Program Overview

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Academic Catalog

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Ethnic Studies, Comparative (ETHNIC)

Course Descriptions

• ETHNIC 101: The Multi-Racial Origins of American Cultures
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • Origins and development of racial and ethnic identities in the Americas, with specific attention to Wisconsin history and contemporary issues
  • Prerequisites: none
  • Course Rules: 2 hours lecture, 1 section, not retakable for credit; may be repeated for higher grade
  • General Education Requirements: CD, HU
  • Last Taught: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019
• ETHNIC 102: Transnational Migrations: People on the Move
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • Modern and contemporary social and cultural processes of migration and identity; role of law as 'gatekeeping'; history of nativism, interethnic relations, and community formation
  • Prerequisites: none
  • General Education Requirements: CD, HU
  • Last Taught: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020
• ETHNIC 192: First-Year Seminar
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • The specific topics are announced in the Schedule of Classes each time the class is offered
  • Prerequisites: none
  • Course Rules: Open only to freshmen, students may earn credit in just one L&S First-Year Sem (course numbers 192, 193, 194)
  • General Education Requirements: HU
  • Last Taught: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2019, Fall 2018
• ETHNIC 193: First-Year Seminar
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • The specific topics are announced in the Schedule of Classes each time the class is offered
  • Prerequisites: none
  • Course Rules: Open only to freshmen, students may earn credit in just one L&S First-Year Sem (course numbers 192, 193, 194)
  • General Education Requirements: SS
  • Last Taught: Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019
• ETHNIC 199: Independent Study: Lower Division
  • 1-3 credits, undergraduate
  • For further information, consult Ethnic Studies coordinator
  • Prerequisites: 2.25 GPA on at least 12 graded credits; written consent of instructor and program coordinator
  • Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic to 9 credits maximum
• ETHNIC 200: Racial Minorities in the United States
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • A survey of the historical and contemporary experiences of American Indians, Asians, African-Americans, and Hispanics in the United States
  • Prerequisites: none
  • General Education Requirements: CD, SS
• ETHNIC 245: Indians, Artists, and Conquistadores: The U.S. Southwest
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • Interaction of diverse Indian, European, and Latino cultures in the U.S. southwest
  • Prerequisites: none
• ETHNIC 250: Selected Topics in Ethnic Studies
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • This course will focus on one individual ethnic group, or one particular aspect of an ethnic group
  • Prerequisites: none
  • Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic to 9 credits maximum
• ETHNIC 255: Migration and Gender: Starbucks, Sex Trafficking, and Nannies
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • Changing roles of women in the global marketplace; effects of migration on gender and family life
  • Prerequisites: none
  • Course Rules: Counts as a repeat of Ethnic 250 with similar title
  • General Education Requirements: CD, HU
  • Last Taught: Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021
• ETHNIC 265: Hmong Americans: History, Culture, and Contemporary Life
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • Hmong American history, the effects of the Vietnam War on Hmong culture, and the history of the resulting refugee immigrants in America
  • Prerequisites: none
  • Course Rules: Ethnic 265 & Hmong 265 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another
  • General Education Requirements: CD, SS
  • Last Taught: Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021
• ETHNIC 275: Queer Migrations
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • How gender, race, and sexuality shape the migration processes; how concerns about sexuality shape U.S. immigration and citizenship policy; how mass migrations transform diverse queer communities
  • Prerequisites: none
  • Course Rules: No credit for students with credit in Ethnic 250 with similar topic, Ethnic 275 & LGBT 275 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another
  • General Education Requirements: CD, HU
  • Last Taught: Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021
• ETHNIC 285: Cultures of Contemporary Russia
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • Ethnic conflict and struggles over language, territory, culture, and politics after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
  • Prerequisites: none
  • Course Rules: Counts as a repeat of Ethnic 250 with similar title
  • Last Taught: Spring 2012, Spring 2010
• ETHNIC 289: Internship in Ethnic Studies, Lower Division
  • 1-6 credits, undergraduate
  • Application of basic principles of ethnic studies in a business, organizational, educational, political, or other appropriate setting
  • Prerequisites: intro course in ethnic; 2.25 GPA; consent of supervising faculty member
  • Course Rules: One credit earned for academic work based on 40 hours in internship, retakable to 6 credits maximum
  • Last Taught: Fall 2022
• ETHNIC 297: Study Abroad
  • 1-12 credits, undergraduate
  • Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work level, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared program course work
  • Prerequisites: acceptance for Study Abroad Program
  • Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic
• ETHNIC 299: Ad Hoc
  • 1-6 credits, undergraduate
  • Course created expressly for offering in a specified enrollment period, requires only department and associate dean approval
  • Prerequisites: none; additional prerequisites may be assigned to specific topic
  • Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic
• ETHNIC 325: Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Milwaukee
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • Influxes into the U.S. of migrants from Europe, Latin America, and elsewhere; evolution of conflict and division; particular attention to Civil Rights and deindustrialization
  • Prerequisites: junior standing
  • Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic to 9 credits maximum
  • General Education Requirements: CD, HU
  • Last Taught: Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021
• ETHNIC 350: Advanced Topics in Comparative Ethnic Studies
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • Various advanced topics in the field of comparative ethnic studies
  • Prerequisites: Ethnic 101(P); 102(P), or 250(P), or consent of instructor
  • Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic to 9 credits maximum
• ETHNIC 355: Muslims and American Popular Culture
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • History of Muslims in American pop culture; sub-cultures of various Muslim ethnic groups from the perspective of film, literature, and music
  • Prerequisites: junior standing or Ethnic 101(P) or 102(P)
  • Last Taught: Fall 2009
• ETHNIC 360: Villainy, Sex, & Blood: Race, Gender & Ethnicity in Pop Culture
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • Exploration of the ways in which popular culture creates, maintains, and challenges notions of race, gender, and ethnicity throughout the American historical experience
  • Prerequisites: junior standing
  • Course Rules: Counts as a repeat of Ethnic 250 with similar topic
  • Last Taught: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020
• ETHNIC 375: Global Violence, Disease, and Death
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • Development schemas, health policies, and the role of international organizations in global incidents of suffering, violence, and death
  • Prerequisites: junior standing or Ethnic 101(P) or 102(P)
  • Last Taught: Spring 2019, Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016
• ETHNIC 489: Internship in Ethnic Studies, Upper Division
  • 1-6 credits, undergraduate
  • Application of advanced principles of ethnic studies in a business, organizational, educational, political, or other appropriate setting
  • Prerequisites: junior standing; 300-level or above course in ethnic studies; 2.25 GPA; consent of supervising faculty member
  • Course Rules: One credit earned for academic work based on 40 hours in internship, retakable to 6 credits maximum
  • Last Taught: Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2017
• ETHNIC 497: Study Abroad
  • 1-12 credits, undergraduate
  • Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work level, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared program course work
  • Prerequisites: junior standing; acceptance for Study Abroad Program
  • Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic
• ETHNIC 499: Ad Hoc
  • 1-6 credits, undergraduate
  • Course created expressly for offering in a specified enrollment period, requires only department and associate dean approval
  • Prerequisites: junior standing; additional prerequisites may be assigned to specific topic
  • Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic
• ETHNIC 550: Senior Seminar in Comparative Ethnic Studies
  • 3 credits, undergraduate
  • Focus on specific aspects (social, cultural) of ethnic and racial identity, based on readings and presentation of original student research
  • Prerequisites: senior standing; consent of instructor
  • Course Rules: Topic varies; not retakable for credit, may be repeated for higher grade, satisfies L&S Seminar requirement
  • Last Taught: Spring 2021, Spring 2008, Spring 2006, Summer 1997
• ETHNIC 699: Advanced Independent Work
  • 1-3 credits, undergraduate
  • See Independent Study, for further information consult Ethnic Studies coordinator
  • Prerequisites: junior standing; 2.5 GPA; written consent of instructor, program coordinator, and assistant dean for SAS
  • Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic to 9 credits maximum
  • Last Taught: Fall 2012, Summer 2011, Spring 2011, Spring 2010