Race and Ethnic Relations

Catalog description

Three lecture. Sociological perspectives and theories on race and ethnic relations including: contemporary and historical racial and ethnic intergroup relations, cultural origins, developments, and problems experienced by minority groups. Students will be able to: identify factors that determine a dominant and subordinate group; discuss the social construction of race in the U.S.; evaluate various theories to explain social constructions of race historically and in the contemporary U.S.; describe the sociological perspectives regarding intergroup relations; examine how the media communicates, reinforces, and challenges racial stereotypes and messages; identify and differentiate between prejudice and discrimination; define institutional and individual discrimination and their impact on minority groups; identify cultural elements and institutional structures that are unique to racial/ethnic minority groups in the U.S.; examine how race and ethnicity are impacted by religion, gender, sex, and social class; influencing life chances of people in America with an emphasis on social mobility and meritocracy; a look at the history, present, and future; and identify various racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. and their process of assimilation and acculturation in America through various institutions including politics, religion, education, careers, health, and life expectancy. General Education: Social and Behavioral Sciences