American Multicultural Studies, B.A.

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Admission into the Major

Each student majoring in AMCS is assigned a faculty advisor and consults with the advisor on progress toward the degree. Upon acceptance into the major, a transfer student's records will be reviewed to articulate the lower-division courses that are equivalent to those offered within the AMCS Department. A maximum of ten lower–division units may be transferred. Upper-division courses from four-year institutions may be transferred above and beyond the ten units of lower-division transfer towards the AMCS major, based on advisor approval. Students should use assist.org to view official articulation agreements between SSU and other California colleges.

Students graduating with a B.A. in American Multicultural Studies must take 20 units of core courses and an additional 8 upper-division AMCS courses plus 16 units from their chosen AMCS Pathway or the Concentration in Africana Studies.

Grading Minimums

Students must earn a grade of C- or above to get AMCS major credit. All courses graded below C- must be retaken in order to be eligible for major credit. Courses must be taken for a grade to be eligible for major credit. Courses for major credit may not be taken CR/NC.

Program Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

Study the roles of race and ethnicity in U.S. society, both historically and today.
Analyze how economic and political forces intersect with race and ethnicity in the United States.
Understand the aesthetic and creative contributions of U.S. non-whites.
Address the representation of racial and ethnic minorities in American culture, history, and politics.
Understand the relationships between ideology and power.
Study the intersectional natures of race, ethnicity, class, gender, religion, region, nationality, and other factors.

Values

Develop an understanding of how race and ethnicity are tied to personal values.
Gain an appreciation for the role non-whites have played in building America.
Foster a moral and political commitment to multiculturalism.
Understand the connections between individual achievement and community involvement.

Skills

Complete a research or creative project in ethnic studies.
Build critical thinking abilities and apply them to real-life issues.
Develop oral and written communication skills.

Degree Requirements

See the “Degree Requirements ” in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

General Education Requirements (48 units)

See the “General Education Program ” requirements in the University Catalog for information on General Education requirements. Some major requirements may double count for GE requirements.

Major Core Requirements: 20 Units

Choose any three (12 units)

AMCS 165A - Humanities Learning Community Unit(s): 4
AMCS 165B - Humanities Learning Community Unit(s): 4
AMCS 210 - Ethnic Groups in America Unit(s): 4
AMCS 225 - How Racism Works: America in Black and White Unit(s): 4
AMCS 260 - Ethnicity in the Arts, Culture, and Media Unit(s): 4

Required (8 units):

AMCS 392 - Ethnic Images in Film and Media Unit(s): 4
AMCS 480 - Research and Methodology Unit(s): 4

Choose 8 units of Upper Division Electives:

*Based on advisor approval. Only one of these courses may count towards the degree.

** Can count as an elective if not taken as a core course.

AMCS 260 - Ethnicity in the Arts, Culture, and Media Unit(s): 4 **
AMCS 339 - Ethnic Groups and American Social Policy Unit(s): 3
AMCS 350 - Ethics, Values, and Multiculturalism Unit(s): 4
AMCS 355 - Language and Ethnicity Unit(s): 4
AMCS 370 - Gender in Asian America Unit(s): 4
AMCS 374 - The Multiracial Experience Unit(s): 4
AMCS 377 - Asian American Experience Unit(s): 4
AMCS 381 - Research Assistantship Unit(s): 2-4 *
AMCS 385 - Facilitation Training Unit(s): 2-4 *
AMCS 395 - Community Involvement Program Unit(s): 1-4 (3-4 Unit(s) Required) *
AMCS 399 - Student-Initiated Course Unit(s): 1-4 (3-4 Unit(s) Required) *
AMCS 420 - Gender and Ethnicity Unit(s): 4
AMCS 445 - Multi-Culturalism and Education Unit(s): 4
AMCS 475 - Globalization and Race in the United States Unit(s): 4
AMCS 476 - Selected Topics in African American Studies Unit(s): 4
AMCS 480 - Research and Methodology Unit(s): 4
AMCS 481 - Special Topics Unit(s): 1-4 (4 Unit(s) Required)
AMCS 495 - Special Studies Unit(s): 1-4
AMCS 499 - Service Learning Internship Unit(s): 1-4

Concentrations

Concentration in Africana Studies (16 units)

Pathways

Students who do not complete the concentration in Africana Studies will select one of the following pathways. The following courses are eligible toward each pathway. However, students can consult with their advisors and the department chair to request an unlisted course count toward the Pathway. All pathways must include at least 8 upper division units. Total units in the Pathway: 16 units.

Program Roadmaps

Sample Four-Year Program

The Four year Plan is a sample study plan. The sequence and specific courses given are suggestive; please see an advisor each semester to plan your personal program and track your progress using the Academic Requirements Report (ARR) in MYSSU.

Courses may be interchanged fall and spring semester depending on course offering each semester.

General Education Notes:

GE Areas A2 and B4 should be completed by the end of the first year. Some students may take year-long courses for GE A2 and/or B4.
GE Area A1 and A3 should be completed by the end of the second year
Students should enroll in Upper Division GE courses after completion of Areas A1, A2, A3, and B4 with a C- or better, lower division GE in that area, and 45 units total.
Not all First-Year Learning Communities (FLC’s) meet the same GE areas.
GE Area D must be taken in two different subject areas across the nine total required units in lower division (LD) and upper division (UD).
Students must take American Institution requirements in U.S. History and U.S. Constitution/California State and Local Government. These requirements may be met in GE.

American Multicultural Studies, B.A., Pathway in Comparative Ethnic Studies

Freshman Year: 31 Units

Fall Semester (15 Units)

ENGL 101 - Expository Writing and Analytical Reading Unit(s): 3
or
ENGL 100A - First-Year Composition Unit(s): 3
Meets GE Area A2: Written Communication
FLC GE Area A3: Critical Thinking:
AMCS 165A - Humanities Learning Community Unit(s): 4
GE Area B4: Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (Math Stretch) or elective Credits / Units: 3
AMCS 125 - Multicultural Conversations: Listening, Speaking, and Presentation Unit(s): 3
*Meets LD GE
Elective Credits / Units: 2

Spring Semester (16 Units)

AMCS 165B - Humanities Learning Community Unit(s): 4
Meets GE Area C2: Humanities
AMCS 210 - Ethnic Groups in America Unit(s): 4
or
ENGL 100B - First-Year Composition Unit(s): 3 or elective
Meets GE Area A2: Written Communication

Sophomore Year: 29 Units

Fall Semester (15 Units)

AMCS 225 - How Racism Works: America in Black and White Unit(s): 4
or
AMCS 260 - Ethnicity in the Arts, Culture, and Media Unit(s): 4
Meets GE Area F: Ethnic Studies
GE Area A1: Oral Communication Credits / Units: 3
*LD GE Credits / Units: 3
AMCS Concentration/Pathway Credits / Units: 3
Elective Credits / Units: 3

Spring Semester (16 Units)

AMCS Concentration/Pathway, Units: 4
*LD GE, Units: 3
AMCS Concentration/Pathway, Units: 4
*LD GE, Units: 3
Elective, Units: 2

CALS 403 - Chicano/Latino Youth and Adolescents Unit(s): 3-4
AMCS 350 - Ethics, Values, and Multiculturalism Unit(s): 4
CALS 432 - Latinas/os and Globalization Unit(s): 4
UD Major Course (any)

Junior Year: (30 Units)

Fall Semester (15 Units)

AMCS 392 - Ethnic Images in Film and Media Unit(s): 4
Meets UD GE C
AMCS Concentration/Pathway Credits / Units: 3
*LD GE Credits / Units: 6
Elective Credits / Units: 2

Spring Semester (15 Units)

**UD GE, Units: 3
AMCS Concentration/Pathway, Units: 3
Elective, Units: 4
AMCS UD Elective, Units: 3-4
Elective, Units: 2

Senior year: (29 Units)

Fall Semester (14 Units)

UD AMCS Elective, Units: 3-4
**UD GE, Units: 3
Elective, Units: 4
AMCS Concentration/Pathway, Units: 4

Spring Semester (15 Units)

AMCS 480 - Research and Methodology Unit(s): 4
Electives Credits / Units: 11

Total Units: 120

*Courses in these remaining lower division general education areas (LD GE) can be taken in any order: B1, B2, C, D, E, and F. A physical or life science lab activity is also required and can be taken as part of a B1 or B2 course or as an additional 1-unit stand-alone class. In addition, two overlay courses that satisfy American Institution requirements must also be completed. Please review the Academic Requirements Report and speak with an advisor for additional information. Courses in Area D overall must span two disciplines in the Social Sciences across the 9 total lower and upper division required units.

**These remaining upper division general education courses can be taken in any order: B and D. All upper division GE courses require completion of: 1) Golden 4 courses (A1, A2, A3, and B4) courses with a C- or better, 2) all lower division GE coursework in that GE area, and 3) 45 units. Courses in Area D overall must span two disciplines in the Social Sciences across the 9 total lower and upper division required units.