Skip to main content
Department of Ethnic Studies

African American Studies Minor

The minor consists of a minimum of twenty-nine (29) quarter units. Students must complete 3 lower-division courses, and 4 upper-division courses (including an applied learning experience).

Course Requirements
Lower Division requirements (3 courses total):

  1. Two of the following courses focused on African Americans in the U.S.:
    • ETHN 30. Introduction to African American Studies
    • ETHN 35: African American Women Writers (also listed as ENGL 35G and WGST 14)
    • ETHN 36. African American Literature (also listed as ENGL 35)
    • ETHN 95. African American Independent Filmmakers
  2. One of the following lower-division courses emphasizing comparative, cross-racial, multiracial, and intersectional analysis of race and ethnicity:
    • ETHN 5. Intro to the Study of Race & Ethnicity in the U.S.
    • ETHN 55. Cross-Racial Electoral Politics
    • ETHN 59. Feminist Approaches to Disability Studies (also listed as WGST 59)
    • ETHN 60. Introduction to Journalism: Diversity and Community (also listed as COMM 40EL)
    • ETHN 65. Drama of Diversity (also listed as THTR 65)
    • ETHN 69. Literature by Women Writers of Color (also listed as ENGL 69 and WGST 15)
    • ETHN 70. Multicultural Literature of the U.S. (also listed as ENGL 39/39G and WGST 16)
    • ETHN 96. Race, Class, and Culture through Film

 

Upper Division requirements (4 courses total):

  1. Two (2) of the following courses focused on African Americans in the U.S.:
    • ETHN 130. Studies in African American Literature (also listed as ENGL 135)
    • ETHN 130A. African American Autobiography
    • ETHN 130H. African American Literature (also listed as ENGL 135H)
    • ETHN 131. In Memory of Toni Morrison
    • ETHN 132. The History of Hip-Hop (also listed as MUSC 132)
    • ETHN 132A. African American Art (also listed as ARTS 146)
    • ETHN 133. Malcolm and Martin (also listed as HIST 168)
    • ETHN 135. African Americans in Postwar Film (also listed as HIST 185)
    • ETHN 136. African Theatre from the Black Perspective (also listed as ENGL 129 and THTR 171 formerly 161)
    • ETHN 137. African Theatre Pursuit of Freedom (also listed as HIST 155)
    • ETHN 138. Black Migration in the World (also listed as HIST 157)
    • ETHN 138A. Black Girl Magic (also listed as HIST 181)
    • ETHN 148 - Music of Africa (also listed as MUSC 136)
    • ETHN 149. Civil Rights and Anti-Colonial Movements (also listed as HIST 153)
    • ETHN 172. Whiteness Studies in the 21st Century (also listed as HIST 183)
    • ETHN 178. Race and World War II (also listed as HIST 178)
  2. One of the following upper-division courses emphasizing comparative, cross-racial, multiracial, and intersectional analysis of race and ethnicity:
    • ETHN 127. Race and Mass Incarceration
    • ETHN 150. Urban Education and Multiculturalism
    • ETHN 151. Race, Class, and Gender in the United States (also listed as SOCI 153 and WGST 115)
    • ETHN 152. Multiracial Identities
    • ETHN 153. Minority Politics in the United States (also listed as POLI 153)
    • ETHN 154. Women of Color in the United States (also listed as WGST 112)
    • ETHN 155. Racism in the U.S.
    • ETHN 157. Race, Gender, Class, and the College Experience (also listed as WGST 114)
    • ETHN 158. Race, Gender, and Politics in the News (also listed as COMM 168A and WGST 117)
    • ETHN 159. Race, Gender, and Public Health in the News (also listed as COMM 164A and WGST 116)
    • ETHN 160. Documentary Making for Social Justice
    • ETHN 161. Creating Diverse College-Going Communities
    • ETHN 162. Diversity and the Media
    • ETHN 163. Multiracial Communities in Central California
    • ETHN 164. Popular Music, Race, and American Culture (also listed as MUSC 134)
    • ETHN 166. Race and Religion in the United States (also listed as RSOC 184)
    • ETHN 167. Race and Inequality (also listed as SOCI 175)
    • ETHN 168. Contemporary Struggles of Writers of Color
    • ETHN 170. Immigrant Businesses in the United States (also listed as SOCI 150)
    • ETHN 171. Immigrant Communities (also listed as SOCI 180)
    • ETHN 172. Whiteness Studies in the 21st Century (also listed as HIST 183)
    • ETHN 174. Youth Activism & Contemporary Social Movements
    • ETHN 175. Black Power (also listed as HIST 113)
    • ETHN 178. Race and World War II (also listed as HIST 178)
    • ETHN 180. Race, Voting, Campaigns, and Elections
    • ETHN 184. Seminar – Women of Color in the U.S.
    • ETHN 185. Seminar in Racial and Ethnic Politics (also listed as POLI195DW)
    • ETHN 187. Seminar - Youth Activism & Contemporary Social Movements
    • ETHN 188. Seminar – Civil Rights & Anti-Colonial Movements
  3. A service-learning course, internship experience, or other equivalent work directly engaged with African American community or communities on or off campus (equivalent to one course with at minimum a 2-unit allocation). Examples include but are not limited to:
    • ETHN 198. Internship

 

Experiential Learning and Study Abroad
Students pursuing this minor are strongly encouraged, but not required, to focus on African Americans in the US for the experiential learning requirement in the Core Curriculum.

Navigate here to Black Studies Minor
Black Studies Minor