Major & Emphases

Our major lies at the intersections of Ethnic Studies, Women’s Studies, and Multicultural Queer Studies.

This interdisciplinary program analyzes how notions of race, gender, sexuality, nation, class, physical ability, and other aspects of social location materially influence people’s lives. Students take a common core of classes then choose an emphasis in ES, WS, or MQS. 

CRGS graduates will be prepared to work in such fields as politics and government, business, social services, activism, and community organizing, and to pursue a variety of other jobs in the non-profit sector. In addition, graduates will be in a strong position to enter and successfully complete graduate study programs in the social sciences and humanities as well as obtain professional degrees and credentials leading to a range of careers. Graduates of our program are likely to pursue professions in, for example, social work, library science, education (K-12, community college, and university levels), health care (counselor, psychologist, midwife, doctor, nurse, hospice, and hospital counseling), and law (civil rights attorney, legal representation for domestic abuse and violence cases, human rights law).

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Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree requires a total of 120 units. Students must fulfill General Education & All-University Requirements, residency, unit, and GPA requirements as outlined in the Bachelor’s Degree Requirements. This major includes a Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) certified course.

Requirements for the Major (42 Units)

All courses required for the major must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.

Core Courses (26 Units)
Lower Division

  • CRGS 108 - Power/Privilege: Gender and Race, Sex, Class Units: 3

Historical Content

  • ES 105 - Introduction to U.S. Ethnic Studies Units: 3

  • WS 107 - Women, Narrative, History Units: 3

Contemporary Issues

  • ES 106 - Introduction to Black Studies Units: 3

  • WS 106 - Introduction to Women’s Studies Units: 3

Upper Division

  • CRGS 331 - Radical Futures: Race, Environment, and Social Justice Units: 3

  • CRGS 360 - Race, Gender and US Law Units: 4

  • CRGS 390 - Theory and Methods Units: 4

  • CRGS 485 - Professional Development Units: 1

Community Engagement & Leadership

  • CRGS 313 - Community Activism Units: 3 or

  • EDUC 313 - Community Activism Units: 3

Complete 2 units from the following courses

  • CRGS 482 - Internship Units: 1-3

  • CRGS 491 - Mentoring Units: 1-2

Ethnic Studies Emphasis (16 Units)

  • ES 310 - U.S. and Mexico Border Units: 4

Ethnic Studies Elective Courses
Complete 12 units from the following list, chosen in consultation with major advisor.

  • CRGS 235 - Act to End Sexualized Violence Units: 1
  • ES 107 - Chican@/Latinx Lives Units: 3
  • ES 202 - Hip Hop and the Black Experience Units: 3
  • ES 210 - CouRaGeouS Cuentos Production Units: 2
  • ES 301 - Media and the Politics of Representation Units: 4
  • ES 303 - From Civil Rights, Black Power to Black Lives Matter Units: 3
  • ES 304 - Migrations and Mosaics Units: 3
  • ES 305 - African American Cultural History Units: 3
  • ES 306 - World Regions Cultural Studies Units: 3
  • ES 308 - Multi-Ethnic Resistance in the U.S. Units: 3
  • ES 314 - Chicano Culture and Society in America Units: 3
  • ES 317 - Campus Dialogue on Race Units: 1
  • ES 336 - U.S. Writers of Color Units: 4
  • ES 465B - Multicultural Issues in Literature/Languages Units: 4
  • ES 465C - Multicultural Issues in Literature/Languages Units: 4
  • ES 480 - Selected Topics in Ethnic Studies Units: 1-4

Multicultural Queer Studies Emphasis (16 Units)

  • CRGS 430 - Decolonizing Gender and Sexuality Units: 4

Multicultural Queer Studies Elective Courses
Complete 12 units from the following list. Select courses in consultation with major advisor. Courses not on this list require advisor approval.

  • CRGS 235 - Act to End Sexualized Violence Units: 1
  • CRGS 321 - Trans* Lives and Theory Units: 3
  • EDUC 318 - LGBTQIA+ Issues in Schools Units: 3
  • ES 336 - U.S. Writers of Color Units: 4
  • ES 465B - Multicultural Issues in Literature/Languages Units: 4
  • ES 465C - Multicultural Issues in Literature/Languages Units: 4
  • FILM 465 - Film Seminar Units: 4
  • PSYC 436 - Human Sexuality Units: 3
  • WS 318 - LGBTQIA+ Issues in Schools Units: 3
  • WS 350 - Health and Body Politics Units: 4
  • WS 436 - Human Sexuality Units: 3
  • WS 370 - Queer Women’s Lives Units: 3-4 or 
    ENGL 410 - Topics in Queer and Trans Studies Units: 4 (when offered as Queer Women’s Literature)

Women’s Studies Emphasis (16 Units)

  • CRGS 430 - Decolonizing Gender and Sexuality Units: 4

Women’s Studies Elective Courses
Complete 12 units from the following list, chosen in consultation with a major advisor. At least one elective course must have a transnational focus.

  • CRGS 235 - Act to End Sexualized Violence Units: 1
  • ES 336 - U.S. Writers of Color Units: 4
  • WS 303 - Anti-Colonial Women’s Movements Units: 3 (transnational focus)
  • WS 317 - Women and Development Units: 4
  • WS 320 - Act to End Violence Seminar Units: 3
  • WS 340 - Ecofeminism Units: 3-4 (transnational focus)
  • WS 350 - Health and Body Politics Units: 4
  • WS 465B - Multicultural Issues in Literature/Languages Units: 4
  • WS 465C - Multicultural Issues in Literature/Languages Units: 4
  • WS 480 - Selected Topics in Women’s Studies Units: 1-5
  • WS 370 - Queer Women’s Lives Units: 3-4 or
    ENGL 410 - Topics in Queer and Trans Studies Units: 4 (when offered as Queer Women’s Literature)
Declare a major or minor?
Contact Professor
Paul Michael L. Atienza
Forms available at: