Ethnic and Immigration Studies

Karnoutsos Hall, Room 540
201-200-2014

Ethic and Immigration Studies minor is a multidisciplinary, interdepartmental minor is organized around the theme of pluralism and ethnic diversity in American life and culture. It is designed to help students develop a recognition and understanding of the contributions of the different ethnic groups that make up American society. New Jersey City University provides a unique opportunity for the study of immigration and ethnicity because of its proximity to Ellis Island and its own ethnic diversity. The minor in Ethnic and Immigration Studies will be of service to those students whose career interests include social services, teaching, health services, law enforcement and counseling.

William Westerman, Coordinator
Assistant Professor of Sociology & Anthropology
Harvard University, A.B.; University of Pennsylvania, A.M., Ph.D.

Ethnic Studies (ETHN)

ETHN 1XX Ethnic Studies Transfer Credit (0 Credits)

ETHN 2XX Ethnic Studies Transfer Credit (0 Credits)

ETHN 114 Immigration in American History (3 Credits)

The focus of this course is the study and analysis of the impact of immigration on the development of modern America. The experiences and contributions of ethnic immigration groups are stressed. (Cross listed with History)

ETHN 115 The Asian-American Experience (3 Credits)

This survey deals with Asian-Americans, particularly immigration and countries of origin; problems encountered; integration into the broader American society; relations with other ethnic groups; achievements and aspirations. (Cross listed with History)

ETHN 130 Understanding Ethnic Conflict (3 Credits)

This course will investigate competing theories on the cause of conflict, examine the political behavior of ethnic groups, and analyze how domestic and international factors influence a country's ethnic divisions. The students will analyze documentary and drama films to supplement class material.

ETHN 201 Ethnic & Racial Stereotypes in Film & Television (3 Credits)

This course focuses on ethnic stereotyping by analyzing major films and television programs. The evolution of ethnic stereotypes of various groups (Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, Asians, Italians, Poles and Slavs, Irish, Germans and Jews) are traced from the birth of motion picture to the film and television programs of today.

ETHN 208 Immigration: 21st Century (3 Credits)

ETHN 220 Geographies of Immigration (3 Credits)

Course investigates the multiple linkages between people and their surroundings. In particular, it focuses on immigrant communities and the ways in which immigrants relate to places. It considers the relationship between place and identity, the meaning of home, the division between public and private spaces, architecture and power relations.

ETHN 221 Cultural Assimilation of America's Ethnic Group (3 Credits)

Course is concerned with the sociological phenomena associated with the movement of people from one cultural world to another. It considers the impact of migration to a land with different norms and values both on the individuals involved as well as on the society receiving the immigrants.

ETHN 225 Immigration and the Global City (3 Credits)

This course a broad overview of the literature on immigration and the urban environment. The course starts with a review of early writings on migrants in the city (the Chicago school) and continues with an analysis of selected research topics, such as transnationalism, settlement patterns, ethnic segregation, global cities and urban citizenship. The course employs a variety of disciplinary perspectives on urban studies, including sociology, geography and anthropology. It focuses on examples from the New York Metropolitan Area.

Pre-Requisite(s): ETHN 114 or GEOG 114 or LATI 105 or SOCI 111 or SOCI 113, or WGST 108.

ETHN 310 Inside Immigrant Neighborhoods (3 Credits)

Ethnography is a research method of intensive direct field observation in a given community, providing written and visual documentation of the experience, including interviews, descriptions, photos, and video. Our University resides at the center of one of the most culturally-rich immigrant areas of the world, a laboratory of multicultural co-existence with much to offer. In this course, students will take full advantage by carrying out a capstone project consisting of ethnographic field research in a local immigrant community.

co-requisite: ETHN 220.