Ethnic Studies
About the Program
Join Us for LGBTQ+ History MonthVirtual Talk with Author Sa’ed Atshan
Read more about the book and Atshan's bio on the LBGTQ+HM page. Event co-sponsored by Foothill College Ethnic Studies Department and LGBTQ+HM Committee. |
Why Ethnic Studies
Many students feel upon completing their K-12 education that culturally relevant curriculum has been missing from their education. This is no accident. As Angela Valenzuela explains in her book Subtractive Schooling, traditional models of education use a combination of assimilationist practices and policies to push students towards assimilating into the dominant culture of the United States.
Ethnic Studies courses can be a space that resists subtractive schooling by embracing and highlighting the culture of students, providing students with opportunities to gain insight into their own positionalities and ultimately have pride in themselves.
Our Approach
Interdisciplinary
Ethnic Studies is an examination of major concepts and controversies in the study of racial and ethnic difference in the United States. In Ethnic Studies courses, students explore race and ethnicity as historical and contemporary categories of identification in the context of social inequality. Through the lenses of history, sociology, politics, economics, law, science, art, literature, culture, and social justice, Ethnic Studies courses examine and authenticate the values, contributions, and lived experiences of historically marginalized groups.
Intersectional
Ethnic Studies explores issues of identity and positionality as they relate to race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, socioeconomic class and labor, national origin, mixed heritages, religion/spirituality, generation, and ability.
Intentional
At Foothill, we believe that successful Ethnic Studies courses:
- Implement decolonial pedagogy, providing students with the tools to undertake a systemic critique of power and the traumatic history of colonialism and racism, while shifting traditional classroom dynamics toward a student-driven liberatory process.
- Are adaptive to and shaped by community knowledge, helping students further understand the racial struggles they have already witnessed in their lives and in the United States.
- Use culturally relevant, intersectional approaches that allow students to see all of themselves in the course material.
Courses Satisfy CSU New Ethnic Studies Requirement
All Foothill Ethnic Studies courses satisfy CSU Area D and Area F, CSU’s new Ethnic Studies requirement as of Fall 2021.
The courses also satisfy Foothill GE requirements for Area I, Humanities, and Area VI, United States Cultures & Communities.
Select a course number to view course outline.
ETHN 51 Introduction To Ethnic Studies
ETHN 52 Introduction To African American Studies
ETHN 53 Introduction To Latinx Studies
ETHN 54 Introduction To Native American Studies
ETHN 55 Introduction To Asian American Studies
See course catalog for detailed descriptions.
See schedule of classes for courses offered this and upcoming terms.
Division Office Contacts
Valerie Fong, Division Dean Phone: 650.949.7135 Email: fongvalerie@fhda.edu |
Language Arts Division |