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ETST 2000 Section 001 INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC STUDIES
CORE – GT Pathways Social Science course
Term: Spring 2012
Course dates/times: M-F 11:00-12:55
Course location: A-114
Office Hours: M-F 2:30-3:00
Professor: Jeff Dennis, M.A.
Office location: WHS
Phone: 303 487-2457
Email address:
jdennis@adams50.org
1. Purpose
Catalogue Description: Multi-disciplinary survey of contemporary and historical research analyses of the
diverse social, economic, political, and cultural facets of African American, American Indian, Asian American,
and Latino communities and cultures.
Instructor Description: This course serves as an introduction to the academic discipline of Ethnic Studies. This
is a CORE (general education) course for the social sciences category. This course is required of all Ethnic
Studies minors. The instructional approach to the content of the course includes lectures, exams, and class
presentations.
Course Objectives: At the end of the semester, students should be able to:
1. Foster an awareness and understanding of cultural diversity within the context of a multi-cultural history of
the U.S.
2. Examine the social construction of inequalities.
3. Introduce students to critical race theory, and the discipline of Ethnic Studies.
4. Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the histories and experiences of different ethnic
and racial groups in the U.S.
5. Make comparisons and identify differences (e.g. class, gender, race, age, disability, and sexual identity)
within and between ethnic and racial groups in the U.S.
6. Articulate how ethnic identities are constructed and reconstructed over time, internally by the groups
themselves, and externally by dominant groups in the U.S.
7. Define and evaluate key concepts such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, minority groups, and explain how
such concepts are politically and socially constituted.
8. Discuss the major theories of race and ethnic relations, and show the appropriateness of these models in
understanding the U.S. situation.
9. Recognize personal and social manifestations of racism, ethnocentrism, sexism, prejudice and discrimination,
and explore strategies for minimizing or eliminating such practices
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2. Requirements
Required Texts:
Schaefer, Richard T. (2008). Racial and Ethnic Groups (11th Edition). New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Assignments:
1. Attendance and participation is highly recommended. Attendance and participation are central to this
seminar. The required readings for the course will be covered in class, additional lecture material will be
covered in class as well. Exam questions are based on readings, and all material presented in class.
While you do not receive a grade for attendance, it is difficult to be prepared for exams without
extremely consistent classroom attendance.
2.
Research Presentation. Sign-up and exchange contact information on the first day of class with
members of a small group. Each student will sign-up for a week in which they will make a research
presentation on a topic related to race, as part of a small group. Your presentation must have a
technology component; video clip, PowerPoint, Prezi etc. If you show a video clip that is higher than a
PG-13 rating, please inform the professor one week prior to the presentation. Group presentations need a
united theme. Please have one person in your group serve as a time-keeper. The professor grades each
individual in the small group. Please give the professor a typed sheet of paper at the start of presentation
with the first and last name of every presenter, in the order that you are presenting. Each presenter must
provide a list of at least 3-4 resources (MLA format) that were used for the presentation. Exceptional
presentations exhibit multimedia skills, creativity, a good list of references, and strong oral and
organizational skills and present a strong them pertaining to their topic. A grading rubric for your
presentation will be provided prior to your presentation. The theme of each group will be stated briefly
at the start of classes during the first week, to help prevent overlap.
Time Organization of Presentation.
(1) Introduce the group topic and all group members (2-3 minutes)
(2) Main theme and presentation of evidence and source (10-20 min as a group)
(3) Class questions: (5-10 min as a group)
Possible Presentation Topics.
Religion (Is religion a racial issue?)
Native Americans (plight, struggle overcome assimilation)
African Americans (plight, musical influence, separate but equal…)
Asian Americans (plight, internment camps)
Women (plight, suffrage…equality and sexual harassment in the workplace)
Homosexuals (plight, struggle legalization, religious, worldly difference)
Immigration (melting pot- vs. salad bowl)
For the highest grade possible, please use quality resources for your research. Resources can include books,
journal articles, and websites. The quality of information on the web can vary. Some universities, or
government and large non-profit sites may offer more accurate information. A web address that ends in “.gov”
indicates a government site; “.edu” stands for an academic institution; and “.org” usually represents a nonprofit.
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3. Exams. There are three scheduled exams. Exams will consist of approximately 50 t/f and multiple
choice questions. Please bring a scantron sheet (can be purchased in the book store or at copy shops on
campus) and a pencil, to class on exam day. You must place your name on the scantron sheet. The first
exam date is on Monday, March 5th. It covers assigned readings and all material presented in class
before the first exam only. The second exam date is Monday, April 9th. It covers material from after
the second exam only. The third and final exam is on Wednesday, May 7th. It covers assigned
readings and all material presented in class from after the 2nd exam only.
Exam grades are returned to you in class approximately 2 weeks after an exam. NO MAKEUP EXAMS
ARE ALLOWED WITHOUT A DOCTORS NOTE.
Your final grade for the course is comprised of 4 grades. Each of the 4 grades is equally weighted.
1=research presentation grade= 25%
3=exam grades = 25% each exam x 3
For an A in the course you must have at least 3 A grades/ 1 B grade
For a B in the course you must have at least 3 B grades/1 C grade
For a C in the course you must have at least 3 C grades/1 D grade
Exam Grading Scale
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
50-59 F
Extra Credit opportunities may be provided at the instructors’ discretion. They will be announced in class.
3. Course Policies:
NO MAKEUP EXAMS or assignments ARE ALLOWED WITHOUT A DOCTORS NOTE.
-Class attendance and participation is essential for success. It is your responsibility to clarify missed
assignments with classmates. If you miss a class, please get copies of class notes from another student.
-Access, Disability, Communication:
 The University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center is committed to providing reasonable
accommodation and access to programs and services to persons with disabilities. Students with
disabilities who want academic accommodations must register with Disability Resources and Services
(DRS), 177 Arts Building, 303-556-3450, TTY 303-556-4766, FAX 303-556-2074. I will be happy to
provide approved accommodations, once you provide me with a copy of DRS’s letter.
 4. Course Schedule:
Class Schedule
Date
Topic
Required Reading
Assignments
Jan 23
Jan 28-30
Feb 4-6
Intro/syllabus/expectations
Is being colorblind good or
bad?
Are humans permanently
bound by prejudice and hate?
Chapter 1Schaefer
Race & ethnicity
Chapter 2-3 Schaefer
Prejudice &
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Feb 11-13
Salad Bowl or Melting Pot?
Feb 18-20
Does ethnicity and religion
come as a package?
How do Native Americans
maintain a balance between
their identity & assimilation?
Feb 25-27
discrimination
Chapter 4 Schaefer
Immigration
Chapter 5 Schaefer
Ethnicity & religion
Chapter 6 Schaefer
Native Americans
March 3-5
March 1012
How has the African
American journey shaped
their place in America today?
Chapter 6, 7 & 8
Schaefer
African Americans
March 1719
How has the Hispanic
American journey shaped
their place in America today?
SPRING BREAK
Chapter 9-10
Schaefer
Hispanic Americans
Media, pop-culture & Islamic
stereotypes…and the effect
on American society
Chapter 11 Schaefer
Arab Americans
How has the Hispanic
American journey shaped
their place in America today?
Has Anti-Semitism evolved
in the US?
Chapter 12-13
Schaefer
Asian Americans
Chapter 14 Schaefer
Jewish Americans
March 2630th
March 31April 2nd
April 7April 9
April 1416
April 2123
Any student group that presents this week
must get their exam questions to the
professor no later than Wed Feb 20th, so
that they can be used on the exam.
1st exam
Monday, March 5th .
Covers assigned readings and class
material from the first day of the semester
to the day of the exam only.
In class. Bring scantron sheet and pencil.
Any student group that presents this week
must get their exam questions to the
professor no later than Wed March 19h, so
that they can be used on the exam.
2nd exam
Monday, April 9th
Covers assigned readings and class
material from after the second exam only.
In class. Bring scantron sheet and pencil.
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April 2830
How has the economic, social Chapter 15 Schaefer
and marital role of women
Women
changed throughout history?
May 7-11
Exam Review May 5th
Chapter 16&17
Schaefer
Overcoming
Exclusion
Any student group that presents this week
must get their exam questions to the
professor no later than Wed April 23rd. so
that they can be used on the exam.
FINAL EXAM (3rd)
Wednesday, May 9th.
Covers assigned readings and class
material from after second exam only. In
class. Bring Scantron sheet and pencil.
* The final exam for this class if on Wednesday, May 7th. We do not meet during finals week.

Learning is a participatory process, not a passive one. Class participation (discussion, taking notes,
attendance, etc) enhances your ability to retain the material for exams.

Doing the reading assigned for each class before coming to class is necessary to benefit from what we do in
class. The Tentative Course Schedule indicates the dates by which reading assignments must be completed
before class.
5. Civility:
 Turn off all electronic devices during class. Adherence to the Student Conduct Code is expected.
6. CLAS Incomplete Policy:
Incomplete grades (IW or IF) are NOT granted for low academic performance. To be eligible for an incomplete
grade, students MUST:
 Successfully complete a minimum of 75% of the course
 Have special circumstances beyond their control that preclude them from attending class and completing
graded assignments
 Make arrangements to complete missing assignments with the original instructor. Verification of special
circumstances is required.
Completion of a CLAS Course Completion Agreement is strongly suggested. Incompletes cannot be awarded
that stipulate: (1) a student may repeat the entire course, (2) repeat or replace existing grades, (3) allow the
student an indeterminate period of time to complete a course, or (4) allow the student to repeat the course with a
different instructor.
The CLAS Course Completion Agreement is available from the CLAS Advising Office, NC 2024.
7. CU Succeed
Have questions or want more information Please contact:
Nicole Jackson
CU Succeed Program Coordinator
Fatimah Ben-Masaud
CU Succeed
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EnrollmentCoordinator
Phone: 303-556-6140
-or- Phone: 303-556-4384
email: Nicole.Jackson@ucdenver.edu
email: Fatimah.Ben-Masaud@ucdenver.edu
www.ucdenver.edu/cusucceed
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