Race and Ethnic Studies
Jennifer Kwon Dobbs, Rolvaag 503
507-786-3264
dobbs@stolaf.edu
wp.stolaf.edu/race-and-ethnic-studies
Established at St. Olaf College in 1969, the Race and Ethnic Studies Program (abbreviated RACE) represents a multigenerational faculty and student commitment to the interdisciplinary study of race and ethnicity. Our program centers the concerns and experiences of people of color and proceeds from the recognition that race and ethnicity have been and continue to be crucial components within interlocking systems of oppression, as well as powerful sites of intersectional resistance. In the United States, our work focuses on the social, cultural, and historical contributions and lived situations of African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latinx, and Middle Eastern Americans. Migration — historical and contemporary, voluntary and involuntary — is an experience that unites many of these communities. Our program therefore encompasses coursework involving the cultures and nations outside of the U.S. from which such peoples are drawn; it can also include the study of racial and ethnic minorities in other nations. Globalization has brought greater urgency to recognizing that the economic, social, and political forces to which people of color are subjected are not limited to those that originate within the nations in which they reside. Thus we also attend to transnational coalitions, experiences, and phenomena relevant to people of color in the United States and elsewhere.
Overview of the Major
The race and ethnic studies major includes any one of the courses numbered RACE 121-125, (usually RACE 121) and seven other courses from at least three different departments, plus a senior project. One of the seven courses may be an independent study or research, and one may be an internship approved by the program director. Off-campus study is encouraged.
Unlike many majors, which prescribe sequences of courses, race and ethnic studies allows students considerable freedom in choosing classes that fulfill their interests (and often, at the same time, fulfill general education requirements). Many race and ethnic studies majors are double majors, because race and ethnic studies courses complement many majors in the humanities, interdisciplinary studies, social and natural sciences, and the fine arts.
Race and ethnic studies also offers a concentration consisting of RACE 121 and four other courses from at least two different departments or programs.
Intended Learning Outcomes for the Major
Intended Learning Outcomes for the Concentration
Requirements for the Major
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
RACE 121 | Introduction to Race and Ethnic Studies | 1.00 |
or RACE 122 | Introduction to Race and Ethnic Studies | |
Select a minimum of seven other approved courses taken in at least three departments or programs. 1 | 7.00 | |
Total Credits | 8 |
1 | One of the seven courses may be an independent study or research, and one may be an off-campus internship or course approved by the program director. |
Race and ethnic studies majors are required to complete a senior project and to give an oral presentation of their findings before the program faculty in early May of their senior year. Study off-campus on diversity topics is encouraged. Students may wish to link a race and ethnic studies major with another one from a department represented in the program.
Requirements for the Concentration
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
RACE 121 | Introduction to Race and Ethnic Studies | 1.00 |
Select four other approved courses taken in at least two departments or programs. | 4.00 | |
Total Credits | 5 |
Required Course
RACE 121: Introduction to Race and Ethnic Studies
This course provides an introduction to critical concepts and key readings about race and racism that are important to the field of Ethnic Studies. Focusing on identities and communities, students learn about racial formation and difference in U.S. and comparative cultural and historical contexts. How does race intersect with class, gender, nation, and sexuality to produce privileges and oppressions? Students survey the emergence of Ethnic Studies through literary texts including art, creative writing, film, music, popular culture, and/or the sciences to become acquainted with interdisciplinary approaches and how concerns for racial equity and social justice formed this academic field. Offered annually. Also counts toward Latin American studies major and Africa and the African Diaspora and Latin American studies concentrations.
Elective Course
RACE 250: Topical Seminar
Students apply interdisciplinary theories and methods to selected topics in race and ethnic studies. The course employs a discussion format, focusing on critical reading and literary texts. Offered in alternate years. May be repeated if topic is different.
RACE 252: Topical Seminar
Students apply interdisciplinary theories and methods to selected topics in race and ethnic studies. The course employs a discussion format, focusing on critical reading and texts with a social science emphasis. Offered in alternate years. May be repeated if topic is different.
RACE 294: Academic Internship
RACE 394: Academic Internship
RACE 298: Independent Study
RACE 396: Directed Undergraduate Research
This course provides a comprehensive research opportunity, including an introduction to relevant background material, technical instruction, identification of a meaningful project, and data collection. The topic is determined by the faculty member in charge of the course and may relate to his/her research interests. Offered based on department decision. May be offered as a 1.00 credit course or .50 credit course.
Prerequisite: determined by individual instructor.
RACE 398: Independent Research
Approved Courses
AFAD 231 Africa and the Americas: The Diaspora Experience
AMCON 211 Fear and Hope (completion of American Conversations counts for one course for Race and Ethnic Studies)
AMST 205 (when the final research project focuses on race/ethnicity, director approval required)
ART 265 African-American Art
ART 278 Top: Race/Difference in Medieval Art
ASIAN 123 Asia in America
DANCE 107 Topics in Rhythm in Dance (0.25)
DANCE 108 American Dance: Native and Immigrant Traditions (0.25)
DANCE 246 Dance in the United States
EDUC 170 Urban Schools and Communities (off-campus)
EDUC 260 Foundations in Education
EDUC 347
EDUC 378 Multicultural Education in Hawaii: Seminar and Practicum (off-campus)
EDUC 379 Urban Education Practicum and Seminar (off-campus)
ENGL 108 The Hero and the Trickster in Post-Colonial Literature
ENGL 200 Topics in Cross-Cultural Literature
ENGL 201 Transatlantic Anglophone Literature
ENGL 203 Asian American Literature
ENGL 205 American Racial and Multicultural Literatures
ENGL 207 Women of the African Diaspora
ENGL 209 Arab American Literature and Film
ENGL 220 Topics in Literary History (when taught with the topic: Literature of American Slavery)
ENGL 251 Major Chicano/a Authors
ENGL 280 Topics in Genre (when taught with the topic: Muslim Women Writers)
ENGL 340 Advanced Studies in Literary Eras: American (when taught with the topic: 21st Century Ethnic American Poetry)
ENGL 345 Topics in American Racial and Multicultural Literatures
ENGL 347 Topics in Post-Colonial Literatures
FREN 271 The Francophone World (when taught with the topic: Les Antilles/The Caribbean)
FREN 373 Genre Studies
HIST 151 Slavery in African History
HIST 165 Slavery in the Americas
HIST 181 Civil Rights Revolution
HIST 199 American History Since 1865
HIST 256 Slavery in West Africa: Ghana (abroad)
HIST 270 Major Seminar: American History
HIST 277 African-American History
HIST 278 Experiencing Southern History (off-campus)
HIST 282 Topics in Native American History
HIST 288 America in the Civil War and Reconstruction Era
HIST 290 Reel America: U.S. History in Film
HIST 291 Introduction to African History
HIST 297: Race/Gender/Sports in America
HIST 320 Seminar: Modern Europe (when taught with the topic: Holocaust and History)
HIST 370 American Seminar (when taught with the topic: Capitalism and Slavery)
HIST 395 Oral History Seminar (when the final research project focuses on race/ethnicity, director approval required)
MUSIC 136 American Popular Music through the Lens of Prince
MUSIC 231 History of Jazz
MUSIC 237 World Music
MUSIC 345 Advanced Study in Music History (when taught with the topic: Music and Race)
MUSIC 345 Advanced Study in Music History (when taught with the topic: Music of African Christianities)
NORW 224 Topics in Contemporary Nordic Literature: A Window on Society (when taught with the topic: Scandinavian Multicultural Film and Literature)
NORW 244 The Sámi: Traditions in Transition
PHIL 255 Race and Social Justice
PSCI 244 Race and American Politics
PSCI 258 World Politics
PSCI 350 Seminar: Immigration and Citizenship (when the final paper and RIN projects focus on race/ethnicity, director approval required)
PSYCH 390 Issues in Psychology (when taught with the topic: Issues in Diversity)
REL 121 Bible in Culture and Community (when taught with the topic: "Belonging as Blessing and Challenge" or "Politics in the Bible and the Bible in Politics")
REL 231 Religion at the US-Mexico Border
REL 232 The Insurgent Multiculturalism of Beloved Community
REL 267 African-American Religious Thought in the 20th Century
SWRK 221 Social Work and Social Welfare
SWRK 280 Social Realities in South Africa (abroad)
SWRK 373 Just Practice
SOAN 128 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
SOAN 237 Forging a Latin American Culture
SOAN 247 Disasters
SOAN 261 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective
SOAN 264 Race and Class in American Culture
SOAN 269 Urban Sociology
SOAN 299 Topics in Sociology/Anthropology (when taught with the topic: Sociology of Music)
SPAN 273 Cultural Heritage of the Hispanic U.S.
SPAN 276 Spanish as a First and Second Language
SPAN 311 Language in Society
THEAT 180 Text and Performance
THEAT 379 Topics in Interpretation and Theater (when taught with the topic: Staging Faith: Religion and Spiritualism in Early 20th Century American Theater)
WRIT 111 First-Year Writing (when taught with the topic: Race and Power or Seeing Race in the Twenty-First Century)
In addition, some other sections of REL 121 Bible in Culture and Community and WRIT 111 First-Year Writing may count toward the race and ethnic studies major or concentration, depending on topic. Petition the director of race and ethnic studies for approval.
Director, 2020-2021
Jennifer Kwon Dobbs
Associate Professor of English
poetry and poetics; creative nonfiction; Asian American literature; critical adoption studies
Ibtesam âl-Atiyat
Associate Professor of Sociology/Anthropology
Arab society; gender; social movements; Islamic movements
Joshua R. Anderson
Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science
American politics; political philosophy; history of science
Anthony Bateza
Assistant Professor of Religion
Reformation studies
Jessica M. Benson
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Maggie A. Broner
Professor of Romance Languages - Spanish
Hispanic linguistics; culture; second language acquisition
Heather Campbell
Associate Professor of Education
ESL; reading; special education; Director of Assessment
Mary S. Carlsen
Professor of Social Work and Family Studies
social policy; global social work; professional ethics; end of life care; family studies
Christopher L. Chiappari (on leave)
Associate Professor of Sociology/Anthropology
Guatemala; religion; immigration
Vivian Choi
Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology
South Asia; science and technology; disasters
Marc David
Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology/Anthropology
race and class; history and memory; public policy and the politics of knowledge; North America
Kari Lie Dorer
Associate Professor of Norwegian
Norwegian language and culture; applied linguistics; Sami studies; Nordic film.
Michael W. Fitzgerald
Professor of History
African-American history; Civil War and Reconstruction; Southern America
Carlos Gallego
Associate Professor of English
Chicano/a studies; 20th century American literature; comparative ethinic studies; philosophy and critical theory; cultural studies
Steven C. Hahn
Professor of History
colonial America; Native American history; piracy
Joan Hepburn
Associate Professor of English
African American literature; drama; race and ethnic literature; western African drama in English
Abdulai Iddrisu
Associate Professor of History
African history; Islam in Africa
Heather J. Klopchin
Professor of Dance
modern dance technique; ballet technique; dance history; Companydance
Judy Kutulas
Professor of History
20th-century U.S. history; U.S. women's history; popular and material culture
Elizabeth A. Leer
Associate Professor of Education
English education; reading; curriculum and instruction
Kristina Medina-Vilariño
Associate Professor of Romance Languages-Spanish
Caribbean Studies; 20th- and 21st-century Latin American studies; contemporary Latino studies; race and ethnic studies
Linda Y. Mokdad (on leave)
Assistant Professor of English
film history; classical film theory; feminist film theory; art cinema; Arab cinemas
Jonathan T. Naito
Associate Professor of English
20th- and 21st-century British and Irish literature; postcolonial studies; black and Asian British literature; Samuel Beckett
Leon Narvaez
Professor of Romance Languages - Spanish
Hispanic culture, language, and literature; migration and other interdisciplinary studies
SooJin Pate
Adjunct Assistant Professor of English
Rosemary A. Pfarr-Baker
Instructor in Education
counseling; educational opportunity; Director of Field Experience and Licensure
Hannah Ryan
Assistant Professor of Art and Art History
David C. Schalliol
Associate Professor of Sociology/Anthropology
social stratification; urban sociology; visual sociology; criminology; education
Susan E. Smalling
Associate Professor of Social Work and Family Studies
anti-oppressive research and practice; indigenous populations; family and child welfare
Maria F. Vendetti
Assistant Professor of Romance Languages - French
20th- and 21st-century French and Francophone literature; literature and testimony during and after the Algerian War of Independence; literary and filmic representations of torture, trauma, and war
Arneshia L. Williams
Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance
African Fusion and Hip Hop
Ka F. Wong
Associate Professor of Asian Studies
language pedagogy; cultural studies; Asian American studies; visual culture