Ethnic Studies Concentration

Note: this program begins in the fall of 2025, but students may begin taking course requirements now. 

The Ethnic Studies concentration of the Interdisciplinary Studies major provides an interdisciplinary approach to studying the systematic marginalization of racialized minorities and how racialized groups in the US have and do respond to and counter these forces through everyday life, art, culture, political organization, and other forms of social citizenship. Students will study race, ethnicity, and indigeneity, with an emphasis on the experiences of people of color in the United States and with an explicit emphasis on naming, reckoning with and resisting systems of power and oppression.

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The first ethnic studies degree in the Massachusetts State University System!

The ethnic studies concentration of the interdisciplinary studies major provides an interdisciplinary approach to studying the systematic marginalization of racialized minorities and how racialized groups in the US have and do respond to and counter these forces through everyday life, art, culture, political organization, and other forms of social citizenship. Students will study race, ethnicity, and indigeneity, with an emphasis on the experiences of people of color in the United States and with an explicit emphasis on naming, reckoning with and resisting systems of power and oppression.

In a set of core courses, the concentration introduces students to ethnic studies as a field as well as the histories, cultures, accomplishments and struggles of a specific set of ethno-racial groups in a US context. Students then focus their attention on one ethno-racial group and take three electives focused in that area, drawn from at least two disciplinary areas/approaches. These courses are augmented by, an interdisciplinary research methods course, a course focused on civic learning, and an interdisciplinary capstone.

Easy to combine with other majors, minors and seals.

Required Courses

#=new course to be taught first time in 2025/26 AY 

d=DPDS course: this course satisfies the Diversity, Social Justice and Power Dynamics general education requirement.

  • IDS 230: Introduction to Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies (d)
  • IDS 232 or 232H: American Identities (d) and HP
  • IDS 245 Introduction to Ethnic Studies (#) (d)
  • African American/Black American Studies course: Choose 1 (ENL 256; HST 217; SOC 305; SOC 306)
  • Indigenous Studies Course: Choose 1 (ART 334A; ENL 354; HST 209)
  • IDS 335: Introduction to Critical Race Theory (#) (d)
  • IDS 345: Topics in Ethnic Studies
  • IDS 389: Research Methods in Interdisciplinary Studies (WII)
  • IDS 489: Capstone Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies (WIII)
  • One Civic Engagement/ Civic Learning Course: Choose from IDS 285 (Community Organizing I (d)); CIV 101 (Intro to Civic Engagement); IDS 401 Internship in IDS

Elective Courses (9 credits)

Chosen from list below and focused on one ethno/racial group and drawn from at least two different departments (or 3 digit codes) [Indigenous Studies; African American/Black American Studies; Latinx/Caribbean Studies; Some courses may be in transnational, or comparative context.]

Note: courses marked with * can stand in for one elective as needed.

Art + Design

ART 236: The Arts in America*

ART 334A: Native American and African Art

 

English

ENL 255: African American Lit I (DPDS)

ENL 256: African American Lit II (DPDS)

ENL 253: Multiethnic American Literature* (DPDS)

ENL 352: US Latinx Literature (DPDS)

ENL 354: Native American Literature (DPDS)

ENL 366: The Caribbean Experience in Literature

 

Geography and Sustainability

GPH 229: Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean

GPH 252: Native American Lands and Environments (DPDS)

 

History

HST 209: Indigenous Histories of the Americas (DPDS)

HST 216: History of African Americans I

HST 217: History of African Americans II

HST 238: Survey of Latin America

HST 239: History of Latinos in the US (DPDS)

HST 250: History of Africa I

HST 290: People and Environment in Latin America

HST 297: History of Chinese and Japanese Americans* (DPDS)

HST 345: African Americans in the Jazz Age, 1919-1941

HST 346: African American Freedom Struggles 1941-present

HST 347: African American Music History

 

Interdisciplinary Studies

IDS 333 Topics in American Studies (if topic is relevant) *

 

Media and Communication

MCO 303: Media and Race* (DPDS)

 

Music and Dance

MUS 117: Jazz History

DAN 330: Hip Hop Dance History (DPDS)

 

Politics, Policy, and International Relations

POL 327: Race and American Politics* (DPDS)

 

Sociology

SOC 247: Social Inequality: Race, Class and Gender* SOCI 305: The Black Family in the US

SOC 306: The Black Woman

SOC 309: The Black Religious Experience

SOC 336: Afro-Latinx: Race, Culture & Transformation (DPDS)

SOC 345: Race and Ethnicity in Society* (DPDS)

SOC 348: Latinx Groups in the US (DPDS)

 

World Language and Cultures

SPN 382: Latinx Immigration: Context +Representation (DPDS)

SPN 420: US Latinx Literature in Spanish (DPDS)

Ethic Studies is Preparation for Life, Leadership, Transformation, and Careers

Ethnic studies is a critical and practical course of study because it produces culturally competent, global citizens; provides graduates a professional, competitive advantage in the workforce; and represents diverse perspectives of reality in a globalized world. Graduates will be well positioned for employment and leadership in organizations working in the areas of social justice, the arts, culture and public humanities, activism, research and analysis, education, social services, and public policy/politics.

Ethnic Studies is also excellent preparation for a range of graduate programs in the humanities, social sciences, public humanities, law, education, business, arts and culture administration, and medicine/public health, as well as more specialized programs such as the UMass Boston Master’s Degree in Critical Ethnic and Community Studies.

  • Prepares you for advanced analysis of race and ethnicity in local, national and global contexts.
  • Builds skills in integration and synthesis, of ideas, skills, methods and approaches.
  • Challenges you to think in complex ways about identity and history and avoid cultural stereotyping.
  • Strengthens your understanding of power dynamics, diversity, equity, and justice, which may provide a competitive advantage in future employment and will serve you in your personal & community life.
  • Enhances your skill base and both career and graduate school potential in a range of sectors including public service, advocacy, arts and culture, public humanities, law, social work, corporate spaces, politics, education, medicine, public health, nonprofit work, and more.
  • Builds skills for working with a variety of people in a wide range of settings.
  • Prepares you to meet many requirements of our 21st century world:
    • understanding worlds different from your own
    • engaging with the community for partnerships
    • integrating social justice in whatever you do
    • applying diplomacy, awareness, and respect to your work
    • valuing your own cultural identity and appreciating the differences around you
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