Ethnic Studies
Ethnic Studies is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of ethnic groups in society. Students gain knowledge of a broad range of ethnic groups and develop important skills in research, writing, analysis, critical thinking and cultural awareness.
These skills may be applied in a broad range of career areas concerned with social issues and activities including public administration, education, public relations, social services, law, and publishing.
Representative Job Titles and Areas of Specialization
| Administrative Analysts | Museum Curator * | | Advertising Agent | Personnel Analyst | | Bank Officer | Probation Officer | | Bilingual Education Consultant | Professor/Instructor/Teacher * | | City Planner * | Psychologist * | | Claims Adjuster | Public Administrator | | Community Organization Worker | Public Relations | | Customs/Immigration Inspector | Rehabilitation Counselor * | | Foreign Service Officer | Researcher | | Grant/Proposal Writer | Revenue Agent | | Group Counselor | Social Worker * | | Industrial Relations Specialist | Staff Analyst | | Intelligence Analyst | Substance Abuse Counselor | | Lawyer * | Writer/Editor | | Management Trainee | |
* See Training section
Nature of the Work
Many of the career opportunities with government agencies and non-profit organizations are in the areas of administration and human services.Cities and counties typically employ recent graduates as administrative assistants. These positions involve the collection, compilation and analysis of information relating to a specific service area or department. An administrative assistant might also review policies and procedures and prepare written reports, grant applications, correspondence, resolutions, and proclamations.Opportunities in human services occur in such diverse settings as group homes and halfway houses; correctional and community mental health centers; family, child, and youth service agencies; and programs concerned with alcoholism, drug abuse, family violence, and aging.Human service workers in social service agencies help clients through the red tape that surrounds many entitlement programs. This involves interviewing clients, assessing their needs, and establishing their eligibility for services that are available in the community.Those working in community, mental health, or residential care settings often assist a team made up of social workers, psychologists and other human services professionals.Social workers perform case work with individuals and/or families to assist in the management of health, social, emotional and economic problems.The field of corrections includes the positions of group counselor and probation officer. Group counselors are responsible for supervising the activities, safety and care of juveniles in county detention or correctional facilities. Probation officers assist persons granted probation by the court to aid them in following the terms and conditions of probation. They establish a program of rehabilitation which might include such things as job placement, counseling, referral to community resources and vocational training.
Additional career opportunities exist in business and industry through management training programs in such areas as banking, insurance, retail and manufacturing.
Places of Employment
| Advertising agencies | Hospitals | | Banks | Insurance companies | | City, county, state government | Museums | | Federal government | Publishing companies | | - Department of Health and Human Services | Research and educational institutes | | - Department of State | Retailers | | - Immigration and Naturalization Services | School districts | | - Internal Revenue Service | Social service agencies | | - Office of Personnel Management | Universities and colleges | | - Social Security Administration | |
Training
Many of the jobs listed above may be obtained with a bachelor's degree depending on the type of coursework completed and experience gained while in school. Those job titles designated by an asterisk generally require specific education and/or experience beyond the bachelor's degree.
A master's degree in social work is required for many positions in the mental health field and is almost always necessary for supervisory, administrative or research positions.
The ethnic studies major also provides a solid background for graduate or professional training in a broad range of areas including the social and behavioral sciences, law, education, health services, business, and library science.
Those considering a career in teaching and research on the university level will need to pursue a Ph.D.
For further information and/or career counseling contact the Career Center, Veitch Student Center, Northwest Wing, University of California, Riverside, 951.827.3631.
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