Major Requirements
Forty-two (42) credit hours total, at least twenty-four (24) of which must be at the 300-level or above. Nine credit hours are required in core (introductory) courses, six credits in skills-based courses, 24 credits in content courses (12 each in courses with an Ethnic Studies focus and a Women’s and Gender Studies focus), and three credits in a capstone course.
Students must earn at least a C- in all classes required for the major.
Core Courses:
| ETHN 202 | Foundations of Social Justice | 3 |
| | or | |
| WGST 202 | Foundations of Social Justice | 3 |
| | | |
| WGST 201 | Topics in Gender Studies | 3 |
| | | |
| ETHN 205 | Native American Studies | 3 |
| | or | |
| ETHN 206 | African American Studies | 3 |
| | or | |
| ETHN 225 | Introduction to Latinx History and Culture | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Skills Courses:
Students in the Ethnic and Gender Studies major are encouraged to select courses that address the development of skills as well as content knowledge. There are many different professions for which this degree could make a student a strong competitor. Students should consult with their advisor to identify skills-oriented courses that might help them prepare for a specific path. For example, a student who wishes to pursue work in policy will benefit from a Stats class. A student who wishes to work for a non-profit organization (for which they will likely be involved in grant writing) would benefit from a course on persuasive writing. Consult with your advisor for approval.
Content Electives:
Students are encouraged to select a personalized course of study in consultation with your advisor. We particularly encourage students to take advantage of our special topics courses, which often foreground and explore contemporary issues.
Although there is value in studying issues particular to sex gender identity & sexual orientation and race & ethnicity, there is also significant value in studying the ways that our identities are made up of multiple components. Students are encouraged to explore the complexity of our identities by selecting courses which highlight intersectionality and transnationality.
To develop a deeper understanding of the discipline that underlies race & ethnicity studies and women's and gender studies, students are also encouraged strongly to select courses that emphasize theory, experiential learning (such as an internship or independent service learning project), and study abroad/study away experiences.
| Courses in Women's and Gender Studies (see below) | 12 |
| Courses in Race and Ethnicity Studies (see below) | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 24 |
Women's and Gender Electives: Any course with a WGST prefix can count towards the women, gender, and sexuality elective requirements. There are many other courses that could be used, including special topics courses. Consult with your advisor for approval. (Double-dipping is not allowed; that is, a course used to meet the core, skills, or capstone requirement CANNOT be used to meet the elective requirement.) A single course cannot be used as both a WGST and an ETHN elective.
Race and Ethnicity Electives: Any course with an ETHN prefix can count towards the race & ethnicity elective requirements. There are many other courses that could be used, including special topics courses. Consult with your advisor for approval. (Double-dipping is not allowed; that is, a course used to meet the core, skills, or capstone requirement CANNOT be used to meet the elective requirement.) A single course cannot be used as both a WGST and an ETHN elective.
Capstone Course:
| ETHN 491 | Social Change Capstone | 3 |
| | or | |
| WGST 491 | Social Change Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |