What can I do with a degree in Black Studies, Chicana/Chicano Studies, and Ethnic Studies?
These majors are an approach to the study of ethnic groups in society. As a major, you gain knowledge of various ethnic groups and develop essential research, writing, analysis, critical thinking, and cultural awareness skills.
Each major provides a curriculum that critically examines the historical and contemporary experiences of minority groups in the context of U.S. society and institutions. Each major stresses the analysis of the interrelationships in each community's historical background, cultural patterns, and artistic expressions to acquire a well-rounded, in-depth understanding of the contemporary interface between Asian Americans, African Americans/Black Americans, Chicanas/Chicanos, and American Indians/Native Americans and U.S. society.
Each major strives to incorporate various disciplines, such as anthropology, art, education, history, law, literary criticism, political science, public policy, and sociology, in its approach.
The four core disciplines are defined by their attention to the systemic power relations that arise from institutional, cultural, and global productions of "race." Through studying power and its linkages to race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality, students understand historical movements for social transformation, resistance, and liberation.
While the main focus is on the experiences of racialized people in the United States, the program also understands that race and racism are not unique to the United States.
The program is committed to scholarly excellence and intellectual rigor and contributes to global discourses regarding human freedom. The program teaches students about the social dynamics of race, racism, structural violence, colonialism, legalized discrimination, assimilation, and the resulting impacts of such processes. Moreover, the program provides an in-depth understanding of our racial/ethnic diversity, indigenous and liberationist epistemologies, community and identity formation, artistic productions, and social, legal, and public policy activism.
Knowledge gained from courses will enhance the quality of your life by freeing you from limiting, narrow perspectives and stereotypical thinking. It will help you prepare for a society that increasingly requires the ability to negotiate across cultural boundaries and respect differences. Furthermore, you will learn the importance of building coalitions and social networks through which you can contribute to the common social good. Students who come from ethnic communities will feel personally empowered by the study of their histories and cultures.
Several other disciplines complement a major in Black Studies, Chicana/Chicano Studies, and Ethnic Studies. Areas like Sociology, Family Studies, Political Science, History, Speech Communication, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Anthropology are some. Combining any of these fields provides vital preparation for graduate or professional programs in Law, Sociology, Criminal Justice, American Indian/Native American Studies, Asian American Studies, Black Studies, Chicana/Chicano Studies, and Ethnic Studies Education and Cultural Studies.
Students in other majors, notably Business, Agriculture, Home Economics, and Education, are increasingly finding the field of American Indian/Native American Studies, Asian American Studies, Black Studies, Chicana/Chicano Studies, and Ethnic Studies an exciting complement to their primary concentration and declaring minors or second majors these programs.
Representative Job Titles and Areas of Specialization
Administrative Analysts
Advertising Agent
Bank Officer
Bilingual Education Consultant
City Planner *
Claims Adjuster
Community Organization Worker
Customs/Immigration Inspector
Diplomats
Diversity Trainer
Environmental Justice
Foreign Service Officer
Grant/Proposal Writer
Group Counselor
Human Services Worker
Immigrant Rights Activist
Industrial Relations Specialist
Intelligence Analyst
International Relations
Lawyer *
Lobbyists
Management Trainee
Museum Curator *
Personnel Analyst
Politician
Probation Officer
Professor/Instructor/Teacher *
Psychologist *
Public Administrator
Public Relations
Rehabilitation Counselor *
Researcher
Restorative justice Activist
Revenue Agent
Social Worker *
Staff Analyst
Substance Abuse Counselor
Union Organizer
Writer/Editor
*Many of these careers will require further training or degrees, but your foundation in Ethnic Studies provides employers with the understanding that you are learned and trained to serve a diverse and evolving world.