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Ethnic Studies

Ethnic Studies is an interdisciplinary and diverse field that gives voice to historically marginalized peoples and their perspectives by challenging systems of injustice and valuing diversity. This program seeks to educate students on progressive social change, reflect on the dynamics of power and knowledge, and promote multiple approaches to social justice issues while encouraging students to be informed and active citizens. Ethnic Studies allows students a particular focus on marginalized and disadvantaged populations while also de-centering the dominant cultural, political, and social ideals that have shaped western societies.

Dean Emilie Mitchell
Department Chair Dr. Winnie Tam Hung
Phone (916) 691-7130
Email hungw@crc.losrios.edu

Ethnic Studies (ETHNS) Courses

ETHNS 300 Introduction to Ethnic Studies

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 (formerly known as ENGWR 300).
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4; Local GE L6; Cal-GETC Area 4; Cal-GETC Area 6
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course introduces students to Ethnic Studies and the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances and intersectional identities of the four core Ethnic populations of Asian Americans, Chicana/o and Latina/o Americans, African Americans, and Native/Indigenous Americans within the United States.

ETHNS 320 Introduction to African American Studies

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 (formerly known as ENGWR 300).
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4; Local GE L6; Cal-GETC Area 4; Cal-GETC Area 6
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course introduces students to Ethnic Studies and the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances of African Americans within the United States. This course is interdisciplinary in nature and presents an overview of the cultural, economic, historic, social, and political issues in the life of African Americans in the United States. It will expose students of all ethnic backgrounds to the issues germane to the experience of African Americans in the United States. This course was formerly known as ETHNS 320 The African American Experience.

ETHNS 330 Introduction to Asian American Studies

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 (formerly known as ENGWR 300).
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4; Local GE L6; Cal-GETC Area 4; Cal-GETC Area 6
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course introduces students to Asian American Studies and the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances and intersectional identities of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This course was formerly known as ETHNS 330 The Asian American Experience in America.

ETHNS 344 The Latino Experience in America

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Completion of ENGWR 101 or ESLW340 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4; Cal-GETC Area 4
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This interdisciplinary course examines the social, political, economic, and cultural experience of racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States using concepts, theories, and terminology from distinct disciplines within the social sciences. As an ethnic studies course, it has a culturally relativistic approach. Specifically, this course redefines the lives of Latino American subgroups through their own experiences: from the inside looking out at the world.

ETHNS 350 Introduction to Native American Studies

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:ENGL C1000 (formerly known as ENGWR 300) with a grade of "C" or better.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4; Local GE L6; Cal-GETC Area 4; Cal-GETC Area 6
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course introduces students to Ethnic Studies and the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances and intersectional identities of Native Americans/American Indians within the United States. This course is a survey of traditional cultures of Native Americans/American Indians focusing on the social, religious, economic, and artistic practices. The antiquity, distribution, and linguistic histories of Native American/American Indian cultures are integrated with the contemporary status of Native peoples regarding social change and adaptation.

ETHNS 360 Introduction to Chicana/o/x Studies

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 (formerly known as ENGWR 300).
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4; Local GE L6; Cal-GETC Area 4; Cal-GETC Area 6
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course introduces students to the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances and intersectional identities of Chicana/o/x Americans within the United States. Specifically, this course examines and redefines the lives of Chicana/o/x Americans through their own experiences from the inside looking out at the world. This course was formerly known as ETHNS 340 Chicanos/Mexican Americans in the U.S.