As an academic field, Ethnic Studies focuses on the study of four racial-ethnic groups of color: African Americans, Asian Americans, Latina/o Americans, and Native Americans. The field explores the identities, institutional racism these groups have faced, their responses or resilience, and their diverse contributions to American multicultural society.
Ethnic Studies assists all students to develop and utilize a critical lens to foster empowerment, cultural humility, resilience, hope, self-worth, and community solidarity in a way that is responsive to all our students.
Social Justice Studies, AA-T
State Control Number: 42712
Program Code: SJS.CSUGE.AA-T or SJS.IGETC.AA-T
Approved for Federal Financial Aid: Yes
The Associate in Arts for Transfer in Social Justice Studies is designed for students who would like to transfer to a California State University (CSU) to complete a bachelor’s degree with a major in Social Justice Studies. Students who complete the degree meet minimum CSU eligibility requirements as upper-division transfer and fulfill major preparation requirements for admission to a major that has been deemed similar. The major provides students the interdisciplinary exploration of social and identity issues of social justice and prepares students for future humanitarian, social worker, advocacy, and social justice consultant.
To earn this degree complete the major coursework listed here with “C” grades or better and the following graduation requirements: 60 CSU transferable units; either the CSU General Education or IGETC pattern; the Basic/Golden 4 requirements; and a 2.0 minimum overall CSU GPA. Courses used in the major may also be counted in the general education areas. Courses used for this major may also be used to earn other degrees at VVC.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SOC 107 | Introduction to Race and Ethnicity | 3.0 |
| HIST 155 | Women in U.S. History | 3.0 |
| Required Core Elective | ||
| Choose one course not already used. | 3.0 | |
| Social Problems | ||
| Native American History | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Geography | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Chicanx and Latinx Literature | ||
| List A | ||
| Select three courses from at least two of the following areas: | 9.0 | |
| Area 1: History or Government | ||
| Native American History | ||
| Politics of Middle East and North Africa | ||
| Area 2: Arts and Humanities | ||
| History and Appreciation of Dance | ||
| Area 3: Social Science | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Native American Literature | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Geography | ||
| Introduction to Global Studies | ||
| Politics of Middle East and North Africa | ||
| Global Problems/Issues | ||
| Area 4: Quantitative Reasoning and Research Methods | ||
| Only one course from Area 4 may be used. | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Statistics With Skills Support | ||
| Introduction to Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Area 5: Major Preparation | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| Native American History | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Geography | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Chicanx and Latinx Literature | ||
| Total Units | 18 | |
Ethnic Studies Certificate of Achievement
State Control Number: 42656
Program Code: ETH.ETST.CA
Approved for Federal Financial Aid: Pending
This certificate covers a wide range of topics including migration, land tenure, social movements, social inequality and social justice, labor history, and ethnic, race, and gender politics and relations in the United States. Students will gain the ability to demonstrate a basic understanding in such areas as education, social services, government, business, law, cultural and labor organizations, and communications.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ETH 100 | Japanese Experience in America | 3.0 |
| ETH 101 | Introduction to Chichana/o Studies | 3.0 |
| ETH 102 | Introduction to African American Studies | 3.0 |
| ETH 103 | Asians in America | 3.0 |
| ETH 104 | Introduction to Native American Studies | 3.0 |
| ETH 105 | Ethnic and Racial Minorites | 3.0 |
| Total Units | 18 | |
Ethnic Studies Courses
This course is an in-depth survey of the history of Japanese immigrants and their descendants in America from the 19th century to the present. Topics such as the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during the 1940s and the long-range effects of internment will illustrate the unique experience often marginalized by American History. The course is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to more fully understand the experience of Japanese immigrants and their descendants in America.
Recommended Preparation: ENGL 101.0
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to both UC/CSU
Provides an interdisciplinary survey of Chicana/o culture and heritage through the centuries with an emphasis on the contemporary experience in the United States. Analyzes the economic, political, social, cultural and intellectual elements of the Chicana/o community and studies the changing roles of the Chicana/o in American society.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to both UC/CSU
This course provides a study of African American culture and heritage from the 1600s to the present. It analyzes the economic, political, social, artistic, and intellectual elements of the African American community. The course also explores concepts such as racialization, the intersection of class and gender, and liberation while paying particular attention to the significant impact that African Americans have had on American culture as a whole.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to both UC/CSU
A survey course that examines the experience of Asian American groups (Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Filipinos, Koreans, Malaysian, and other Asian Americans) from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. The course emphasizes these themes as it considers each immigrant group: stereotypes, push and pull factors in immigration, labor experiences, racism and discrimination in American society as applied to Asian Americans, contributions of Asian Americans to American society, community life before and since World War II, problems of the Asian American community today.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to both UC/CSU
An introduction to the interdisciplinary field of Native American Studies, exploring the complexity and diversity of the Indigenous Peoples of the lands now called North America, with an emphasis on the lands now called the United States. It is centered on perspectives from Native North American Indigenous People and their Nations directly, gaining further insight from 'Western' academic fields such as the biophysical sciences, humanities, social sciences, and critical social theory, such as the study of race, power, and class. Connecting Indigenous traditions with the work Indigenous Nations have and continue to do across the past, present, and future will be emphasized, especially around resistance and resilience, decolonization, environmental management, and sovereignty-building.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
ETH 105 surveys the major ethnic and racial minorities in the United States to provide students with a better understanding of the socio-economic, cultural, and political practices and institutions that support or challenge racism, and racial and ethnic inequalities. The course also studies historical and contemporary patterns of interaction between intersectional identities of the four core ethnic populations of Asian Americans, Chicanx/Latinx, African Americans, and Native/Indigenous Americans within the United States.
Recommended Preparation: ENGL 101.0
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
Ethnic Studies 106 surveys the contemporary status of ethnic women in the United States. Students analyze the lived experiences of women in Native American, African American, Asian American, and Latina communities in the United States with a special emphasis on agency and group affirmation. Topics include anti-racism, feminism, and equity.
Recommended Preparation: ENGL 101.0 or ENGL 101H
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are statements of the kind of learning a program hopes a student will achieve. The PLOs describe the knowledge, skills, problem-solving, communication and values that apply to all certificates and/or degrees within that program.
Upon completion of this program, students should be able to:
-
To demonstrate a basic understanding of the core concepts in the ethnic studies field.
-
Demonstrate the ability to make connections between ethnicity/race and other aspects of social life (i.e. economy, politics, cultural values, and gender relations).
-
Analyze both historic and contemporary patterns and issues in multi-ethnic societies
-
Students will be able to identify and analyze the causes of inequities in the United States.
-
Students will identify and analyze social policies that have the potential to alleviate inequalities.