Contact Information
- Division
- Liberal Arts
- Dean
- Patrick Marasso
- Associate Deans
- Soni Verma, Maria Villasenor
- Division Office
- W 107, Rocklin Campus
Overview
Ethnic Studies is an interdisciplinary program of study that focuses on the experiences, contributions, and knowledge produced by historically underrepresented racially minoritized groups in the United States; with an intersectional focus on Native Americans, Black/African Americans, Asian Americans and the Chicanx & Latinx communities. The Ethnic Studies department houses the Chicana/o Studies Associated of Arts Degree.
TRANSFER MAJOR REQUIREMENTS in Ethnic Studies (including Black/African American Studies, Native American Studies, Asian American Studies, & Chicana/o Studies) are available in the Counseling Center. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for specific transfer requirements. Positions for which four-year graduates in Ethnic Studies are qualified include careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, and other helping professions.
Faculty
Melissa Leal
Assistant Professor, Ethnic Studies
B.A., California State University, Sacramento
Ph.D., University of California, Davis
Degrees/Certificates
Associate Degrees
Chicana and Chicano Studies
AA Degree
The Chicana and Chicano Studies (CHS) program at Sierra College offers students an interdisciplinary approach to a growing and dynamic field of study that draws from Anthropology, Art, History, Literature, Political Science, Psychology, Social Science, Sociology and Spanish. The Chicana and Chicano Studies Program prepares students for further study in Chicana and Chicano Studies or a social science or humanities course of study leading to BA, MA, and/or Ph.D. degrees. Chicana and Chicano Studies provides students with career opportunities in education, social work, law, public administration, community development, the arts, ecology, health, law enforcement, and business. Upon completion of the program, students will use critical thinking to gain a greater understanding of the diverse and complex experiences of persons who identify as American Latino, Chicana, Chicano, Chicanx, Xicana, Xicano, Chican@, Hispana, Hispanic, Hispano, Indo-Hispano, Latina, Latino, Latinx, Mexican American, South/Caribbean or Central American. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for more information on university admission and transfer requirements. Students must fulfill the following major requirements with grades of “C” or better, complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable semester units (12 of which must be completed at Sierra College) with a grade point average of at least 2.0 and complete one of the following three general education patterns:
- Sierra College Associate Degree Requirements;
- California State University General Education Breadth pattern;
- Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ETHN 0011 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| ETHN 0030 | Introduction to Chicana/o Studies | 3 |
| HIST 0023 | Chicano/Mexican American History | 3 |
| Select 3-5 units from the following: | 3-5 | |
| Elementary Spanish - Level I | ||
| Elementary Spanish - Level II | ||
| Intermediate Spanish - Level I | ||
| Intermediate Spanish - Level II | ||
| Intermediate Conversational Spanish | ||
| Spanish for the Healthcare Professions | ||
| Select 3 units from the following: | 3 | |
| Community and the Justice System | ||
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Native Peoples of North America | ||
| Native Peoples of California | ||
| History of the Arts of Africa, the Americas, and Oceania | ||
| Introduction to African American Studies | ||
| Federal Indian Law and Policy | ||
| Ethnic Images in Film | ||
| Introduction to Native American Studies | ||
| Teaching in a Diverse Society | ||
| The African American Experience in American History to 1877 | ||
| The African American Experience in American History since 1877 | ||
| California History | ||
| Native American History | ||
| Politics of the Developing World | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| First Year Seminar | ||
| Race, Ethnicity and Inequality | ||
| Introduction to Social Justice | ||
| Select 3 units from the following: | 3 | |
| Anthropology of Sex, Gender and Sexuality | ||
| History of Women in Art | ||
| Women in American History | ||
| Introduction to Women, Gender and Religion (Also WMST 0003) | ||
| Introduction to LGBT Studies/Queer Theory (Also WMST 0002) | ||
| Women and Politics in a Global Society | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Introduction to Women's Studies | ||
| Feminism and Social Action (Also SOC 0010) | ||
| Total Units | 18-20 | |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
AA or AS Degree
(formerly Social Science)
The Social and Behavioral Sciences degree provides students with a broad perspective on human behavior. Successful completion of the curriculum in Social and Behavioral Sciences offers students a breadth of knowledge that could be focused into single discipline degrees as well as applied to an interdisciplinary degree. By drawing from a select group of disciplines, students will study about themselves and others as members of a larger society. Topics and discussions strengthen students’ ability to gather and apply information, evaluate how societies and social subgroups operate, gain knowledge to apply to life and think critically. The courses emphasize a span of social and behavioral disciplines. Students should choose the emphasis appropriate to their transfer institution or areas of interest. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for more information on university admission and transfer requirements. Students must fulfill the following major requirements with grades of “C” or better, complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable semester units (12 of which must be completed at Sierra College) with a grade point average of at least 2.0 and complete one of the following three general education patterns:
- Sierra College Associate Degree Requirements;
- California State University General Education Breadth pattern;
- Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select 9 units from the following Behavioral Sciences: | 9 | |
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Native Peoples of North America | ||
| Introduction to Archaeology | ||
| Native Peoples of California | ||
| Magic, Witchcraft, Ritual, Myth and Religion | ||
| Anthropology of Sex, Gender and Sexuality | ||
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Communication Foundations | ||
| Performance of Diverse Literatures | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Mass Communication: Media and Society | ||
| Introduction to Ethnic Studies | ||
| Human Development Through the Lifespan | ||
| Child, Family, and Community | ||
| Child Growth and Development | ||
| Teaching in a Diverse Society | ||
| Principles of Nutrition | ||
| General Principles of Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Research Methods in Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Adjustment | ||
| Psychology of Death and Dying | ||
| Psychology of Intimate Relationships and Family (also HDEV 0021) | ||
| Psychology of Women | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Alcohol, Drugs and Society | ||
| Psychology and Film | ||
| Cultural Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| Race, Ethnicity and Inequality | ||
| The Family (also HDEV 0022) | ||
| Sociology of Women's Health | ||
| Introduction to Crime, Deviance, and Social Control | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Introduction to Hip Hop and Social Justice | ||
| Introduction to Social Justice | ||
| Select 9 units from the following Social Sciences: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Administration of Justice | ||
| Food, Society and the Environment | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural Business and Economics | ||
| Law and Society | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Sustainability | ||
| Introduction to African American Studies | ||
| Federal Indian Law and Policy | ||
| Ethnic Images in Film | ||
| Introduction to Native American Studies | ||
| Cultural Geography | ||
| Geography of California | ||
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Western Civilization to 1715 | ||
| Western Civilization since 1715 | ||
| History of the United States to 1877 | ||
| History of the United States since 1865 | ||
| The African American Experience in American History to 1877 | ||
| The African American Experience in American History since 1877 | ||
| History of Traditional East Asia | ||
| History of Modern East Asia | ||
| California History | ||
| Contemporary United States History | ||
| American Military History | ||
| Chicano/Mexican American History | ||
| Russian History - 10th Century to Present | ||
| Native American History | ||
| Women in American History | ||
| World History to 1500 | ||
| World History since 1500 | ||
| Introduction to LGBT Studies/Queer Theory (also WMST 2) | ||
| American Government | ||
| Comparative Government | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Russian and East European Political Systems | ||
| California Politics and Government | ||
| Politics of the Developing World | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| Politics of the Middle East | ||
| Terrorism | ||
| Introduction to Political Theory | ||
| Women and Politics in a Global Society | ||
| Introduction to Women's Studies | ||
| Total Units | 18 | |
ETHN 0011. Introduction to Ethnic Studies
Units: 3
Formerly known as SSCI 10
Hours: 54 lecture
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, Chicanx/Latinx Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans/American Indians within the United States. (CSU, UC)
ETHN 0014. Introduction to Asian American Studies
Units: 3
Hours: 54 lecture
Introduces students to Ethnic Studies and the diverse, institutional, cultural, and historical issues and experiences relating to the past and present life circumstances and intersectional identities of Asian Americans. (CSU, UC)
ETHN 0020. Introduction to African American Studies
Units: 3
Formerly known as SSCI 20
Hours: 54 lecture
Introduces students to Ethnic Studies and the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the present life circumstances of African Americans in the United States. The 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 centering African American voices. It will expose students of all ethnic backgrounds to the issues pertinent to the experience of African Americans. (CSU, UC)
ETHN 0028. Independent Study
Units: 1-3
Formerly known as SSCI 28
Designed for students interested in furthering their knowledge at an independent study level in an area where no specific curriculum offering is currently available. Independent study might include, but is not limited to, research papers, special subject area projects, and research projects. See Independent Study page in catalog. (CSU, UC-with unit limitation)
ETHN 0030. Introduction to Chicana/o Studies
Units: 3
Formerly known as SSCI 16
Hours: 54 lecture
Introductory study of the Mexican American/Latino experience in the United States. Offers an interdisciplinary approach to the examination of art, literature, film, language, ethnomusicology, culinary culture, folklore, religion, gender and immigration. Examines race, ethnicity and culture in the Chicano/Latino community and the creation of Ethnic Studies programs in the United States. (CSU, UC)
ETHN 0045. Federal Indian Law and Policy
Units: 3
Formerly known as SSCI 45
Hours: 54 lecture
In-depth study of American Indian cultures and the impact of state and federal laws pertaining to tribal sovereignty and self-governance. Covers the effects of and resistance to colonization and cultural appropriation upon American Indian cultures and religions. Students gain a practical understanding of the legal, political and cultural challenges faced by American Indian tribal nations in our own region and across the country. (CSU, UC)
ETHN 0050. Ethnic Images in Film
Units: 3
Formerly known as SSCI 50
Hours: 54 lecture
Interdisciplinary approach to study the intersections of ethnic culture, race, socio-economic class, and gender in the United States through the medium of film. Examines film content for representation and accuracy, the multiple dimensions of media stereotypes, and the authenticity of diverse ethnic experiences with particular emphasis on gender, race and class. Note: not a course in film making or film criticism. (CSU, UC)
ETHN 0053. Introduction to Native American Studies
Units: 3
Formerly known as SSCI 41
Hours: 54 lecture
Survey of the cultures of Native American/American Indians within the United States focusing on the social, religious, economic, and artistic nature of various native groups. Examination of the antiquity, distribution, and linguistic history of native cultures. Addresses the contemporary status of native cultural traditions taking into account social change and adaptation. Emphasis on geographic, cultural, historical, and botanical environment of local native cultures. An optional field trip may be included. (CSU, UC)
Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs)
- Read and discuss the influences of race, ethnicity, religion, economic status, gender, and sexual orientation.
- Evaluate and examine theories of race relations and the persistence of racism, classism, and sexism.
- Analyze the concepts of individual/institutional racism, cycles of oppression, matrix of domination and policies of exclusion.
- Identify, recognize and appreciate the extensive contributions of historically marginalized people in the formation of the U.S.
