Program Overview

Ph.D. Program in Ethnic Studies

The graduate program in Ethnic Studies utilizes a comparative, relational, transnational approach to the field of inquiry that emerged from twentieth-century decolonial liberation struggles. The program focuses on creative, community-accountable research that integrates theory and practice, engaging with various areas such as political movements, legal analysis, public policy, education, cultural politics, artistic expression, indigenous epistemologies, identity formation, community self-determination, radical political thought, and activist intellectual work.

Program Structure

The Ph.D. program is designed to be completed in six years. The structure of the program is as follows:

• Year One: Students must take the following courses:
  • ETST 200: History of Ideas in Ethnic Studies (Fall)
  • ETST 405: Professionalization Proseminar (Fall)
  • ETST 201: Sociocultural Theories in Ethnic Studies (Winter)
  • ETST 203: Research Methodologies in Ethnic Studies (Spring)
  • ETST 289: Colloquium in Ethnic Studies (each quarter of the first two years)
• Year Two: Students choose courses relevant to one or more of the following areas of specialization:
  1. Theories of Race and Power
  2. Cultural Politics and Production
  3. The State, Law, and Social Transformation Students must also take the Master's Written Qualifying Examination by the end of the spring quarter of their second year.
• Year Three: Students must take the Doctoral Oral Qualifying Examination by the end of the spring quarter of their third year.
• Year Four: Students must submit a written prospectus outlining the topic, thesis, methods, resources, and timeline for completion of the dissertation by the fall quarter of their fourth year.
• Years Five and Six: Under the direction of a Dissertation Committee, students research and write a dissertation focusing on a specific aspect of their field of study, conforming to the format prescribed by the Graduate Council. After completing the dissertation, students must formally present it as part of the Departmental Colloquium series.

Customizing the Curriculum

Students can individualize their course of study by taking group reading courses with appropriate faculty (ETST 290s, etc.) or with cooperating faculty in other CHASS departments. The program also encourages students to take a course in quantitative or qualitative methodology (in addition to ETST 203).

Research Areas

The Ph.D. program in Ethnic Studies engages with a wide range of research areas, including:

• Political movements
• Legal analysis
• Public policy
• Education
• Cultural politics
• Artistic expression
• Indigenous epistemologies
• Identity formation
• Community self-determination
• Radical political thought
• Activist intellectual work

The program examines how historical manifestations of resistance, persistence, and oppositional knowledge production both confront and transform exploitative, oppressive conditions and create new possibilities for social change.