Working for San Francisco
and beyond

• Bulletin Home
• A to Z Index
• About the University
• Academic Programs
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Undergraduate Education
• Graduate Studies
• Fees and Financial Aid
• Policies and Procedures
• Resources and Services
• Course Descriptions

Related Links

• How to Use This Bulletin
• Academic Calendar
• Future Students
• Graduate Admissions
• Articulation
• Class Schedule
• Testing
• Advising, Undergraduate
• Advising, Graduate

Contact

Corrections or comments about this Bulletin

E-mail: bulletin@sfsu.edu

 

Updated February 27, 2015

Ethnic Studies

 

College of Ethnic Studies

Dean: Kenneth Monteiro
EP 121
Phone: 415-338-1694

Associate Dean: Amy Sueyoshi
Graduate Coordinator: Laureen Chew

 

Faculty

Professors: Almaguer, Barker, Chew, Cordova, Dong, Gonzales, Hom, Jeung, Jolivette, Kobashigawa, Murguia, Pelaud, Richards, Sueyoshi, Tsuruta, Yoo

Associate Professors: Abdulhadi, Akom, Bakrania, Carrillo, Collins, Dariotis, Duncan-Andrade, Esquibel, Ferreira, Fischer, Ginwright, Le, Lee, Martinez, McDougal, Mirabal, Nelson, Reyes, Soe, Tintiangco-Cubales, Ueunten

Assistant Professors: Perea, Pido, Sasaki, Sudhakar

 

Program

M.A. in Ethnic Studies

Certificate in Ethnic Studies

 

---

 

Program Scope

The Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies is collectively administered by the Chairs’ Council of the College of Ethnic Studies. It is designed to increase students’ knowledge and understanding of the experiences of people of color. The program provides training in techniques for the analysis of historical and contemporary social issues related to these experiences, and the curriculum develops students’ capacity to structurally assess, plan, and evaluate social policies aimed at the resolution of these issues. Although the focus remains primarily on the condition of Asian Americans, African Americans, Latinos, and American Indians, the program is increasingly concerned with mixed race studies, human sexuality studies, diaspora studies, postcolonial criticism, theories of racial formation, the experiences of other communities of color, and theory/practice of resistance and social movements.

 

The Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies is designed to prepare individuals for advanced graduate work leading to the doctorate or professional roles in teaching, research, and administration within both the public and private sectors. The theoretical and conceptual tools of several disciplines are critically utilized and analyzed. The program applies cutting edge analyses, such as cultural studies, postcolonial, feminist, and queer perspectives, to instruction, research, and community involvement. Both scholarly and activist engagements with the surrounding San Francisco Bay Area communities of color are encouraged and expected.

 

Career Outlook

The Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies is designed to be a versatile degree—one that is inclusive rather than exclusive of employment opportunities. These possibilities range from ethnic-oriented teaching, community research, multicultural resource development, to practical application in the business and technical fields. Program graduates are also eligible to apply for teaching positions at the California community colleges in ethnic studies and related fields.

 

Graduates with this increasingly sought after expertise have begun establishing an impressive employment history. Approximately 25 percent of graduates go directly into teaching at community colleges or four-year institutions. An additional 25 percent enter various professional fields, including K-12 teaching, youth-related social programs, and community advocacy research.

 

Approximately 50 percent of the graduates proceed on to doctoral studies in a wide range of subject areas, including ethnic studies, anthropology, sociology, American studies, health education, multicultural education, communication studies, and African American studies. Although the graduate program only has been in existence since 1988, alumni of the M.A. in Ethnic Studies have gone on to Ph.D. programs at a broad array of prestigious institutions. These include various University of California campuses, Temple University, Stanford, Yale, Purdue, the University of Michigan, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Hawaii, and Harvard University.

 

Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies

Admission to the Program

Applicants must meet the general University requirements, along with the College of Ethnic Studies requirements:

• Possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a field related to the program as determined by the Graduate Admissions Committee.
• Possess a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted.
• Must have completed a minimum of 12 semester (16 quarter) units in ethnic-related course work or have comparable experience.
• Must have completed a basic course in statistics.

 

Applying to the graduate program involves two applications: (1) College of Ethnic Studies application, (2) CSUMentor, online application, to the Division of Graduate Studies. (Go to www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy)

 

Applicants must submit to the graduate coordinator of the College of Ethnic Studies (on behalf of the College of Ethnic Studies Graduate Admissions Committee) the following information:

• College transcripts.
• A program application form which includes a statement of purpose outlining background experiences and possible community involvement, career objectives, rationale for studying ethnic studies, how your undergraduate degree relates to the M.A. in Ethnic Studies, and a biographical statement.
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals having direct knowledge of the applicant’s scholastic ability.
• A writing sample, (such as a research paper (8 - 15 pages) that best reflects the applicant's ability to do research in proposed areas of graduate study.
• A current vita.

 

Applications are accepted for fall semester admissions only. The application deadline is February 1^st. Program information and applications are available at the College of Ethnic Studies web site: http://ethnicstudies.sfsu.edu

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Level One written English proficiency must be met through satisfactorily meeting the writing requirements in ETHS 710.
Level Two: Students must indicate a method of demonstrating their further competency in English at the time of filing the Advancement to Candidacy. The latter assessment of competence is evidenced by the writing of a field study or a master's thesis.

 

Advancement to Candidacy

Students must file an Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) after having completed 24 units, but no more than 24 units, of work applicable to the M.A. in Ethnic Studies, with a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Before filing the ATC, students must demonstrate proficiency in written English and complete any other program pre-candidacy requirements. The proposed course of study when approved by the dean of Graduate Studies means the student has been advanced to candidacy.

 

Ethnic Studies (M.A.) — Minimum 30 units

* Area Emphasis

Students are required to focus on an area of emphasis in Africana Studies, American Indian Studies, Asian American Studies, or Latina/Latino Studies. In addition the program offers students the opportunity to study Arab Muslim ethnicities and diaspora, and race and resistance studies employing comparative methodology. Courses selected to fulfill the emphasis will provide a student with the subject matter foundation to complete the culminating research project field study or thesis. Upon advisement, upper division/graduate course work in the College of Ethnic Studies and other departments on campus may be used.

 

Certificate in Ethnic Studies

The Certificate in Ethnic Studies provides post-baccalaureate training on inequality, activism, and self-determination relevant to communities of color and indigenous peoples to empower professionals in social services, urban planning, public health, education, law enforcement, and related fields to better serve racially marginalized populations.

 

Admission Requirements and Application Process

All applicants must submit the following to the College of Ethnic Studies.

• Two-page personal statement which outlines the applicants’ interests in ethnic studies
• Transcript (official transcripts from all previous colleges attended; unofficial transcript from current program)
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Names and contact information for TWO references (provide name, job title or relationship, address, phone number, and e-mail address)

 

Applicants who are matriculated students may enter the certificate program at any point after acceptance into a SF State graduate degree program. Graduate students who wish to apply must consult with their advisor immediately to find out how best to sequence their coursework to satisfy both home department requirements and certificate requirements.

 

Applicants who are not currently matriculated in any SF State graduate degree must apply (via graduate admissions) and be admitted to the university and to the graduate certificate program. Acceptance into the program is with approval of the certificate program coordinator and consent of the admissions committee following review of the application materials listed above. Individuals interested in admission to the certificate program need not have completed undergraduate degree programs in ethnic studies or a related field.

 

Admission to the certificate program does not mean automatic admission to any other M.A. program at SF State. Certificate program students must still apply to their desired M.A. program if they seek to earn an additional M.A. while they are in the certificate program. Some units from the certificate may be transferable to SF State M.A. programs at the discretion of the graduate coordinator of the M.A. program.

 

Out-of-state and international students are welcome to apply to the program. For applicants whose native language is not English: a recent internet based TOEFL (IBT) score of 95, with an essay rating of 24. Applicants who do not meet the minimum TOEFL requirement will NOT be admitted; there is NO conditional admission. A TOEFL score of 95 is considered to be very minimal; applicants who demonstrate stronger English proficiency with a higher TOEFL score (and higher essay rating) will have a better chance of being admitted.

 

All course work used to satisfy the requirements for the certificate must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and only courses completed with a grade of B- or better may be included to meet graduate certificate requirements. While taking courses for the graduate certificate, students will have demonstrated appropriate writing proficiency through written assignments in designated courses by the achieving the minimum GPA to complete the certificate.

 

Ethnic Studies Certificate — 12 units