ETHS G103: Race, Ethnicity and Political Issues
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 05/28/2021 |
| Top Code | 220300 - Ethnic Studies |
| Units | 3 Total Units |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S),
|
| Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Diversity Requirement (GCD) | Yes |
| California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) |
|
| Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) |
|
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
This course is identical to PSCI G103. This course surveys American political policies and issues. The emphasis will be on areas of significance confronting African American, Native American, Asian and Latinx populations. Students will learn life-long skills necessary to evaluate policies and issues, analyze opposing viewpoints and problem-solve. Enrollment Limitation: PSCI G103; students who complete ETHS G103 may not enroll in or receive credit for PSCI G103. ADVISORY: ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000E. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Course Outcomes
- Identify key domestic racial/ethnic political issues and problems.
- Utilize appropriate investigative methods and technologies to access research and examine key political issues and policies affecting African Americans, Asians, Latinx and Native Americans.
- Evaluate important findings, theories and opposing viewpoints concerning political issues and policies affecting African Americans, Asians, Latinx and Native Americans.
- Demonstrate critical thinking using the course content relative to contemporary American political issues and present their work effectively.
Course Objectives
- 1. Describe how struggle, resistance, social justice, solidarity, and liberation as experienced by communities of color are relevant to current political issues.
- 2. Examine the role of social movements and other social struggles towards civil rights, civil liberties, and social justice issues within the socio-economic and political systems.
- 3. Examine critical historical events and policy within a socio-political perspective affecting racialized core groups: Native Americans, African Americans, Latinx Americans and Asian Americans.
- 4. Explain the central role of race, ethnicity, ethno-centrism, eurocentrism, white supremacy, self-determination, liberation, and decolonization in political issues and as expressed through US and California public policies.
- 5. Analyze political issues and public policy by focusing on the rights and liberties of African Americans, Asians, Latinx and Native Americans as articulated in law, the Constitution, and federal court decisions.
- 6. Analyze the politics of race and ethnicity as it affects American decision-making processes and public policies.
- 7. Analyze the role of race, ethnicity, racialization, equity, anti-racism, and diversity in shaping public opinion toward political issues.
- 8. Identify major issues involving African Americans, Asians, Latinx and Native Americans.
- 9. Relate major issues to their own lives and communities.
- 10. Examine critical historical events and policy within a socio-political perspective affecting racialized core groups: Native Americans, African Americans, Latinx Americans and Asian Americans
- 11. Describe how struggle, resistance, social justice, solidarity and liberation as experienced by communities of color are relevant to current political issues.
- 12. Critically discuss the intersection of race and ethnicity as it affects decision-making and public policy.
- 13. Use resources to evaluate the success or failure of governmental policies affecting African Americans, Asians, Latinx, and Native Americans.
- 14. Assess the impact of policies on their own attitudes, behavior and physical well being.
- 15. Formulate solutions or approaches to solutions to the major racial/ethnic issues affecting their lives and communities.
- 16. Demonstrate active engagement with anti-racist issues, practices and movements to build a diverse, just and equitable society beyond the classroom.
Lecture Content
Political Inquiry Skill Set Research methodology Critical thinking and analysis Assessing reliable resources and information Problem-solving Civic engagement Key political terms and concepts Power Politics as the process of decision-making Factors of power Key terms and concepts for this class Race and ethnicity Racialization Equity Ethno-centrism Eurocentrism White supremacy/white privilege Anti-racism Principles of American government The factors of politics, political frameworks and institutional arrangements within the U.S. government Process of decision-making and public policy Factors of influence in American politics Historical Foundations American political culture Development of identity and political culture The importance of ideology: political values and beliefs Political socialization The institutionalization of race and ethnicity Race and ethnicity in the context of American history and politics Early America and the social construction of race and ethnicity Early beliefs and legal foundations of racial difference in early America The State and white advantage Socio-economic foundations Native Americans and Blacks in the Constitution Immigration and naturalization: White Inclusiveness Early politics as an exclusionary process Legal precedents U.S. and state constitutions Federal and state statutes U.S. Supreme Court decisions Native Americans political journey Native Communities in North American Rising tensions and westward expansion Early federal law, policy and Indian Rights Major court decisions and precedents Assimilation policies Civil Rights and self-determination African Americans political journey Race, slavery and the origins of African Americans Federal and state laws, public policy and court decisions Antebellum, black communities and black political resistance Black politics in the Jim Crow era Civil Rights movement Post Civil Rights: Federal law and public policy Federal Latinxs political journey Spanish colonization and decolonization Westward expansion and Latinx populations War, federal and state laws and major court decisions Destruction and rebirth of Latinx politics From civic activism to political engagment Different Latinx groups and political activism Civil Rights and ethnic nationalism Asian Americans political journey Early Asian immigration Asian communities Race, region and the rise of anti-Asian beliefs, behavior and public policy Japanese internment Asian Americans during the Civil Rights movement and political empowerment The politics of race and ethniciity The construction and exercise of political power The politics of racialization Social, political and economic forces The role of public opinion and the media Intersectional political identities and the influence on behavior Race and ethnicity in decision-making Political behavior Group Identity, ideology and partisanship Voting rights and electoral participation Civic engageme nt and activism Current political issues and public policy Identify political issues confronting African Americans Asian Americans Latinx Native Americans Re-examine relevant historical information and events Identify important social/political movements Identify political and non-political factors Examine different opposing viewpoints Ideological and factual foundations Findings and sources of conflict Analysis of argument Examine the relevancy and reliability of information Identify various contemporary public policy areas such as The economy The education system The health care system The justice system Immigration and naturalization Examine the economic, environmental and sociological effects of public policy on African American, Asians, Latinx and Native Americans. Policies may include but are not limited to Migration, immigration and citizenship policies Employment and discrimination in the workplace statutes Education leadership and policies Healthcare legislation The political economy: housing rights, taxation, social welfare programs Social justice and criminal justice reform Environmental racism Relate policy to political values, beliefs and behavior Radical racial/ethnic political philosophies Moderate and more radicial movements Relate political issues and policies to individual lifestyles The physical effects Poverty and its affects on health Climate change and pollution Access to healthcare The mental/psychological effects Political marginalization and apathy Education and improvement The behaviorial and sociological effects Political participation Social mobilization Civil disobedience Civil unrest Conflict Problem-solving Utilize problem-solving skills Examine various solutions Modification of the process Modification of the policies Consider both short and long term ramifications Formulate solutions or approaches to solutions to major issues facing racial/ethnic groups Life-long skills The importance of continued use of political inquiry Understanding various perspectives Continuing education Continuing civic engagement to build a diverse, just and equitable society
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Instructional Techniques
Lectures utilizing new technology Interactive Discussions
Reading Assignments
Complete reading assignments in the assigned required text(s). Complete required and/or recommended online reading assignments from a variety of scholarly websites and journals.
Writing Assignments
College-level written essays or other projects (i.e. interactive assignments) in which students will summarize and analyze opposing viewpoints, their assumptions and arguments, ideological foundations, and strengths and weaknesses relevant to various political issues. College-level written term papers in which students will utilize course content, appropriate investigative methods and technologies to examine key political issues and analyze potential solutions to political problems. Written or oral presentation, discussion and/or debate of their findings and their own interpretation of factual information.
Out-of-class Assignments
Primary research including interviews and attendance at scholarly lectures. Participation in discussions, presentations, debates. Engagement within the community to promote equity and social justice. Secondary research utilizing scholarly journals, books, articles and online resources/databases.
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Students will demonstrate critical thinking, reading and writing skills through analysis, synthesis and evaluation of course content and political issues.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Writing, problem solving and skills demonstration shall include: 1. Written essays or other projects (i.e. interactive assignments) in which students will summarize and analyze opposing viewpoints, their assumptions and arguments, ideological foundations, and strengths and weaknesses relevant to various political issues. 2. Written term papers in which students will utilize course content, appropriate investigative methods and technologies to examine key political issues and analyze potential solutions to political problems. 3. Written or oral presentation, discussion and/or debate of their findings and their own interpretation of factual information.
Eligible Disciplines
Political science: Masters degree in political science, government, or international relations OR bachelors degree in any of the above AND masters degree in economics, history, public administration, social science, sociology, any ethnic studies, J.D., or LL.B. OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Megan Ming Francis. Race, Ethnicity, and Politics, series ed. Cambridge University Press, 2020 2. Required Shaw, Todd. Uneven Roads: An Introduction to U.S. Racial and Ethnic Politics, ed. Sage Publishing, 2018
Periodicals Resources
1. . Additional Academic Articles/Periodicals, Volume 2020