Office:
Craven Hall, Room 6208

Telephone:
(760) 750-8030

Program Coordinator:
Susie Lan Cassel, Ph.D.            

Faculty:

Communication:

Dreama Moon, Ph.D.

Liliana Castańeda

Rossmann, Ph.D.

Barry Saferstein, Ph.D.

World Languages and Hispanic Literatures:

Carlos von Son, Ph.D.

History:

Reuben MeKenye, Ph.D.

Carmen Nava, Ph.D.

Earl A. Schwartz, Ph.D.

Jill Watts, Ph.D.

Human Development:

Fernando Soriano, 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 Yáńez-Chávez, Ph.D.

Literature and Writing Studies:

Susie Lan Cassel, Ph.D.

Yuan Yuan, Ph.D.

Political Science:

Edward  Thompson, III, Ph.D.

Cynthia Chavez Metoyer, Ph.D.

Psychology:

Gerárdo M. González, Ph.D.      

Sonia Ruiz, Ph.D.

Sociology:

Kristin Bates, Ph.D.

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.                

Mtafiti Imara, Ph.D.

Marcos Martínez, M.A.

Program Offered:

• Minor in Ethnic Studies

The Ethnic Studies Minor at Cal State San Marcos 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 at least three (3) units in each of the five areas indicated below.

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 the next page, must be submitted to the Coordinator.

1. 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

ID 340
ID 371
SOC 313 

2. 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

HIST 334HIST 346
HIST 335HIST 347
HIST 337HIST 350
HIST 338HIST 374
HIST 343                   HIST 375
HIST 345

3. 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

ANTH 301COMM 330
ID 304COMM 450
ID 305 COMM 455
LING 371PSYC 341
LING 451

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

COMM 430SOC 347  
PSCI 305SOC 419
SOC 311TA 323
SOC 323

5. 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 410MUSC 426
LTWR 420MUSC 427
LTWR 450TA 325
SPAN 350ATA 326
SPAN 350BTA 327
MUSC 421TA 420
MUSC 422TA 421
MUSC 423VPA 320
MUSC 424VSAR 323
MUSC 425VSAR 325

Two (2) elective courses:6
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 Units21