field Study (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and graduate major advisor; and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies.

ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.

ETHS 896 Directed Reading in Ethnic Studies (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Consent of adviser.

Intensive directed reading in ethnic studies under the supervision of a faculty member.

ETHS 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and approval of graduate major adviser.

ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration. (CR/NC grading only)

ETHS 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Consent of graduate coordinator and supervising faculty member.

Individual research into an issue in ethnic studies. Enrollment by petition and limited to graduate students in the program.