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Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies

The Ethnic Studies graduate program seeks to teach students to understand the unique and interlocking experiences of racially marginalized groups and to analyze how race intersects with other forces of social differentiation, such as gender, sexuality, and class, in the national and international contexts. The program recognizes the importance not only of the history of racial exclusion and marginalization but also the creative ways in which various racial groups sustain their humanity through cultural preservation, transference, and renewal. Ethnic Studies is committed to nurturing students to become culturally aware, astute, civic-minded individuals who strive to strengthen the communities in which they reside. Because the study of ethnic groups intrinsically reveals how race structures life chances and opportunities, the scholarly orientation of this proposed department reflects a commitment to meaningful changes in public policy and social life.