Interdisciplinary Programs

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Ethnic Studies Program

201 Old Library
610-436-2725
Bonita Freeman-Witthoft, Director
Frank J. Hoffman, Associate Director

FACULTY STEERING COMMITTEE

Mahrukh Azam, Chemistry
Erminio Braidotti, Languages and Cultures
Timothy J. Brown, Communication Studies
Cecilia Lee-Fang Chien, History
Lawrence Davidson, History
Valerian DeSousa, Sociology
Anita Foeman, Communication Studies
Bonita Freeman-Witthoft, Anthropology
Jonathan Friedman, History
Paul Green, English
Frank J. Hoffman, Philosophy
Krishna Kumar, Psychology
Ann Lieberman Colgan, Exploratory Studies
Karen A. Paiva, Anthropology and Sociology
Cherise Pollard, English
Bhim Sandhu, Political Science
Alice J. Speh, Languages and Cultures
Linda Stevenson, Political Science
Carla Verderame, English
Richard W. Voss, Social Work

Ethnic studies includes the Ethnic Studies Institute and program. The institute sponsors cultural programming, grant writing, and research.The program offers a minor to any student, regardless of major, who satisfactorily completes 18 semester hours of work in ethnic studies. Study may lead to a multiethnic emphasis or to a concentration in one of the following areas:

  • Asian American Studies
  • Hispanic American Studies
  • Jewish American Studies
  • Native American Studies

Minor in Ethnic Studies (18 semester hours)

Ethnic studies includes the Ethnic Studies Institute and program. The institute sponsors cultural programming, grant writing, and research.The interdisciplinary program offers a minor to any student, regardless of major, who satisfactorily completes 18 semester hours of work in ethnic studies. Study may lead to a multiethnic emphasis or to a concentration in one of the following areas:

  • The African American studies concentration offers an interdisciplinary course of study to students interested in the literary, historical, artistic, cultural, and sociological significance of African American culture.
  • The Asian American studies concentration offers an interdisciplinary and structured course of study to students interested in the philosophical, literary, historical, sociological, and cultural significance of Asian American culture.
  • The Hispanic American studies concentration offers an interdisciplinary course of study to students interested in the literary, political, artistic, and cultural significance of Hispanic American culture.
  • The Jewish American studies concentration offers an interdisciplinary approach with a foundation in Jewish history, language, and literature.
  • The Native American studies concentration offers an interdisciplinary course of study structured around the literary, historical, and cultural significance of Native American culture.

For current requirements and a list of approved courses in each specialization, consult the director of ethnic studies.

For each option currently offered there are, in addition to the relevant ethnic studies core courses, certain cognate courses. These cognate courses do not necessarily deal directly with ethnic group life but give an added dimension of social and historical background.

As soon as possible, students should register their intent to earn the minor with the director of the ESI. At the end of each semester, students should report the ethnic-related courses completed during the semester and the courses planned for the following semester to the director. An updated list of courses approved for credit is available each semester from the ESI before the advising and scheduling period. Students can use an approved ethnic-related course toward the completion of the minor in ethnic studies at the same time it is being used to fulfill their major, other minor, or elective requirements.

Students are encouraged to attend at least two cultural ethnic events - speakers, musical programs, art shows, theatre productions, or films - each year.

For advising in ethnic studies, contact the director, Dr. Bonita Freeman-Witthoft at 610-436-2725, or the associate director, Dr. Frank J. Hoffman, at 610-436-2361.

Minor in Holocaust Studies (18 semester hours)

The program in holocaust studies deals not only with historical aspects of the holocaust, but also with moral and political issues involved in the prevention of future holocausts.

This minor may be taken as one of the minors in the bachelor of arts or bachelor of science in liberal studies general degree program. For advising in holocaust studies, contact Dr. Jonathan Friedman, 610-436-2972.

  1. Required courses (9 semester hours)
    HIS 332, 349, and PHI 180
  2. Elective courses (9 semester hours)
    Any three courses selected from the following:
    ANT 220; GER 221/EGE 222; HIS 423; LIT 304; PSC 252, 322; PSY 254; SOC 335; or SWO 225