Asian American Studies Chicana/o Studies Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity Native American Studies
Home About Us Why Study Race and Ethnicity Courses > Programs How to Declare Service Learning Honors Program Opportunities Our Students Our Alumni Peer Mentor Program Contact Us

  		Undergraduate Programs

The Interdepartmental Program in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity (CSRE) provides students the opportunity to structure a major or minor in comparative studies or to focus their course work in a single ethnic studies area. Four majors and minors (Asian American Studies, Chicana/o Studies, Comparative Studies, and Native American Studies) are offered as part of CSRE. The following information is applicable to all of these programs:
For more information please contact Margarita Ibarra, Student and Academic Services Coordinator, at (650) 723-8449 or mibarra@stanford.edu



Majors
Students who declare any of the majors enroll in a common CSRE "core” curriculum consisting of two introductory "core" courses and a senior seminar. They have the opportunity to choose from more than 150 approved courses to fulfill major requirements. 60 units of course work are required for each major and all courses taken for the major must be taken for a letter grade.

Students work in concert with their major advisor and the Student and Academic Services Coordinator to develop a plan of study and articulate their focus for the major. These major proposals must be approved by the chair of each study area.

For a list of required courses, visit the individual program websites: Asian American Studies, Chicana/o Studies, Comparative Studies, and Native American Studies

Minors
Students who wish to minor in the study areas must complete six courses (a minimum of 30 units) from the approved CSRE course list, two of which must be introductory core courses. Proposals for the minor must be approved by the chair of each study area.

For a list of required courses, visit the individual program websites: Asian American Studies, Chicana/o Studies, Comparative Studies, and Native American Studies

Advising
Faculty advising is a key component of the CSRE-related undergraduate majors. Students have significant flexibility in fulfilling the requirements for the CSRE major, and they develop their specific focus in close consultation with the faculty chair of their major or minor. After students are engaged in their coursework, they select a faculty mentor from the Affiliated Faculty of CCSRE as they prepare for their senior year research project (senior paper or honors thesis).

Additional advising is provided by the Student and Academic Services Coordinator with support from the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies. Their role is to assist students with the administrative processes for declaring and completing the program of study, assist with administrative problems, and help students understand the policies and requirements for the four majors in the undergraduate program. Together with the program chairs, they can also support students in identifying faculty who may best assist them in meeting their academic goals.

Senior Seminar
Research and the writing of the senior honors thesis or senior paper are under the supervision of a faculty advisor. The seminar is offered in Autumn Quarter, and discussions take students through the process of research (conceptualization, development of prospectus, development of theses, research analysis, and writing). This course meets the Writing in the Major requirement (WIM). Those who opt to write senior papers are organized into tutorial groups in Autumn Quarter and paired with graduate student mentors to support their work.

Honors
Majors in each of the study areas who meet academic qualifications (at least a grade point average of ‘B+’ in the major) may apply for admission to the Honors Program. Majors are expected to participate in a Spring Quarter junior workshop in preparation for their honors thesis research and then spend the three quarters of senior year in an Honors Seminar designed to provide support and mentorship to students pursuing thesis research. More...

Double or Secondary Major
Many students in our undergraduate majors complete double majors and secondary majors in a number of fields. In recent years, the most common have been Biology, History, Human Biology, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology.

Stanford offers several options for students who find their interests fall in more than one department or program. For more information consult the registrar.

Double (or Multiple) Major: You must fulfill the requirements for both majors without any course applying to both. The only exception is courses that constitute “introductory skill requirements,” such as introductory math or a foreign language, which are not usually applicable in CSRE-related majors. In other words, courses may NOT be double-counted in the case of a double major. Both majors appear on your diploma.

To declare a multiple major, you must complete a form showing which course counts toward which major, and demonstrating that there are no overlaps. This form must be approved by both departments, and submitted to the Registrar’s office by the deadline to apply to graduate in the term you wish to graduate.

Secondary Major: In the case of a secondary major, you must fulfill the requirements for both majors, and you MAY double-count courses. Most majors find this to be the most practical option with departments that have substantial course offerings in ethnic studies study areas such as Anthropology, History, Political Science, or Sociology. Secondary majors are noted on the transcript, but not on the diploma.

Thematic Concentrations
Students are encouraged to select a thematic concentration to guide their course of study in the various ethnic studies majors. Thematic concentrations are not declared on Axess and do not appear on the transcript or diploma. They do create an articulated vision for the students trajectory in the ethnic studies programs that allows faculty advisors and mentors to properly and appropriately advise students to courses, opportunities, and experiences that might better serve their intellectual interests.
  • Institute for Diversity in the Arts
    Learn how to expand one’s artistic practices and work towards achieving greater cultural awareness and value on issues of race and diversity at Stanford and surrounding communities

    Primary Advisor: Gina Clarke-Hernandez
     
  • Public Service
    Learn how to work with and within diverse communities, consider strategies for leadership and social change, and contribute in meaningful ways to local communities.

    Primary Advisor: Tania D. Mitchell
     
  • American Diversity
    Investigate how American domestic and foreign policy, law, history, culture and society are formed within conversations, debates, politics and studies.
     
  • Race and the American City
    Understand how cities embody negotiations around resources, residence, financial districting, economic flow, health and education resources, environmental policies, and city planning
     
  • Self-Designed Concentration
    Some students find that they have an interest in an area of race and ethnicity that doesn’t fit easily within the existing concentrations; examples might include studies at the intersections of race and environmental policies/practice, race and the law, or race, gender, and sexuality. For highly motivated and creative students, a self-designed concentration may be the best option.

Sample 4 Year Plans
CCSRE’s majors and minors are flexible programs that students can design to meet their academic interests and career goals. Students often pursue double- or dual-majors, minors, or co-terms along with their CCSRE major/minor. They also participate in student group activities, study abroad programs, and summer internships that enhance their academic study of race and ethnicity.

The sample four-year plans listed below illustrate the breadth of opportunities open to CCSRE majors and minors. They are intended to help prospective students brainstorm ways to make a CCSRE major or minor a meaningful part of their Stanford education.
  • Cynthia Liao: four-year plan [.xls] - email
    Asian American Studies major, Modern Languages minor, Sociology co-term
    Interests: civil rights; public service; government
     
  • Sergio Rosas: four-year plan [.xls]
    CSRE/Political Science double major
    Interests: identity, race, and culture in American education; public policy
     
  • Edgar Chavez: four-year plan [.xls]
    CSRE major, Political Science minor
    Interests: public policy, art
     
  • Maggie Chen: four-year plan [.xls]
    CSRE/Human Biology dual major, pre-med
    Interests: public health (especially women and girls, sexual health)
     
  • Christian Ngo: four-year plan [.xls]
    Asian American Studies/Biology double major, pre-med
    Interests: public health, epidemiology
     
  • Wayva Waterman: four-year plan [.xls]
    Native American Studies major, Human Biology minor
    Interests: public health; social psychology
     
  • Holly Miowak Stebing: four-year plan [.xls]
    Native American Studies major, History minor
    Interests: history (especially of Alaskan Natives); anthropology
     
  • Katie Frank: four-year plan [.xls]
    Chicana/o Studies major, Asian American Studies minor
    Interests: gender and sexuality in cultural reproduction; communication studies



 
450 Serra Mall, Building 360, Stanford, CA 94305-2032
Copyright ©2009, Center for Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity