Ethnic Studies


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I hope to use dialogue and culture as a means of bringing people of various cultures together, and using that as a way to resolve conflict.

– Herbie Hancock

Ethnic Studies is the interdisciplinary study of historically marginalized racial/ethnic populations in the United States.  Students analyze how the dynamics of racism and institutionalized discrimination have impacted African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Chicanos/Latinos, and Native Americans and how these groups have struggled for social justice and equality. As such, students examine the histories, cultures, literatures, and politics of communities of color so that they can attain the knowledge that is vital for improving the lives and communities of various racial/ethnic groups and for re-defining what has popularly been referred to as “American.”

All courses in Ethnic Studies fulfill the Cultural Diversity requirement for the associate degree and meet the CSU GE Breadth Requirements.  Most courses also meet the Intersegmental GE Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) for CSUs and UCs.

At Cypress College, the Ethnic Studies Department currently offers associate in arts degrees in Ethnic Studies, African-American Studies, and Chicana/o Studies.

Martin Luther King speaking, along with various other men

What You’ll Study

  • American Ethnic Studies
  • African-American Studies
  • African-American History
  • Chicana/o Studies
  • Chicana/o History
  • Chicana/o and Latina/o Contemporary Issues
  • Native American History
  • Asian Pacific American Studies
  • Asian Pacific American History
  • American Social Justice Movements

Catalog

Visit our catalog for more information about the degrees and certificates, courses, and program learning outcomes for students majoring in Ethnic Studies.


Careers & Salary

Careers

  • Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teacher
  • Community Developer
  • Researcher
  • Lawyer
  • Public Health Worker
  • Social Worker
  • Journalist
  • Urban and Regional Planner
  • Politician
  • Public Policy Analyst
  • Public Policy Administrator

Salary

  • Low: $41k
  • Average: $78k
  • High: $181k

Program Mapper

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Faculty

  • Steven Estrada
  • Giovanni Hortua
  • Daniel Joseph Lind

Adjunct Faculty

  • Citlalli Anahuac
  • Dianna Darahona Carrillo
  • Lawrence Hashima
  • Bryan Lawson
  • Tatiana Pedroza
  • Marisol Rivera

Ethnic Studies Department

Location: Humanities Building, Room 238
T: (714) 484-7185
Department Chair: Steven Estrada, sestrada@cypresscollege.edu