Information found in this online edition of the 2008-09 catalog is unofficial and for informational purposes only. By authority of the dean of the College, some factual corrections to the printed version may appear here. The official document of record is the printed edition of the 2008-09 Catalog. For more information, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
Ethnic Studies
Director: Elliott Young
Ethnic identity is integral to the formation of group consciousness, as it produces common meaning through shared language, religious traditions, and family history. At the same time, colonialism, slavery, and genocide have been intertwined with the construction of racial and ethnic categories. To recognize both the positive and negative aspects of ethnic identity, as well as to heed the significance of transnational migrations in the creation of diasporic identities, the ethnic studies minor focuses on five themes: diaspora, colonialism, slavery, genocide, and community formation. Fostering an interdisciplinary approach that pulls together a variety of historical, social, and cultural perspectives, the curriculum explores the five themes and related topics as they intersect with gender, sexuality, class, and nation.
Minor Requirements
A minimum of 24 credits distributed as follows:
- One core course: Sociology 225 or History 330.
- The interdisciplinary capstone course: Ethnic Studies 400.
- Sixteen elective credits, with 8 from the approved Arts and Humanities list and 8 from the approved Social Sciences list. Twelve credits must be discrete to the minor and at least one of the elective courses must be at the 300 or 400 level.
The ethnic studies curriculum is organized into the following core courses, capstone course, and elective courses. See appropriate department listings for course descriptions.
Core Courses
Sociology/Anthropology
225 Race and Ethnicity in Global Perspective (Sociology/Anthropology prerequisite may be waived with instructor's consent.)
History
330 Race and Ethnicity in American
Capstone Course
Ethnic Studies
400 Colloquium
Social Sciences
Communication
313 Politics of Public Memory
330 Communication and Culture
340 Comparative Media Across Cultures
406 Rhetoric, Race, and Resistance
International Affairs
229 African Politics and Literature
230 African Politics
231 Latin American Politics
296 Human Rights in International Politics
Political Science
313 International Political Theory
Psychology
390 Cross-Cultural Psychology
Sociology/Anthropology
225 Race and Ethnicity in Global Perspective
251 Myth, Ritual, and Symbol
261 Gender and Sexuality in Latin America
266 Latin America in Cultural Perspective
273 Japanese Culture: Gender and Identity
281 India in Sociological Perspective
285 Culture and Power in the Middle East
291 Caribbean Cultures
310 Religion in Society
324 Anthropology of Violence
350 Global Inequality
356 Nationalism and Identity: Japan
377 Postcolonial Identity in Latin America
Arts and Humanities
French Studies
330 Francophone Literature
450 Special Topics (Only when the topic is Minority Voices--every third year)
Hispanic Studies
230 Hispanic Literature in Translation
380 Major Periods in South American Literature
390 Major Periods in Mesoamerican and Caribbean Literature
410 Major Periods in Spanish Literature
History
141 Colonial Latin American History
142 Modern Latin American History
209 Japan at War
217 The Emergence of Modern South Asia
222 Britain in the Age of Revolution, 1688 to 1815
226 20th-Century Germany
229 The Holocaust in Comparative Perspective
242 Borderlands: U.S.-Mexico Border, 16th Century to Present
328 The British Empire
330 Race and Ethnicity in American History
345 Race and Nation in Latin America
347 Modern Mexico: Culture, Politics, and Economic Crisis
348 Modern Cuba
400 Reading Colloquium (Only when the topic is relevant)
450 History Seminar (Only when the topic is relevant)
Music
302 Jazz History
305 World Music: Asia
306 World Music: Latin America and the Caribbean
Political Science
313 International Political Theory
Theatre
382 American Theatre and Drama: 19th Century to Present
Education
547 Race, Culture, and Power (By approval of the Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Click here.)
Sponsoring Faculty
Nicole Aas-Rouxparis, professor of foreign languages.
Linda Isako Angst, assistant professor of anthropology.
Stephanie Arnold, professor of theatre.
Franya Berkman, assistant professor of music.
Andrew Bernstein, associate professor of history.
Kimberly Brodkin, visiting assistant professor of history and gender studies and director of the Ray Warren Multicultural Symposium.
David A. Campion, associate professor of history.
Peter G. Christenson, professor of communication.
Modhurima DasGupta, assistant professor of sociology.
Deborah Heath, associate professor of anthropology.
Reiko Hillyer, visiting assistant professor of history.
John Holzworth, assistant professor of political science.
Jane H. Hunter, professor of history.
Stuart J. Kaplan, associate professor of communication.
Oren Kosansky, assistant professor of anthropology.
Dawn Odell, assistant professor of art and art history.
Bruce M. Podobnik, associate professor of sociology.
Matthieu Raillard, assistant professor of Hispanic studies.
G. Mitchell Reyes, assistant professor of communication.
Heather Smith, assistant professor of international affairs.
Juan Carlos Toledano, associate professor of Hispanic studies.
Pauls Toutonghi, assistant professor of English.
Freddy O. Vilches, assistant professor of Hispanic studies.
Zaher Wahab, professor of education.
Wendy Woodrich, senior lecturer in foreign languages.
Elliott Young, associate professor of history.
Yueping Zhang, associate professor of psychology.
ETH 244 Practicum
Staff
Content: Development of extensive project relating to ethnic studies issues in an organizational setting. Placement in community-based social and educational agencies concerned with problems related to race and ethnicity, such as employment discrimination, immigration rights, civil and voting rights, equal access to education, housing, law, public policy, and political organization.
Prerequisite: One ethnic studies course.
Corequisites: Declared ethnic studies minor. Consent of program director and faculty sponsor.
Taught: Each semester, 1-4 semester credits, credit-no credit.
ETH 400 Colloquium
DasGupta, Young
Content: Reading and critical analysis of major interpretive works. Organized around themes or analytical problems; comparative study of works in ethnic studies exemplifying different points of view, methodologies, subject matter. Focus varies depending on instructor's teaching and research area.
Prerequisites: Sociology/Anthropology 225 or History 330. Senior ethnic studies minor or consent of instructor.
Taught: Annually, 4 semester credits.
ETH 499 Independent Study
Staff
Content: Opportunities for well-prepared student to design and pursue a substantive course of independent learning on an advanced level. Details determined by the student and the supervising instructor.
Prerequisites: Ethnic studies core course. Sociology/Anthropology 225 or History 330.
Corequisites: Declared ethnic studies minor. Consent of program director and faculty sponsor.
Taught: Each semester, 2-4 semester credits.