Ethnic Studies
Overview
Ethnic Studies is an interdisciplinary and diverse field that gives voice to historically marginalized peoples and their perspectives by challenging systems of injustice and valuing diversity. This program seeks to educate students on progressive social change, reflect on the dynamics of power and knowledge, and promote multiple approaches to social justice issues while encouraging students to be informed and active citizens. Ethnic Studies allows students a particular focus on marginalized and disadvantaged populations while also de-centering the dominant cultural, political, and social ideals that have shaped western societies.
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Dean
Emilie Mitchell
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Career and Academic Community
Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Phone (916) 691-7359
- Email mitchee@crc.losrios.edu
Associate Degree
A.A. in Social Science
The Social Science department offers classes in law and society and special studies in the areas of Mexican-American, Asian, and Native American experiences. These classes provide an excellent background for further study.
The program includes 21 units of coursework in the following areas: anthropology, economics, geography, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, social science, or sociology.
This degree enables the student to experience a wide range of diverse social science disciplines. To verify the transferability of specific courses and their university application, please consult your CRC counselor. Students who wish to transfer to a four-year college or university should plan their programs to meet general education and lower division major requirements. All students are encouraged to consult with a counselor.
Highlights include:
* Opportunities to build a foundation for interdisciplinary studies
* Overview of theoretical, methodological, analytical, and cultural principles
Note to Transfer Students:
If you are interested in transferring to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in this major, it is critical that you meet with a CRC counselor to select and plan the courses for your major. Schools vary widely in terms of the required preparation. The courses that CRC requires for an Associate’s degree in this major may be different from the requirements needed for the Bachelor’s degree.
Catalog Date: January 1, 2022
Degree Requirements
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum of 21 units from the following: | 21 | |
| Twenty-one (21) units must be completed in at least three different subject areas from those listed: Anthropology, Economics, Geography 310, History, Political Science, Philosophy 360, Psychology, Social Science, Sociology. | ||
| Total Units: | 21 | |
The Social Science Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus general education requirements, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See CRC graduation requirements.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- Identify and comprehend an individual's relationship to structures in the larger society.
- Apply effective critical thinking skills to interpret sociological phenomena.
- Assess the significance of important social movements in American society.
- Define and identify various theoretical perspectives across the discipline of Sociology.
- Comprehend how social practices facilitate the functioning of social structures as they are responsible for maintaining the society as a whole.
- Analyze, interpret, and critically think about sociological ascriptions to race, gender, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and other sociological concepts.
Career Information
Instructor; Social Worker; Researcher;Criminal Justice; Social Services; Business and Corporate employment. Some career options may require more than two years of college study.
Ethnic Studies (ETHNS) Courses
ETHNS 300 Introduction to Ethnic Studies
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Completion of ENGWR 101 with a grade of "C" or better, or completion of ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2022
This interdisciplinary course examines the social, political, economic, and cultural experience of racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States using concepts, theories, and terminology from distinct disciplines within the social sciences. As an ethnic studies course, it has a culturally relativistic approach. Specifically, this course examines and redefines the lives of racial and ethnic minority groups through their own experiences: from the inside looking out at the world. This course was formerly SOCSC 300.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- DEVELOP A VOCABULARY THAT DESCRIBES THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS IN THE U.S. (SLO 1).
- Introduce interdisciplinary terms, concepts, and theories to minority racial and ethnic group experiences in the U.S.
- Apply the interdisciplinary vocabulary to understand the developing historical, cultural, and psychological conditions under which minority groups have lived in the U.S.
- Interpret and summarize various aspects of racial and ethnic minority group experiences in the U.S.
- EXAMINE THE CULTURAL AND RACIAL STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. (SLO 2).
- Explain the ideology of white supremacy as a means to understanding it (White Supremacy) as the organizing system of race relations in the U.S.
- Discuss the social, cultural, and structural conditions that compelled the social movements and organizations of minority racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
- DESCRIBE THE DIRECT LINK BETWEEN THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED BY MINORITY RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS AND MINORITY GROUP IDENTITY FORMATION. (SLO 3).
- Explore and apply Social Identity Theory and Ethnic Identity theory to describe the experiences of minority racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
- Explore and apply Cultural Capital Theory as it relates to racial and ethnic minority group experiences in the U.S.
- Explore and apply the term stereotype threat to describe the unique experiences of minority racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
- CRITICALLY EXAMINE THE ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL PROGRESS OF MINORITY RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE U.S (SLO 4).
- Use a historical comparative approach to explain the dimensions of progress for minority racial and ethnic groups.
- List and describe contemporary social issues facing minority racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
- Use the learned vocabulary to discuss the likelihood of developing concrete solutions to address the contemporary issues uniquely facing minority racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
ETHNS 320 The African American Experience
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Completion of ENGWR 101 with a grade of "C" or better, or completion of ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2022
This interdisciplinary course examines the social, political, economic, and cultural experience of racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States using concepts, theories, and terminology from distinct disciplines within the social sciences. As an ethnic studies course, it has a culturally relativistic approach. Specifically, this course redefines the lives of African Americans through their own experiences: from the inside looking out at the world. This course was formerly SOCSC 320.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- DEVELOP A VOCABULARY THAT DESCRIBES THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE U.S. (SLO 1).
- Introduce interdisciplinary terms, concepts and theories to minority racial and ethnic group experiences in the U.S.
- Apply the interdisciplinary vocabulary to understand the developing historical, political, cultural, psychological conditions under which African Americans have lived in the U.S.
- Interpret and summarize various aspects of the African American experience in the U.S.
- EXAMINE THE CULTURAL AND RACIAL STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. (SLO 2).
- Explain the ideology of white supremacy as a means to understanding it (White Supremacy) as the organizing system of race relations in the U.S.
- Discuss the social, cultural and structural conditions that compelled the African American social movements (collective action) and organizations in the U.S.
- EXAMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS AND AFRICAN AMERICAN GROUP IDENTITY FORMATION. (SLO 3).
- Describe the role of the institution of slavery in the development of the dominant group's perception of African Americans in the U.S.
- Describe the era of scientific racism and its role in the development of the dominant group's perception of African Americans in the U.S.
- Explore and apply Social Identity Theory to describe identity formation for African Americans.
- Explore and apply Ethnic Identity Theory to describe identity formation for African Americans.
- Explore and apply Stereotype Threat to describe its impact in the unique experiences of African Americans brought on by dominant group perception in the U.S.
- CRITICALLY EXAMINE THE ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL PROGRESS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE U.S (SLO 4).
- Use a historical comparative approach to explain the dimensions of progress for African Americans in the U.S.
- List and describe contemporary social issues facing African Americans in the U.S.
- Use the vocabulary developed throughout the course to discuss the likelihood of developing concrete solutions to address the contemporary issues uniquely facing African Americans in the U.S.
ETHNS 330 The Asian American Experience in America
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligibility for ENGWR 300.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2022
This interdisciplinary course examines the social, political, economic, and cultural experience of Asian Americans in the United States. As an Ethnic Studies course, it has a culturally relativistic approach. Specifically, this course examines and redefines the lives of Asian Americans through their own experiences: from the inside looking out at the world. This course was formerly SOCSC 325 and only one may be taken for credit.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- DEVELOP A VOCABULARY THAT DESCRIBES THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES OF ASIAN AMERICANS IN THE U.S. (SLO 1).
- Introduce interdisciplinary terms, concepts and theories.
- Apply the interdisciplinary vocabulary to understand the developing historical, political, cultural, psychological conditions under which Asian Americans have lived in the U.S.
- Interpret and summarize various aspects of the Asian American experience in the U.S.
- EXAMINE THE CULTURAL AND RACIAL STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. (SLO 2).
- Explain the ideology of white supremacy as a means to understanding it (White Supremacy) as the organizing system of race relations in the U.S.
- Discuss the social, cultural and structural conditions that compelled the Asian American social movements (collective action) and organizations in the U.S.
- DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED BY ASIAN AMERICANS AND ASIAN AMERICAN GROUP IDENTITY FORMATION. (SLO 3).
- Describe the role of the institution of slavery in the development of the dominant group's social perception of Asian and Asian American subgroups in the U.S.
- Describe the era of scientific racism and its role in the development of the dominant group's perception of Asian and Asian American subgroups in the U.S.
- Explore and apply Social Identity Theory to describe identity formation for Asian Americans.
- Explore and apply Ethnic Identity Theory to describe identity formation for Asian Americans.
- Explore and apply stereotype threat to describe its impact in the unique experiences of Asian Americans brought on by dominant group perception in the U.S.
- CRITICALLY EXAMINE THE ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL PROGRESS OF ASIAN AMERICANS IN THE U.S. (SLO 4).
- Use a historical comparative approach to explain the dimensions of progress for Asian Americans in the U.S.
- List and describe contemporary social issues facing Asian Americans in the U.S.
- Use the vocabulary developed throughout the course to discuss the likelihood of developing concrete solutions to address the contemporary issues uniquely facing Asian Americans in the U.S.
ETHNS 340 Chicanos/Mexican Americans in the U.S.
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Completion of ENGWR 101 with a grade of "C" or better, or completion of ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2022
This is an interdisciplinary course in which terms, concepts, and theories from distinct disciplines within the social sciences will be utilized to examine the social, political, economic, and cultural experience of Mexican Americans in the United States. As an Ethnic Studies course, it has a culturally relativistic approach. Specifically, this course examines and redefines the lives of Mexican Americans through their own experiences: from the inside looking out at the world. This course was formerly SOCSC 330.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- DEVELOP A VOCABULARY THAT DESCRIBES THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES OF MEXICAN AMERICANS IN THE U.S. (SLO 1).
- Introduce interdisciplinary terms, concepts and theories as they relate to Mexican American experience in the U.S.
- Apply the interdisciplinary vocabulary to understand the developing historical, political, cultural, psychological conditions under which Mexican Americans have lived in the U.S.
- Interpret and summarize various aspects of the Mexican American experience in the U.S.
- EXAMINE THE CULTURAL AND RACIAL STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. (SLO 2).
- Explain the ideology of white supremacy as a means to understanding it (White Supremacy) as the organizing system of race relations in the U.S.
- Discuss the social, cultural and structural conditions that compelled the Mexican American social movements (collective action) and organizations in the U.S.
- DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED BY MEXICAN AMERICANS AND MEXICAN AMERICAN GROUP IDENTITY FORMATION. (SLO 3).
- Describe the role of the institution of slavery in the development of the dominant group's social perception of Mexican and Mexican Americans in the U.S.
- Describe the era of scientific racism and its role in the development of the dominant group's perception of Mexican and Mexican Americans in the U.S.
- Explore and apply Social Identity Theory to describe identity formation for Mexican Americans sociocultural mobility and progress.
- Explore and apply Ethnic Identity Theory to describe identity formation for Mexican Americans.
- Explore and apply the term stereotype threat to describe its impact in the unique experiences of Mexican Americans brought on by dominant group perception in the U.S.
- CRITICALLY EXAMINE THE ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL PROGRESS OF MEXICAN AMERICANS IN THE U.S. (SLO 4).
- Use a historical comparative approach to explain the dimensions of progress for Mexican Americans in the U.S.
- List and describe contemporary social issues facing Mexican Americans in the U.S.
- Use the vocabulary developed throughout the course to discuss the likelihood of developing concrete solutions to address the contemporary issues uniquely facing Mexican Americans in the U.S.
ETHNS 344 The Latino Experience in America
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Completion of ENGWR 101 or ESLW340 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:CSU Area D; IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2022
This interdisciplinary course examines the social, political, economic, and cultural experience of racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States using concepts, theories, and terminology from distinct disciplines within the social sciences. As an ethnic studies course, it has a culturally relativistic approach. Specifically, this course redefines the lives of Latino American subgroups through their own experiences: from the inside looking out at the world.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- DEVELOP A VOCABULARY THAT DESCRIBES THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES OF LATINO AMERICAN SUBGROUPS IN THE U.S. (SLO 1).
- Apply interdisciplinary vocabulary to understand the developing historical, political, cultural, psychological conditions under which Latino American subgroups have lived in the U.S.
- Describe the push and pull factors that lead to both immigration and emigration for Latino subgroups.
- Describe the various forms of nativism experienced by Latino subgroups as they settled in the U.S.
- EXAMINE THE CULTURAL AND RACIAL STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. (SLO 2).
- Explain the ideological development of white supremacy as a means to understanding it (white supremacy) as the organizing social system of race relations in the U.S.
- Understand the relationship between institutional power and social power within a social system.
- Explain the relationship between the ideological development of white supremacy and its effect on Latino subgroups' agency in the U.S.
- UNDERSTAND THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH LATINO SUBGROUPS BOTH ASSIMILATE AND ACCULTURATE AND FORM A LATINO AMERICAN IDENTITY. (SLO 3).
- Explore and apply Social Identity Theory to describe identity formation for Latino American subgroups.
- Explore and apply Ethnic Identity Theory to describe identity formation for Latino American subgroups.
- Explore and apply stereotype threat to describe its impact in the unique experiences of Latino American subgroups brought on by dominant group perception in the U.S.
- Describe the role of the institution of slavery in the development of the dominant group's social perception of Latino subgroups in the U.S.
- Describe the role of Native American land encroachment in the development of the dominant group's social perception of Latino subgroups.
- Describe the era of scientific racism and its role in the development of the dominant group's perception of Latino subgroups in the U.S.
- Describe the role and process of ethnogenesis undertaken by Latino subgroups as they develop a Latino American identity in the U.S.
- CRITICALLY EXAMINE THE ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL PROGRESS OF LATINO AMERICAN SUBGROUPS IN THE U.S. (SLO 4).
- Use a historical comparative approach to explain the dimensions of progress for Latino American subgroups in the U.S.
- List and describe contemporary social issues facing Latino American subgroups in the U.S.
- Use the vocabulary developed throughout the course to discuss the likelihood of developing concrete solutions to address the contemporary issues uniquely facing Latino American subgroups in the U.S.
ETHNS 350 Introduction to Native American Studies
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:ENGWR 300 (College Composition) with a grade of "C" or better.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2022
This course introduces students to Ethnic Studies and the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances and intersectional identities of Native Americans/American Indians within the United States. This course is a survey of traditional cultures of Native Americans/American Indians focusing on the social, religious, economic, and artistic practices. The antiquity, distribution, and linguistic histories of Native American/American Indian cultures are integrated with the contemporary status of Native peoples regarding social change and adaptation.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO 1: Explain the concepts of Ethnic Studies- including but not limited to, race and ethnicity, racialization, equity, ethno-centrism, eurocentrism, white supremacy, self-determination, liberation, decolonization and anti-racism.
- SLO 2: Apply Ethnic Identity Theory, Conflict Theory, Critical Race (Tribal Critical Race), Liberation and Cultural Capital theories.
- Objective 2A: Analyze critical events in the histories, cultures and intellectual traditions, with special focus on the lived-experiences and social struggles of Native Americans/American Indians emphasizing agency and group-affirmation.
- SLO 3: Critically discuss the intersection of race and ethnicity with other forms of difference affected by hierarchy and oppression, such as class, gender, sexuality, religion, spirituality, national origin, immigration status, ability and/or age.
- SLO 4: Assess how struggle, resistance, social justice, solidarity and liberation as experienced by Native American/ American Indian communities are relevant to current issues.
- SLO 5: Demonstrate active engagement with anti-racist issues, practices and movements to build a diverse, just and equitable society beyond the classroom.
- SLO 6: Describe the issues of sovereignty and nationhood unique to Native nations.
- SLO 7: Cite the forms of Native American cultural retention, transmission, and adaptation.