Latino Association for Empowerment (LAFE)
LAFE is an educational, political and social organization of students at Westfield State that supports awareness of multicultural issues.
Minor in Ethnic Studies - 18 Credits
The Multicultural and Ethnic Studies minor is designed to promote an understanding of and appreciation for the richness of differences among the people of the world. Promoting this understanding involves exploring the nature of difference and examining its impact on our lives and our ways of thinking. It also involves analyzing the sources of conflict among different groups and the structures of power that determine which cultures are validated and are invited into power and which cultures are oppressed and silenced. The goal of all ethnic studies courses is for students to develop critical perspective – that is to go beyond the limits of our own cultural and social background to see the world from different points of view. Such skill is critical for anyone who wants to make informed personal, professional, and political choices in the complex global community. Students will learn methodologies that challenge racism, classism, homophobia, and ethnocentrism. They will use this awareness to critique the assumptions and belief systems that shape social institutions and to investigate the complexities of both systems of oppression and various practices of resistance and revolt.
Required Courses - 6 Credits
- EGST 0101 - Introduction to Comparative Ethnic Studies
- EGST 0396 - Capstone Seminar in Ethnic and Gender Studies
Elective Courses - 12 Credits
(At least two courses must be from outside the student’s major)
- ART 0357 - Islamic Art
- ART 0358 - African American Art
- COMM 0222 - Intercultural Communication
- COMM 0306 - International Communication
- EDUC 0380 - Critical Multicultural Education
- EGST 0203 - Introduction to African American Studies
- EGST 0204 - Introduction to Latino/a Studies
- EGST 0205 - Introduction to Gay And Lesbian Studies
- EGST 0230 - Special Topics in Ethnic and Gender Studies
- ENGL 0226 - U.S. Ethnic Literature Credits: 3
- ENGL 0324 - Advanced Studies in Black American Literature
- ENGL 0327 - Contemporary Cross-Cultural Literature
- GARP 0210 - Cultural Geography
- GARP 0252 - Cities of the Global South
- HIST 0215 - Introduction to the Middle East, Africa and Asia
- HIST 0263 - U.S. Women’s History
- HIST 0265 - The Minority Experience: A Multicultural History of the United States
- HIST 0273 - Labor & Economic History
- HIST 0286 - Traditional Asia to 1700
- HIST 0287 - Asia Since 1700
- HIST 0311 - Modern Civil Rights Movements 1945 – Present
- HIST 0371 - Problems in Middle East History
- LLIT 0201 - Women Writers of the Americas: Global
- LLIT 0202 - Women Writers of the Americas: US
- LLIT 0210 - Studies in the Literature of Africa and the African Diaspora: (Varying Topics):
- LLIT 0220 - Studies in European Cultures (Varying Topics) Holocaust in Literature
- MGMT 0338 - International Business
- MUSC 0160 - History of Jazz
- POLS 0209 - International Relations
- POLS 0224 - Politics of Developing Countries
- POLS 0322 - Race and Ethnicity in U. S. Politics Credits: 3
- PSYC 0363 - Cross Cultural Psychology
- PSYC 0361 - Psychology of Racism Credits: 3
- SOCI 0200 - Cultural Anthropology
- SOCI 0202 - Race and Ethnic Relations
- SOCI 0307 - Social Problems
