Ethnic Studies
Associate of Arts (AA) American Ethnic Studies · Santa Barbara City College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Overview
The United States, California, and the Santa Barbara area have a great variety of peoples of different ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds. All of these together make up the American Mosaic. The American Ethnic Studies Department examines the heritage, contributions and problems of these communities. Emphasis is placed on the Black, Mexican-American and Native American cultures. It is the department's belief that through an examination of the heritage of others, one can appreciate ones own heritage.
Requirements
Associate Degree Graduation Requirements
Complete all of the following:
- All Major Requirements listed below with a “C” or better or “P” in each course (at least 20% of the major requirements must be completed through SBCC).
- One of the following General Education options:
- OPTION 1: SBCC General Education pattern OR
- OPTION 2: Cal-GETC pattern
- A minimum of 60 semester units of degree-applicable college credit (SBCC courses numbered 100 and higher and C1000 and higher).
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher in degree-applicable coursework.
- A minimum of 12 units through SBCC.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| Required Core | ||
| BLST 111 | The African-American Music Experience | 3 |
| orNATA 112 | Native American Visual And Musical Art | |
| BLST 113 | African-American And Afro-Caribbean Literature In The U.S. | 3 |
| orCHST 113 | Introduction to Chicano/Mexican-American Literature | |
| orCHST 115 | Introduction To Mexican Literature | |
| orNATA 113 | The Indian In Literature: Fact And Fiction | |
| List A - Complete two courses from the following: | 6-8 | |
| ASAM 101 | Comparative Asian-American History, 1849-1965 | |
| orASAM 102 | Contemporary Asian-American History | |
| BLST 101 | The African-American In U.S. History To World War II | |
| orBLST 102 | The African-American In U.S. History, From Civil Rights Movement To Present | |
| orBLST 102H | The African-American in U.S. History, from Civil Rights to Present, Honors | |
| CHST 101 | Mexican-American (Chicano) History In The U.S. | |
| orCHST 102 | The Chicano And Latino In U.S. History, From The 1960's To The Present | |
| ETHS 101 | The Immigrant Experience in the U.S. | |
| orETHS 101H | The Immigrant Experience in the U.S., Honors | |
| ETHS 121 | Women of Color In The U.S. | |
| orCHST 121 | The Chicana And Other Latina Women | |
| orETHS 122 | Arab-American/Middle Eastern Women In The U.S. | |
| NATA 101 | American Indian: Past and Present | |
| List B - Complete two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| BLST 103 | African-American Culture | |
| CHST 103 | Mexican-American (Chicano) Culture | |
| ETHS 107/SOC 107 | Racism In America | |
| ETHS 109 | U.S.-Mexico And Other Borderlands | |
| ETHS 110 | Contemporary Ethnic Communities | |
| NATA 103 | Native American Cultural Heritage | |
| Total Units | 18.00-20.00 | |
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the role of the state in maintaining social inequality through institutions.
- Explain how race, class and gender roles create and sustain society within institutions.
- Explain how social forces influence the life experience of individuals.
- Explain the major theoretical perspectives in American Ethnic Studies.
Recommended Sequence
Make an appointment with your SBCC academic counselor through Starfish to create a Student Education Plan that reflects a recommended course sequence for this program that is tailored to your individual needs.
How to schedule an Academic Counseling appointment.