Ethnic Studies Minor

Ethnic and Gender Studies Student Outside at Campus Event.

Embrace Diversity, Challenge Assumptions, Empower Change.

The Multicultural and Ethnic Studies minor is designed to enhance understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity. This program invites students to investigate how differences shape our lives and influence societal conflicts, power dynamics, and cultural validation. Through core courses like "Introduction to Comparative Ethnic Studies" and the "Capstone Seminar in Ethnic and Gender Studies," students develop critical thinking skills that encourage them to move beyond their own cultural perspectives. They engage with the roots of racism, classism, homophobia, and ethnocentrism, examining both systems of oppression and acts of resistance. With a range of electives—from African American art to cross-cultural psychology—students gain insights essential for making informed decisions in an interconnected world.

Program Highlights

  • Required courses - 18 credits
  • Study diverse cultures and their societal impact
  • Strengthen critical thinking around power and oppression
  • Choose from a wide range of relevant courses

Course Requirements

Minor in Ethnic Studies - 18 Credits

The Multicultural and Ethnic Studies minor is designed to promote an understanding of and appreciation for the richness of differences among the people of the world. Promoting this understanding involves exploring the nature of difference and examining its impact on our lives and our ways of thinking. It also involves analyzing the sources of conflict among different groups and the structures of power that determine which cultures are validated and are invited into power and which cultures are oppressed and silenced. The goal of all ethnic studies courses is for students to develop critical perspective – that is to go beyond the limits of our own cultural and social background to see the world from different points of view. Such skill is critical for anyone who wants to make informed personal, professional, and political choices in the complex global community. Students will learn methodologies that challenge racism, classism, homophobia, and ethnocentrism. They will use this awareness to critique the assumptions and belief systems that shape social institutions and to investigate the complexities of both systems of oppression and various practices of resistance and revolt.

Required Courses - 6 Credits

 

Elective Courses - 12 Credits

(At least two courses must be from outside the student’s major)

What Can You Do with a Minor in Ethnic and Gender Studies

A minor in Ethnic and Gender Studies equips you with valuable skills and insights that can be applied in various fields. Here are some potential career paths and opportunities:

  • Community Organizer
  • Counseling and Social Work
  • Diversity and Inclusion Specialist
  • Human Resources
  • Media and Communications
  • Non-Profit Sector
  • Public Policy Advisor
  • Research Analyst
  • Social Justice Advocate
Two students smiling wearing WSU shirts in the RIDE Center.

Be Effective and Make an Impact

Explore the complexities of gender, ethnicity, and intersectionality while developing essential skills such as research, critical thinking, advocacy, and effective communication. Through hands-on experiences in outreach with various organizations—including schools, clinics, and food pantries—you’ll connect academic knowledge to real-world issues. As scholar-activists, students actively contribute to their communities and beyond. Our program, the only one of its kind in New England, integrates race, class, and gender, offering powerful career preparation alongside courses that meet core and state diversity requirements.

Ethnic and Gender Studies faculty holding a sign that says welcome to the department.

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Ethnic Studies Minor