The “critical” in critical race and ethnic studies indicates the deliberate complexity at the heart of our approach: while our program is dedicated to the investigation of race and ethnicity as realities in the daily lives of people all over the globe, we view these categories as inherently flawed and insufficient. Ultimately, race and ethnicity are not categories that translate seamlessly from culture to culture, even within the U. S.: these terms take on radically different meanings that depend on one’s vantage point. Neither do they develop independently; race and ethnicity are inherently relational and intersectional. One factor that has been consistent in every incarnation of racial and ethnic identity, however, is power. In our program, students come to appreciate the centrality of power relations in the development of identity of marginalized peoples.
The aim of our program is to enable students to understand that race and ethnicity are not stable categories: they are ever-changing processes that are radically contingent on history, politics, geography, culture, and multiple other factors.
Studying Critical Race and Ethnic Studies is an excellent preparation for graduate work in many fields including history, English, American Studies, sociology, education, and more. Recent graduates have found employment in journalism, education, health, social, and governmental agencies as well as in non-profit organizations.