ETHN 101: Introduction to Ethnic Studies

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2024
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 101.
District General Education: D1. History and Political Science, D2. Behavioral Science
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

This course is a historical and cultural survey of the major ethnic groups and ethnic group relations in the U.S. from the pre-Columbian period to the present. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • discuss the general history and development of intercultural relations in the United States.
  • understand the historical and cultural experiences of the major ethnic groups in the United States (i.e., Native American, African American, Latino/ Chicano, Asian American, Muslim American, Afro-Latino).
  • understand government policies affecting these core groups and discuss responses to these policies.
  • compare and contrast the experiences of the different ethnic groups by discussing similar topics across all cultures considered.
  • promote a better understanding of ourselves and those around us in hopes of improving contemporary inter/intra-group relations and to accentuate the positive aspects of our multicultural society.
  • Describe and evaluate how the intersections of social class, gender, sexuality, and ability pervade racial and ethnic identity formations in the United States.

Major Course Content

  1. Introduction
    1. Course format
    2. Key Terms
      1. Discrimination
      2. Acculturation
      3. Ethics
      4. Identity
      5. Oppression
    3. Theoretical perspectives about racial and ethnic relations
      1. Locally
      2. Nationally
      3. Globally
  2. Overview of Native American Culture from a historical, social, and anthropological perspective from pre-European contact to the present.
    1. Cultures and social structure of indigenous Americans
    2. Effects of early colonization, slavery, and Manifest Destiny
    3. Prehistory of Native American culture
    4. The role of economics in government policy
    5. Resistance and assimilation
    6. Critical legislation
    7. Important leaders
    8. Education
    9. Contemporary Issues
    10. Native American contributions to U.S. culture and society
  3. Introduction to European ideologies
    1. Colonization of the United States
    2. Demography of the early settlers
    3. Early history of race relations in the U.S. from colonization through the Mexican American War
    4. Trends in immigration
    5. English core culture and the effects of the economy on interracial interaction.
  4. African American culture from a historical, social, and anthropological perspective from West African to contemporary society.
    1. Cultural history of African Americans
    2. The prehistory of the West Africans
    3. The Atlantic Slave Trade
    4. The role of economics in government policy
    5. The African American slave
    6. The Emancipated African American
    7. Resistance and acculturation
    8. Critical legislation
    9. Important leaders
    10. Education
    11. Contemporary Issues
    12. Contributions to U.S. culture and society
  5. Mexican American/Latino culture from a historical, social, and anthropological perspective from West African to contemporary society.
    1. Cultural History of Mexican Americans/Latinos in the U.S.
    2. Prehistory of the Mexican Americans/Latinos
    3. Colonial Society in Mexico and the southwestern U.S.
    4. The Mexican American War
    5. Racial Relations
    6. The role of economics in immigration policies and legislation
    7. Acculturation
    8. Resistance
    9. Immigration
    10. Education
    11. Civil Rights
    12. Critical legislation
    13. Important leaders
    14. Education
    15. Contemporary Issues
    16. Contributions to U.S. culture and society
  6. Asian American culture from a historical, social, and anthropological perspective from West African to contemporary society.
    1. Cultural history of Asian Americans in the U.S.
    2. Cultures of East Asian Immigrants
    3. The early immigrants
    4. The role of economics in immigration policies and legislation
    5. Acculturation
    6. Resistance
    7. Immigration
    8. Education
    9. Civil Rights
    10. Important legislation
    11. The Second World War
    12. The Korean War
    13. The Vietnam War
    14. Critical Legislation
    15. Important leaders
    16. Education
    17. Contemporary Issues
    18. Contributions to U.S. culture and society
  7. Muslim American culture from a historical, social, and anthropological perspective from West African to contemporary society.
    1. Critical legislation
    2. Important leaders
    3. Education
    4. Contemporary Issues
    5. Contributions to U.S. culture and society
  8. Afro Latino culture from a historical, social, and anthropological perspective from West African to contemporary society.
    1. Critical legislation
    2. Important leaders
    3. Education
    4. Contemporary Issues
    5. Contributions to U.S. culture and society
  9. Comparisons of the ethnic experience in the U.S.
    1. Issues of Identity
    2. Individual and Group Resistance
    3. The Civil Rights Movement and the resulting political empowerment of all minorities
    4. Critical Legislation
    5. Backlash
    6. The use of the arts for social and cultural commentary
  10. Local, regional, national, and global perspectives in multi-cultural relations in contemporary society
    1. Demographic realities of the U.S.
    2. Current and future trends of immigration in the U.S.
    3. How the growing ethnic population is affecting the U.S. lifestyle, government, and educational policy
    4. Discussions on how to improve inter-ethnic and inter-cultural relations, and conflict resolution

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Journal articles, newspaper articles and websites.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Write an essay in which you analyze how race, class, and gender have shaped the ethnic experience in America.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Find a recent article in a newspaper or from a credible news website that discusses a minority group in the United States. Analyze and critique the article in terms of the concepts learned in the class.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences

4C. Ethnic Studies

IGETC Area 7: Ethnic Studies

Yes