Ethnic Studies Department

Body

Explore issues of power, privilege, and resistance.

Through coursework and hands-on community engagement, you will explore constructions of race, ethnicity, and community within the U.S. and beyond, with particular attention paid to African American, Asian American, Latinx, Native American, and Pacific Islander communities. Our approach to teaching and learning engages a range of academic fields, from the arts to queer studies to theology. Our devoted faculty is committed to the College’s fundamental values of social justice, respect for all persons, and the fostering of an inclusive community.

Students in an outside classroom working together

Ethnic Studies Department Scholarship

In addition to need- and merit-based scholarships, first-year English majors are eligible for the Ethnic studies Department Scholarship, totaling $13,000 per year.

Get Involved

Discover the Intercultural Center, a safe, supportive, inclusive community that promotes cultural competence and social justice on campus. Or learn how the Institute for Latino and Latin American Studies highlights and enables research and scholarship about Latin America and Latinos.

 

Annaliese standing in a walkway on the SMC campus.

Success Stories

“The Ethnic Studies Program offers intentional curriculum and fosters a respectful classroom community that encouraged my personal and academic growth and equipped me with a multidisciplinary skill set that I’ve utilized in many areas. With mentorship from expert professors, my Ethnic Studies senior thesis allowed me to explore complex questions about race and ethnicity that inspired me to pursue a career in research. Thanks to Ethnic Studies at Saint Mary’s College, I’m now working towards a PhD in Mexican American and Latino Studies at UT Austin in hopes of becoming a tenure track professor and contributing to knowledge about race and identity.”

Annaliese Martinez ’21