Ethnic Diversity in America

Ethnic studies courses operate from the consideration that race and racism have been, and continue to be, profoundly powerful social and cultural forces in American society. This course addresses the history, culture, and struggles of the various groups that have influenced the history of this nation. Many times we will address well-known historical events but from the perspective of the different ethnic/racial groups.

Unit 1: Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in America

Unit 2: First Nations - Indigenous Peoples and Native Americans

Unit 3: Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders

Unit 4: African American Studies OR Chicano/Latino American Studies (depends on class schedule)

Unit 5: Arab & Muslim Americans

Unit 6: European Immigration

The major purpose of this course is to educate students to be politically, socially, and economically conscious about their personal connections to local and national history.

Ethnic Studies courses focus on themes of social justice, social responsibility, and social change. The course spans from past to present, from politics to social reform, allowing students to identify similar social patterns and universal qualities present in other societies, including their own.

• To improve literacy and encourage critical thinking.

• To understand the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to race relations.

• To recognize that democratic ideals and political systems are often achieved at a high price, remain vulnerable, and are constantly changing due to social unrest and demand.

• To relate current issues to their historical, geographical, political, economic, and cultural context, and gain the skills needed to participate in democratic society.

• To consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations and events from a variety of perspectives.

• To produce citizens that are capable of making educated decisions based on a better understanding of the political and social system that have shaped our modern world.

• Students will improve their ability to learn independently by drawing generalizations from related articles, literature, primary sources, data & graphs, political cartoons, video sources, and diagrams.