American Ethnic Studies

American Ethnic Studies exposes students to key content, methodologies, and theories in the comparative and interdisciplinary study of African Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans, and Chicanos in the United States.

Undergraduate Program

The Department of American Ethnic Studies offers the following undergraduate program:

• The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in American ethnic studies
• A minor in diversity

Bachelor of Arts

Department Admission Requirements

Major Requirements

1. Core courses (35 credits):
   1. 15 credits of AES 150, AES 151, AES 212
   2. 15 credits of AFRAM 101, AAS 101, CHSTU 101
   3.   5 credits of AES 495 or AES 496
2. Concentration: 25 credits in one of the following: African American Studies, Asian/Pacific American Studies, Chicano Studies, Comparative American Ethnic Studies. See department for list of concentration courses.  Some concentration requirements may be met while fulfilling the core courses requirement. 
3. Electives:  Sufficient electives to reach 60 credits of approved courses applied to the major.

Minor

Diversity minor requirements:  25 credits to include the following:

1. One foundation course (5 credits) chosen from the following:  AES 151, ANTH 330, HSTAA 105, LSJ/CHID 332, PSYCH 250, WOMEN 200
2. A minimum of four additional courses, with at least one each from four of the five following categories (20 credits):  arts/cultural; historical; global; contemporary/institutional; applications.  A list of courses by category is available at http://depts.washington.edu/divminor/.
3. Minimum 15 credits must be completed in residence at the UW.  Maximum 10 credits from one department and maximum 10 credits from the student's major department may be applied toward the minor.

Diversity minor students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship, volunteer project, research project, study abroad program, intergroup dialogue course, or some applied learning opportunity that promotes the goals of the minor.

Contact information for the minor is as follows:  Address:  B505 Padelford, Box 354380; Phone:  206-616-5789; Email:  divminor@u.washington.edu.  Program director is Professor Rick Bonus at rbonus@u.washington.edu. 

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

• Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes:  The American Ethnic Studies curriculum prepares undergraduate students to understand the breadth, key content, methodologies, and theories in the field of ethnic students as well as comparative interdisciplinary knowledge of African American, Asian/Pacific American, and Chicano issues.  The major is designed to help students acquire the skills to think and write critically about race, class, and ethnicity in social and historical contexts and multiple categories of social diversity. 
• Instructional and Research Facilities:  Writing Center
• Honors Options Available:  None
• Research, Internships, and Service Learning:  Students have the opportunity to become actively engaged in personalized research and discovery through independent study and research courses in each program concentration.
• Department Scholarships:  None
• Student Organizations/Associations:  Ethnic Studies Student Association