The Undergraduate Program in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity

CCSRE’s educational programs combine classroom and community engaged learning that prioritizes racial equity.

The Interdepartmental Program in Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity (CSRE) offers students the opportunity to major or minor in one of five interdisciplinary academic areas (Asian American Studies, Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, Jewish Studies and Native American Studies). Each of our academic areas provides analytical tools for understanding how racial and ethnic categories form; how and why these categories are significant; and how they are represented and reimagined.  Students can investigate the various meanings of race and ethnicity through internships, engagement with the community, and through original research.

With over 140 CCSRE faculty affiliates across the University in a wide range of schools and academic discplines, the CSRE Programs offer students a broad range of resources and interdisciplinary courses relevant to the study of race and ethnicity both in the United States and abroad.  Our students may take courses in anthropology, art, communications, economics, education, feminist/gender/sexuality, history, languages, linguistics, literature, music, philosophy, political science, theater, psychology, sociology, and religion, among others.   As such, our undergraduate curriculum is flexible and dynamic.  Core and foundational courses provide students essential knowledge about race and ethnicity, while a rigorous and engaging set of more than 150 courses allow students to explore new passions and further examine old interests.

The first degree in Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity was conferred in 1998. There was only one CSRE B.A. degree and one CSRE minor granted that year. The following year, 17 students earned B.A.s in CSRE, and each of the existing programs in the CSRE Family of Programs (Asian American Studies, [then] Chicana/o Studies, and Native American Studies) each conferred at least one B.A. and one minor to graduating students. Since that time, the CSRE Family of Programs has granted bachelors degrees and minors to over 450 students.