Ethnic Studies AA Degree

Program Overview

The Ethnic Studies AA Degree at College of the Desert provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the history, experiences, and struggles of historically minoritized ethnoracial groups in the United States. Through interdisciplinary coursework, students develop critical perspectives on race and racism, evaluate cultural forms, and engage in collective action for racial equity. The program prepares graduates for careers in fields such as education, social services, and public policy.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The Ethnic Studies AA Degree program at College of the Desert is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the history, experiences, cultures, and struggles of historically minoritized ethnoracial groups in the United States. The program draws upon the fields of Indigenous/Native American studies, Black/African American studies, Latinx/Chicanx studies, and Asian American/Pacific Islander studies, providing students with a critical interdisciplinary perspective on race and racism.

Objectives:

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Evaluate scholarship and other cultural forms that center the traditions, experiences, and liberation struggles of Latinx/Chicanx, African American/Black, Asian American, and Native American & Indigenous people in the United States.
• Articulate counternarratives to white supremacist, Eurocentric, and colonialist systems and discourses.
• Develop a historically-aware analysis of race and racism in the United States, including how racism interacts with other axes of power and oppression, using critical interdisciplinary methodologies.
• Evaluate and participate in collective action that supports racial equity and coalition building.

Outline:

Required Core Course:

• ETHN 001: Introduction to Ethnic Studies (3 units)

Required Elective Courses (Select 3):

• ETHN 002: Introduction to Chicanx & Latinx Studies (3 units)
• ETHN 003: Introduction to Black Studies (3 units)
• ETHN 004: Introduction to Native American Studies (3 units)
• ETHN 005: Introduction to Asian American Studies (3 units)

Elective Courses (Select 1):

• GEOG 002: Cultural Geography (3 units)
• SOC 002: Social Problems (3 units)
• SOC 005: Sociology of Gender and Sexuality (3 units)
• SOC 014: Introduction to Race & Ethnicity (3 units)
• SOC 015: Mexican American Culture & Society (3 units)
• SJS 021: Introduction to LGBTQIA Studies (3 units)
• PSY 009: Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination (3 units)
• PS 010/PS 006: Latinx Politics (3 units)
• CDE 202: Teaching in a Diverse Society (3 units)
• ANTH 002: Cultural Anthropology (3 units)
• ANTH 007: Anthropology of Religion, Magic, Witchcraft, and Healing (3 units)

Elective Courses (Select 1):

• ENG 021: Intro Latin American/Chicano Literature (3 units)
• ENG 022: Intro to African American Literature (3 units)
• ENG 024: Native American Literature (3 units)
• ENG 026: LGBTQ+ Literature (3 units)
• HIST 050: American Popular Culture (3 units)
• HIST 021: California History (3 units)

Careers:

The Ethnic Studies AA Degree prepares students for careers that work with under-served/minoritized populations in areas such as:

• Education and research
• Community and social services
• Public policy and government
• Human and health services
• Communications
• Museums
• Cultural centers