Ethnic Studies

Ethnic Studies is the interdisciplinary critical and comparative study of race and ethnicity, focusing on the experiences of African American, Native American/Indigenous, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and Chicana/o/x/Latina/o/x populations. Ethnic Studies provides an intersectional and critical lens for studying racial, ethnic, gender and class identities, and for interrogating structural racism, power, knowledge, and racialization in culture, politics, economy, and law. Drawing from the intellectual traditions of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities, students of Ethnic Studies attain an understanding of the historical legacies and contemporary manifestations of racism, discrimination, inequity, and movements for social justice. Through culturally responsive pedagogy, students of Ethnic Studies gain cultural competency and are exposed to perspectives and methods informed by a deep commitment to social justice, cross-cultural collaboration, liberation from systems of oppression, and social and institutional transformation.

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Programs Offered

Degrees and Certificates

Associate Degree

Ethnic Studies

Certificates of Achievement

Ethnic Studies

Associate Degree Requirements

An Associate degree is granted upon successful completion of a program of study with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) in degree applicable coursework and a minimum of 60 degree applicable semester units, including:

Completion of the area of emphasis with a grade of C or higher in each course, or with a P if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher;
Completion of one of the following general education patterns: SMC GE, CSU GE, or IGETC;
Completion of the SMC Global Citizenship graduation requirement.

Certificate of Achievement Requirements

A Certificate of Achievement is granted upon successful completion of a program of study with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) and a designated minimum number of units, including:

Completion of the area of emphasis with a grade of C or higher in each course, or with a P if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher;
Completion of at least 50% of area of emphasis units at Santa Monica College. Department Chairs have the discretion to waive the 50% minimum units required at SMC to meet the major or area of emphasis. All major coursework must be completed with a “C” or better grade.

Catalog Rights

Transfer Preparation

Many colleges/universities offer baccalaureate degrees in this field. Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university should complete the lower-division major requirements and the general education pattern for the specific transfer institution. SMC has articulation agreements with the many UC and CSU campuses, as well as several private and out-of-state institutions.

Exact major requirements for UC and CSU campuses can be found online at assist.org.

A listing of private, nonprofit California colleges and universities can be found online at aiccu.edu. For articulation agreements between SMC and some of these institutions see smc.edu/articulation.

Ethnic Studies, Associate Degree or Certificate of Achievement

See Addendum

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

Analyze and articulate concepts such as race and racism, racialization, ethnicity, equity, ethno-centrism, eurocentrism, white supremacy, self- determination, liberation, decolonization, sovereignty, imperialism, settler colonialism, and anti-racism as analyzed in any one or more of the following: Native American Studies, African American Studies, Asian American Studies, and Latina and Latino American Studies;
Articulate how historical forces shape constructions of race and ethnicity, and the impact of those constructions on African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinx Americans, and/or Native Americans at particular points in time;
Articulate significant questions and demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between political, economic, and social dimensions of race and ethnicity and their relationship to institutions and systems of power;
Analyze significant questions about the relationship between cultural expressions and efforts to maintain, resist and/or transform privilege and oppression;
Demonstrate an understanding of the connections between cultural expression and power/privilege;
Articulate an understanding of the factors surrounding the emergence of identity, resistance and protest in contesting racial and ethnic marginalization;
Critically compare expressions of resistance among different groups or at different points in time and examine their impact;
Describe and actively engage with anti-racist and anti-colonial issues and the practices and movements in Native American, African American, Asian American, and Latinx communities.

Area of Emphasis: (18 units)

Required Core Courses: (6 units)

ETH ST 1,Introduction to Ethnic Studies(3)

and either

ETH ST 6,Introduction to Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x Studies(3)

ETH ST 7,Introduction to African American and Black Studies(3)

Required Elective: Select 1 course from the following: (3 units)

ENGL 10,Race and Ethnicity in Literature of the U.S.(3)

HIST 10,Ethnicity and American Culture(3)

SOCIOL 34,Racial and Ethnic Relations in American Society(3)

Inter-Ethnic Studies: Select 2 courses from the following: (6 units)

AHIS 71,African American Art History(3)

COM ST 38,Introduction to Latina/o/x Communication Studies(3)

ENGL 34,Afro-American Literature(3)

ENGL 41,Introduction to Asian American Literature(3)

ENGL 53,Latino Literature in the United States(3)

ENGL 54,Indigenous Literatures of North America(3)

ETH ST 6,Introduction to Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x Studies (if not used as a Required Core course)(3)

ETH ST 7,Introduction to African American and Black Studies (if not used as a Required Core course)(3)

HIST 16,African-American History(3)

HIST 41,Native-American History(3)

HIST 42,The Latina/o Experience in the United States(3)

HIST 43,Mexican-American History(3)

HIST 62,Asian-American History(3)

SOCIOL 30,African Americans in Contemporary Society(3)

SOCIOL 31,Latinas/os in Contemporary Society(3)

SOCIOL 32,Asian Americans In Contemporary Society(3)

Intra-Ethnic Studies: Select 1 one course from the following: (3 units)

ANTHRO 2,Cultural Anthropology(3)

COM ST 20,Agitational and Protest Communication(3)

FILM 7,American Cinema: Crossing Cultures(3)

ENGL 10,Race and Ethnicity in Literature of the U.S. (if not used as a Required Elective course)(3)

HIST 10,Ethnicity and American Culture (if not used as a Required Elective course)(3)

MEDIA 10,Media, Gender, and Race(3)

SOCIOL 34,Racial and Ethnic Relations in American Society (if not used as a Required Elective course)(3)