Ethnic Studies at CSU Sacramento

Ethnic Studies celebrates its 40^th. Anniversary. 2010. At Sac State.

Ethnic Studies at CSU Sacramento has been in existence since 1969. Civil Right demonstrations, Vietnam War protests, student takeovers of university administration buildings, urban riots, and the rise of ethnic and feminist identity were all part of the cultural milieu during this important period of U.S. history. Another precursor to the founding of ethnic studies was Dr. Martin Luther King’s visit to the campus on Oct.16, 1967.

In the fall of 1968, the university held a week-long “Symposium on Racism in America” that featured a number of prominent social activists. During the 1968- 1969 academic year students, faculty and campus organizations began to push a proposal to create an academic program that was multiethnic, offering coursework on African Americans, Asian Americans, Mexican American and Native Americans. Each component of the program would have a director and all would be grouped in an Ethnic Studies Center.

The first course in Ethnic Studies were taught in the fall of 1970, many of them were cross listed with other departments. The Ethnic Studies center functioned for many years with its own budget to support a small cadre of faculty. In 1997 Ethnic Studies was formally granted departmental status.

For more see the descriptions of the various programs and the biographies of the core faculty.