GUIDE TO MAJORS AND PROGRAMS
College of Arts & Sciences
American Ethnic Studies
Overview
Academics
Activities
The American ethnic studies department
at K-State offers courses that cover the four
major underrepresented U.S. ethnic-racial
communities: Mexican American/Latino, African
American, Asian American and Native American.
Our mission is to serve society through our focus
on underserved communities of color and those
historically underrepresented in our nation’s
universities.
The program
Clubs
American ethnic studies emerged in universities
as a response to community-based demands
from civil rights movements to include the
perspectives of historically erased, socially
dismissed, and institutionally underrepresented
cultural groups. This major teaches students to
think critically about the multifaceted realities
and identities of America’s diverse ethnicities;
promotes social justice ideals and practices of
inclusivity; fosters community-based engaged
research and praxis responsive to the needs
and realities of underserved constituencies;
and foregrounds the needs, concerns and
knowledge of historically underrepresented
groups.
American Ethnic Studies Student Association
The American Ethnic Studies Student
Association, or AESSA, is open to any student
or community member with an interest in
American ethnic studies. The group believes in
empowering members toward leadership and a
channel of cultural communication among other
organizations and campus representatives.
AESSA offers students and community members
an opportunity to actively participate in
promoting diversity on campus. As members,
students are given a chance to collaborate with
others who are diversity advocates. The mission
of AESSA is to enhance the understanding
of diversity on campus and throughout the
community as well as create student leaders in
the area of diversity.
This program is the only of its kind in the state
of Kansas. Ethnic studies is playing a critical
social role in the millennial transition to the
21st century. Within this era of major social
transformation, we are seeing an increased
demand for American ethnic studies programs.
The department provides a gateway for
students to gain a greater understanding of the
wide variety of American ethnic histories and
heritages.
Professional options
Careers
A major or minor in American ethnic studies
provides a broad liberal arts education with
skills in critical thinking, comparative analysis,
social theory, data analysis, and oral and written
communication. Beyond these necessary skills,
students in this field are prepared to live and
work in a diverse world.
Our majors go on to pursue careers in a variety
of specializations including education, politics,
public policy, law, medicine, marketing,
advertising, media arts and social work.
Using 2010 Census data, “From Current Major
to Career” shows American Ethnic Studies
graduates have higher employment and higher
salary rates than many other majors.
The minor
Students must complete 15 semester hours of
coursework within the American ethnic studies
department. Students must achieve a 2.0 GPA in
all courses to satisfy the minor requirements.
Financial assistance
The Wayne C. Rohrer Scholarship fund was
established in memory of Wayne C. Rohrer,
a professor of sociology from 1959 until his
death in 1987. To commemorate his lifelong
commitment to fairness and equality in racial
and ethnic relations in the United States, the
scholarship has been earmarked for students
who major in American ethnic studies. It is
awarded annually, and applications must be
received in the department business office by
the deadline indicated on the application.
Visit k-state.edu/ameth/undergraduate/
scholarships.html for additional information.
Points of pride
The Princeton Review picked K-State among
the best colleges in the country. K-State is
a national leader among state-supported
universities in its total of Rhodes, Marshall,
Truman, Goldwater and Udall scholarship
winners.
k-state.edu/admissions/academics
Feminists Igniting Resistance and
Empowerment
FIRE is a feminist organization aimed at igniting
communities toward progressive social change,
while also creating a space for the voices of
those who have been erased, marginalized or
made invisible. FIRE recognizes that there are
various ways to enact and envision feminism.
They value knowledge that has been gained
through struggle and experience, and
acknowledge that many individuals inhabit
multiple identities. FIRE seeks to encourage
increased consciousness, education and
activism to confront the injustices affecting not
only our local community and campus, but also
those who live beyond our local borders.
Suggested coursework
Bachelor’s degree requirements
36 credit hours
Students who major in American ethnic studies
should refer to the general degree requirements
for the Bachelor of Art or Bachelor of Science
degree in the College of Arts & Sciences. To
graduate with a bachelor’s degree in American
ethnic studies, students must fulfill all program
requirements and have a cumulative GPA of
2.5 or higher in all American ethnic studies
coursework taken at K-State.
All majors are required to complete 36 credit
hours including 27 credit hours of required core
courses, and 9 elective credit hours. To satisfy
the elective requirements, AMETH strongly
recommends any three courses from the
approved electives list below.
American ethnic studies core courses
27 credit hours
Hrs.Courses
3 AMETH 160Introduction to American Ethnic
Studies
3 AMETH 351 African American Perspectives
3 AMETH 352 American Indian Perspectives
3 AMETH 353Latina/o Perspectives
3 AMETH 354Asian American Perspectives
3 AMETH 450 Comparative Ethnic Studies
3 AMETH 461 Transformative Thought
3 AMETH 550 Popular Pathways to Knowledge
3 AMETH 650 Practicing Social Change
27
Electives
9 credit hours
Hrs. Courses
3 AMETH 370
3 AMETH 501
3 AMETH 560
3 ANTH 516
3 ANTH 524
3 ANTH 630
3 ENGL 386
3 ENGL 387
3 ENGL 388
3 ENGL 389
3 GEOG 620
3 HIST 537
3 HIST 539
3 HIST 598
3 MC 531
3 MUSIC 420
3 MUSIC 424
3 PHILO 380
3 POLSC 643
3 SOCIO 541
3 SOCIO 570
3 SOCWK 510
3 WOMST 405
Politics of Women of Color
Recitation Leadership
Topics in American Ethnic Studies
Ethnomusicology
Immigrant America
North American Indians
African American Literatures
American Indian Literatures
Asian American Literatures
Latina/o Literatures
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean
History of Indians of North America
African American History
Topics in Non-Western History
Communication, Diversity and Social Change
History of Jazz
Jazz in Kansas City and the Southwest
Philosophy and Race
Global Human Rights
Wealth, Power and Privilege
Race and Ethnic Relations
Social Welfare as a Social Institution
Resistance and Movements for Social Change
The minor
15 credit hours
Hrs. Courses
3 AMETH 160Introduction to American Ethnic
Studies
Choose one 3-credit hour course:
3 AMETH 351 African American Perspectives
3 AMETH 352 American Indian Perspectives
3 AMETH 353 Latina/o Perspectives
3 AMETH 354 Asian American Perspectives
and
Any three additional AMETH courses
15
For the most recently updated degree requirements,
visit catalog.k-state.edu.
For more information about
American ethnic studies, contact:
American Ethnic Studies
Kansas State University
103 Leasure Hall
1128 N. 17th St.
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-2112
ethnicstudies@k-state.edu
k-state.edu/ameth
For more information about
Kansas State University, contact:
Office of Admissions
Kansas State University
119 Anderson Hall
919 Mid-Campus Drive North
Manhattan, KS 66506-0102
1-800-432-8270 (toll free) or
785-532-6250
k-state@k-state.edu
k-state.edu/admissions
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Kansas State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color,
ethnicity, national origin, sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence),
sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, ancestry, disability, genetic
information, military status, or veteran status, in the University’s programs and
activities as required by applicable laws and regulations. The person designated
with responsibility for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries
concerning nondiscrimination policies is the University’s Title IX Coordinator: the
Director of the Office of Institutional Equity, equity@k-state.edu, 103 Edwards Hall,
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, (785) 532-6220. The campus
ADA Coordinator is the Director of Employee Relations, charlott@k-state.edu, who
may be reached at 103 Edwards Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
66506, (785) 532-6277.
2016