RACE AND ETHNIC POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES
Introduction to various concepts on race and ethnic politics in the U.S. context. Examines how race and ethnicity influences the U.S. political system and vice versa. In addition to providing basic definitions of race and ethnicity, focuses on five thematic questions: What is race, and how does it differ from other social and political identities? How do societal notions of race and ethnicity structure political institutions? How do political institutions reinforce societal notions of race and ethnicity? How do racial and ethnic minority groups use political institutions to enact their preferred policy goals? How does society respond to the preferred policy goals of racial and ethnic minority groups?
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: POLI SCI 104 , LEGAL ST/POLI SCI 217 , CHICLA 201 , or AFROAMER 151 Course Designation: Core GenEd - Civics & Perspectives Ethnic St - Ethnic Studies Breadth - Social Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Articulate how past political institutions have affected present day circumstances regarding race and racial inequalities in the U.S. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Recognize and question the cultural assumptions and belief systems as they relate to race and ethnicity that are built into U.S. political institutions. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Demonstrate self-awareness and empathy toward the policy experiences of others, especially racial and ethnic minorities. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Apply course concepts to their own political lives and circumstances outside the classroom. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Articulate how cultural assumptions and belief systems used to build past political institutions connect with current day institutions. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Articulate how past political institutions have affected present day circumstances regarding race and racial inequalities in the U.S. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Recognize and question the cultural assumptions and belief systems as they relate to race and ethnicity that are built into U.S. political institutions. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Demonstrate self-awareness and empathy toward the policy experiences of others, especially racial and ethnic minorities. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Apply course concepts to their own political lives and circumstances outside the classroom. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Articulate how cultural assumptions and belief systems used to build past political institutions connect with current day institutions. Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027