Understanding the nuances of different cultures -- whether across the globe or just around the corner -- is increasingly a prerequisite for informed citizenship in the 21st century.
To help students stay ahead of this curve, the College of Arts and Sciences has formally established the Department of Ethnic Studies and the Department of International Studies.
Both were already "degree programs," but elevating their status to department level will help the UO recruit and retain top-notch faculty whose cross-cultural expertise is in high demand.
As the U.S. rapidly approaches a tipping point when whites will no longer be in the majority, the field of ethnic studies is increasingly relevant. The Department of Ethnic Studies focuses on race and ethnicity in the United States, with a primary focus on people of African, Asian, Latina/o and Native American descent.
The department includes dedicated faculty specializing in each of these areas, plus a long list of affiliated faculty from fields such as anthropology, sociology, English, political science, history, philosophy and women's and gender studies.
The Department of International Studies also concentrates on transformative trends in contemporary human interactions, but on a global scale. Its primary themes are international development, culture and globalization, environmental issues, cross-cultural communication and understanding.
Dedicated and affiliated faculty contribute expertise on Africa, China, the Pacific Rim, the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Southeast Asia, and look at international issues through interrelated lenses: geography, economics, politics, language and policy.
- Lisa Raleigh
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