MCCCD Program Description

Ethnic Relations in the United States

Course: AFR202

First Term: 2006 Spring

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Basic concepts and processes, including historic overview, of inter-ethnic relations in the United States: culture, race, ethnicity, ethnocentrism, prejudice, discrimination, racism, assimilation, acculturation, and individual and group responses to inter-ethnic contact. Cultural knowledge and intercultural communication skills and perspectives as fundamental tools for successful management of social relations in a multicultural world

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe the importance of understanding ethnic relations in modern United States culture. (I) 2. Explain core concepts and principles of cultural anthropology. (II) 3. Explain core concepts related to race, ethnicity, and culture. (III) 4. Summarize a major anthropological theory or model of ethnic relations. (IV) 5. Compare and contrast the variety of ways in which groups adapt to a multicultural society. (V) 6. Compare and contrast individual adaptations to inter-ethnic contact. (V) 7. Provide a historical perspective regarding various ethnic groups in the United States. (VI) 8. Analyze the impact of contact over time between various ethnic groups in the United States. (VI) 9. Compare and contrast the sociopolitical/economic factors in immigration to the United States for different ethnic groups. (VI, VII) 10. Describe and analyze in depth some of the major contemporary issues in inter-ethnic relations in the United States. (VII) 11. Incorporate concepts of inter-ethnic relations into an understanding of a specific area of interest. (VIII) 12. Formulate predictions regarding the future of inter-ethnic relations in a changing United States society. (IX)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Importance of understanding inter-ethnic relations in modern U.S. culture II. Understanding culture and human behavior III. Concepts of race, ethnicity, and culture IV. Theory and models of ethnic relations V. Intercultural contact A. Group adaptations B. Individual adaptations VI. History of inter-ethnic relations in the U.S. A. Native American B. European Americans C. Hispanics D. African-Americans E. Asian-Americans F. Other groups VII. Contemporary issues in inter-ethnic relations A. Prejudice and discrimination B. Affirmative Action and related programs C. Immigration D. Interplay of class and ethnic group VIII. An applied perspective on inter-ethnic relations A. Community B. Workplace C. Institutions IX. Future of interethnic relations in the U.S.

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 12/13/2005

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.