Ethnic Studies

Undergraduate Programs

Description

Ethnic Studies is an interdisciplinary program that enhances student understanding of the experiences and perspectives on racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Faculty are committed in providing the majors and minors personal enrichment that is possible only through a liberal arts education. Concepts or social constructs on race, ethnicity, class, and gender are central to the discipline of Ethnic Studies and as such are covered in every course. Students completing the undergraduate program will have greater conceptual, theoretical and experiential knowledge and skills essential to participating in any multicultural environment and a globalized economy. In addition, the program exposes students to people from diverse populations, and provides a supportive learning environment for students and faculty from underrepresented populations. Also, it has a very good record of graduating students from all populations.

 

Majors

 Program Locations Major / Total Credits
Ethnic Studies BS Business Corporate BS - Bachelor of Science
  • Mankato
 51 / 120
Ethnic Studies BS International Community and Human Services BS - Bachelor of Science
  • Mankato
 51 / 120
Ethnic Studies BS Local Community and Human Services BS - Bachelor of Science
  • Mankato
 51 / 120
Ethnic Studies BS Optional or Other Extended Program Courses BS - Bachelor of Science
  • Mankato
 57 / 120
Ethnic Studies BS Public Government BS - Bachelor of Science
  • Mankato
 51 / 120

Minors

 Program Locations Total Credits
Ethnic Studies Minor
  • Mankato
 18

Policies & Faculty

Policies

Admission to Major: 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:

  • Minimum of 30 earned semester credit hours
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 ("C")
  • GPA Policy. 2.0 GPA

P/N Grading Policy: No more than 1/4 of total undergraduate credits may be taken as P/N

Contact Information

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Department of Ethnic Studies
109 Morris Hall
507-389-2798
FAX: 507-389-6377
www.mnsu.edu/dept/ethnic

(507) 389-2798

Faculty

Chair
  • Kebba Darboe, Ph.D.
Faculty

100 Level

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Gold

200 Level

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-07

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

Introduction to the history and cultures of the major Asian American ethnic groups with a comparative approach to their similarities and differences.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 1-4

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.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-3

Courses will employ changing topics from year to year and will deal with cogent issues of current interest to ethnic and minority communities.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-3

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. Prereq: Two other ETHN courses

Prerequisites: Two other ETHN courses. 

300 Level

Credits: 3

The course introduces students to the historical and theoretical foundations of environmental racism and inequality. Therefore, students will explore the social, industrial, and government forces that create inequitable burdens of environmental pollution across communities as well as social movements to reduce such burdens. While a majority of the course focuses on the United States, readings include case studies from around the world.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course examines the economic, social and political factors that affect the identities, rights and social perceptions of multiracial individuals. The social changes resulting from the 1960s Civil Rights Movement played an important role in reducing the social distance between people of different racial/ethnic backgrounds. As a result, contributing to the rising multiracial population. According to the U.S. Census conducted in 2010, over nine million individuals reported belonging to two or more races.

Prerequisites: none

400 Level

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: ANTH 101, ANTH 230 or consent; ETHN 100, ETHN 101 or ETHN 150 or consent 

Diverse Cultures: Gold

Credits: 3

This is a comprehensive course, which introduces students to qualitative, quantitative and evaluation social research methods. It provides students with hands-on experience of collecting and analyzing data, from any given diverse ethnic community through participant observation and needs assessment.

Prerequisites: ETHN 100 or ETHN 101 or ETHN 150, or Consent 

Diverse Cultures: Gold

Credits: 3

The purpose of this course is to examine the challenges and opportunities of the new immigrants,refugees,families,and specifically their children,in the United States.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: ETHN 100 or ATHN 400 

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: ETHN 110 or ETHN 400 or consent 

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: ETHN 400, or consent 

Goal Areas: GE-05

Credits: 3

Thematic examination of major issues surrounding Latino/Hispanic communities in the United States. Emphasis will be on education, labor, politics, social welfare and migration.

Prerequisites: ETHN 400, or consent 

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: ETHN 400, or consent 

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

This course will take an interdisciplinary ethnic studies approach to examine the past, present and future implications of the African American civil rights movement on race relations in the United States.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: ETHN 400, or consent 

Credits: 3

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. Prereq: ETHN major

Prerequisites: ETHN major 

Credits: 1-3

Courses will employ changing topics from year to year and deal with cogent issues of current interest to one or more minority communities.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-10

Supervised, scholarly experience to which the theories and methodologies of ethnic studies can be applied. Opportunitiesmay be on-campus and/or off-campus, including work in other countries. Prereq: ETHN major or minor

Prerequisites: ETHN major or minor 

Credits: 1-6

Students assist a faculty member in teaching ETHN 100 or ETHN 101.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-3

Advanced independent study and research. Maximum of three credits toward the major; one credit toward the minor. Prereq: 2 ETHN courses at 300/400 level

Prerequisites: 2 ETHN courses at 300/400 level