Learning Goals

Program Goals and Community/Regional Needs: Ethnic Studies has identified seven goals that are tied to the mission of CSUS: 1) To provide a rigorous and disciplined examination of the past and present experiences of historically oppressed and underrepresented ethnic groups in the United States. 2) To provide all students an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the contributions of ethnic and racial groups to the United States and to world civilizations. 3) To provide people of color an opportunity to engage in studies in order to accurately interpret their own social and cultural experiences. 4) To prepare all graduates to think critically by gaining knowledge, skills, and understandings which will provide them the intellectual and emotional flexibility to contribute and function in a culturally diverse society and world. 5) To encourage students to involve themselves in solving community problems of the contemporary era. 6) To develop research and scholarship on ethnic groups and have this scholarship incorporated into the University curriculum. 7) To strengthen ties with the communities of color both within and outside the University.

As a Department, we believe that Ethnic Studies contributes directly to the eight Strategic Plan Goals of CSUS: 1) Teaching and Learning, 2) Academic Programs, 3) Scholarly and Creative Achievement, 4) Pluralism, 5) Enrollment Management, 6) Campus Life, 7) Community Engagement and Impact, and 8) Institutional Effectiveness.

Ethnic Studies is an interdisciplinary program which offers students an opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of the multifarious issues shaping the social histories of ethnic groups and the social history of this nation (Goals #1, 2).

Ethnic Studies faculty is committed to upholding the highest expectations of teaching and scholarship (Goal #3). This is evident by the record of scholarly and creative production of our faculty.

Our faculty are committed to public service through service-learning; this is evident in the high visibility of our faculty in community based activities and organizations (Goals #2, 7).

The Ethnic Studies curriculum and the various Department programs and activities offer diverse learning opportunities to our students, and they, in turn, provide service to our local communities (Goals #4, 5, 6). The Department has focused much of its resources on three neighboring public schools, Hiram Johnson High School, Will C. Wood Middle School, and Nicholas Elementary School in developing a network of ten service- learning projects. Our philosophy is that the Department can contribute to the community and, in turn, our students learn from their service to the community. Many Ethnic Studies students start out in our Tutoring/Mentoring Program, become involved in other service projects and move into leadership roles. One of these projects includes seven field trips to our campus involving middle school students and high school students and their parents in multi-lingual educational workshops.

We believe that with faculty support to such vital campus programs such as the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), the Cooper-Woodson College Enhancement Program (CWC), Education Opportunity Program (EOP), and the General Education Program (GE), along with the mentor roles performed by our faculty, we make a significant contribution to the University's commitment to facilitating the timely graduation of underrepresented students (Goals #4, 5). Through continuous improvement in research, teaching and learning, and by promoting service-learning in community based projects, the Ethnic Studies Department prepares our graduates to contribute to community and regional needs.