Ethnic Studies Department

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Explore issues of power, privilege, and resistance.

Through coursework and hands-on community engagement, you will explore constructions of race, ethnicity, and community within the U.S. and beyond, with particular attention paid to African American, Asian American, Latinx, Native American, and Pacific Islander communities. Our approach to teaching and learning engages a range of academic fields, from the arts to queer studies to theology. Our devoted faculty is committed to the College’s fundamental values of social justice, respect for all persons, and the fostering of an inclusive community.

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Ethnic Studies Degree Programs

Ethnic Studies, BA
Ethnic Studies Minor

Ethnic Studies 301 Critical Race Theory Podcast Project

Collage of four pictures. In one picture three women are listening to a lady where she is explaining other one is a podcast flyer. In the third image, its a screen of a video recorder and other one a picture of people setting around the table
A women is holding an ipad and explaining
three women are listening to a lady where she is explaining
podcast flyer handed over a glass wall
people setting around the table
two women are sitting and talking where one lady is looking at them
three women sitting and smiling
its a screen of a video recorder recording the class
two women working on their laptops
A lady sitting and working on the laptop
three women sitting and smiling
two women are sitting and talking where one lady is looking at them
two women are sitting and talking where one lady is looking at them

Ethnic Studies Symposium

a man standing next to a poster
group of students standing around a table
two men standing next to a poster and showing fist
student sitting around tables and listening to the speech
person standing next to a pile of books
students sitting around the table and dining
image of 2 people sitting, only the back side of there heads are visible
group of people standing and showing their fists
image of two elderly people
image of two women standing next to a poster
group of people talking with eachother
woman writing on a big poster
group of people standing around a table
a man standing next to a poster
two people wearing masks and holding a red cloth
a man giving a speech
a group of people standing next to a table with books
group of people standing around a table and eating
group of people sitting around the table and dinning
two women wearing masks sitting opposite to each other on a table
image of two posters

ES Class of 2023

Cover photo of class of 2023
Text saying Ethnic Studies Class of 2022
people standing together Infront of a desk and women is holding bouquet
bouquet placed on a table
group of people standing around a table
women wearing stole standing Infront of a table
women wearing stole standing Infront of a table
women wearing stole standing Infront of a table
women smiling and standing behind a table
cake written congrats ethnic studies
Women taking food onto her plate
food served in a plate
man smiling and standing Infront a table
women smiling and standing infront of a table
four people standing
group of people standing around a table
girl holding a tag saying congrats
lighting setup saying grad 2023 on the table
two people smiling
two men smiling
frame placed on a table
group of people smiling and standing closely
group of people standing around a table
women wearing stole standing Infront of a table
women wearing stole standing Infront of a table
women wearing stole standing Infront of a table
picture of graduation apron and cap
chocolates on a table
two women standing and smiling
girl helping other girl to wear stole
group of people smiling and standing closely
three people holding papers and one of the man is giving a speech
stoles
three people smiling
man wearing blue shirt standing and holding a paper
picture of a women smiling
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ES Class of 2022

Senior Reception Invitation
two people wearing mask standing and posing for picture
Cover photo
Text saying Ethnic Studies Class of 2022
picture of Awards
many stoles placed next to each other
bunch of roses
girl helping other girl to wear stole
student holding a card
man wearing a stole
two women standing and smiling
man wearing a mask and waiting in line
four people standing
two women standing in line
food served in a plate
Women taking food onto her plate
man wearing a stole and smiling
man giving speech
a girl helping a man to wear stole
group of people smiling and standing closely
women leaning on the a pillar
man with a mask
cake written congrats
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Ethnic Studies Department Scholarship

The Ethnic studies Department Scholarship, totaling $5,000 per year is awarded on a need and merit basis and many are renewed yearly.

Explore Scholarships

Get Involved

Discover the Intercultural Center, a safe, supportive, inclusive community that promotes cultural competence and social justice on campus. Or learn how the Institute for Latino and Latin American Studies highlights and enables research and scholarship about Latin America and Latinos.

 

Intercultural Center
Institute for Latino and Latin American Studies
Annaliese standing in a walkway on the SMC campus.

Success Stories

“The Ethnic Studies Program offers intentional curriculum and fosters a respectful classroom community that encouraged my personal and academic growth and equipped me with a multidisciplinary skill set that I’ve utilized in many areas. With mentorship from expert professors, my Ethnic Studies senior thesis allowed me to explore complex questions about race and ethnicity that inspired me to pursue a career in research. Thanks to Ethnic Studies at Saint Mary’s College, I’m now working towards a PhD in Mexican American and Latino Studies at UT Austin in hopes of becoming a tenure track professor and contributing to knowledge about race and identity.”

–Annaliese Martinez ’21

Annaliese Martinez ’21 Joins Office of College Communications

School and Department Information

Michael Joseph Viola
Professor & Director
Ethnic Studies Program
Saint Mary's College of California
(925) 631-4817
Email: mjv7@352396.com

Skye Ward, Administrative Assistant (part-time)
Department of Kinesiology
Email: dsw1@352396.com
Phone: (925) 631-4377

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