Modality: In-Person

Days and Times:

Spring 2026

Section 1: Mon & Wed, 9:00-10:15AM

Section 2: Mon & Wed, 1:30-2:45 PM

This course explores the diverse histories and contemporary social, cultural, and political experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The course covers a brief history and selected issues of Americans of East Asian (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean), Southeast Asian (e.g., Filipino, Vietnamese, Hmong, Mien), South Asian (e.g., Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi), and Pacific Islander (e.g., Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan) ancestry.

We will read, discuss films, critique common misconceptions and center Asian Americans and Pacific Islander people, communities, and culture.

General Education Requirement:

• Fulfills Category 6: (Ethnic Studies) requirement for GE

• Fulfills the Mission Pillar: Multicultural Perspectives (MP)

Required Texts

• Thi Bui, The Best We Could Do, New York: Abrams ComicArts, (2017)

• Min Zhou and Anthony Ocampo, Contemporary Asian America: A Multidisciplinary Reader, 3rd ed. NY: NYU Press (2016)

Format: In-Person

Two Sections: Meets Tuesday/Thursday

Section 1: 9:00-10:15 AM

Section 2: 1:30-2:45 PM

This course is an introduction to the histories, philosophies, ways of knowing and knowledge/wisdom production in the field of Native American and Indigenous Studies. Because this area of study is both inter- and multi-disciplinary, we will take into consideration the social, cultural, legal, and political philosophies that have been developed and maintained by Indigenous Peoples of the western hemisphere including North, Central, South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific with specific attention and responsibility to the teachings and lifeways of California Native Peoples.

Modality: In-person, Mondays and Weds. 10:30am to 11:45am

Location: Sierra Hall 1422

Graduation Requirements: Fulfills Title V US History requirement.

Course Description

This course examines the historical settlement and culture of Chicana/os in the United States to the present. Particular attention is given to the relationship of the Chicana/o experience to the economic, political, and social institutions of the United States. These institutions are examined in relation to historical movements and developments that span over several centuries. 

Books:

Rosina Lozano, American Language: The History of Spanish in the Unites States (2018)

Kelly Lytle Hernandez, Bad Mexicans: Race, Empire and Revolution in the Borderlands (2022)

Marla Ramirez, Banished Citizens, A History of the Mexican American Women Who Endured Repatriation (2025)

Online Asynchronous

GenEd: UDGE-D
CI Mission Category(s): Multicultural Perspectives

Course Description

This course presents a broad social, cultural, political, and historical overview of Chicanx/Latinx student education in the United States. Provides a holistic approach to Chicanx/Latinx educational experiences by exploring K-16 schooling policies and practices as well as teaching and learning in familial and community contexts from a historical and contemporary perspective. Emphasizes the application of pedagogical theories to educational practice and research with and for Chicanx/Latinx students.

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the semester, a successful student will be able to:

· Examine historical and contemporary educational issues faced by Chicanx/Latinx students from elementary to graduate school.

· Explain how race, class, gender, sexual orientation, language, culture, and immigration status impacts Chicanx/Latinx students along the educational pipeline.

· Evaluate deficit and asset-based ideologies and practices shaping the educational trajectories of Chicanx/Latinx students.

· Review multiple sociocultural teaching and learning approaches to the education of Chicanx/Latinx students in formal and informal settings.

*Art Credit: Gateways/Portales mural, 2016

Rosalia Torres-Weiner, Charlotte, N.C.

Modality: In person

Day/Time: Mondays 6:00pm-8:50pm

Location: Broom Library 1750

Children’s picture books are often misconstrued to be neutral and apolitical tools that only support young children to read, write, speak, and listen. However, as Ladson-Billings asserted, there is no such thing as literary neutrality. All books can leave a lasting impression on young children because they are beginning to learn and form opinions about themselves, people unlike themselves, and about societal themes pertaining to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). In this course, we will:

• Learn about the benefits of reading Latinx children’s picture books!

• Support children’s literacy, language, and social-emotional skills through children’s picture books!

• Use children’s literature to understand cultural wealth within Latinx family systems.

• Experience working with young children at local Head Start Centers through service learning.

Format: Online Asynchronous

No cost course readings

This course provides an examination of diverse Latina/o communities in the United States from their origins in Latin America to the various ways they have integrated into U.S. society. Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:

1) Describe the diversity and heterogeneity of the Latino/a population in the United States. 

2) Examine the historical and contemporary relations between Latin America and the United States in connection with the divergent incorporation of Latino/a groups in U.S. society. 

3) Identify the most pressing societal issues affecting diverse Latino/a communities. 

4) Analyze cultural representations and portrayals of Latina/os in print and visual media, music and popular culture. 

5) Analyze narratives, images, facts, and figures on the Latino/a population through writing, discussion and oral presentation. 

6) Articulate theoretical concepts of class, race/ethnicity, gender, and sexuality as they relate to contemporary Latino/a communities

The course will also increase your appreciation and curiosity about Latina/o communities in the U.S. and their contributions of U.S. society.

Format: Mon/Wed 1:30-2:45PM (Section 2)

Location: Sierra Hall 1422

Format: Mon/Wed 3-4:15pm (Section 3)

Location: Sierra Hall 1422

In-person for both sections

No cost course readings

This course offers an introductory study of Chicanas and Chicanos in the United States. It focuses on history, culture, identity, (de)colonization, immigration, education, labor, politics, gender and social justice movements as they relate to the Mexican American experience in American society.

Gen Ed Area F: Ethnic Studies Graduation Requirement and Multicultural Perspectives Mission Pillar

Meeting Days/Times: In-Person Wednesday 9am – 11:50am  Location: TBA

Course Description: This interdisciplinary course examines theories of identity development and empowerment applied to Latina/o adolescents and adults living in a multicultural society. Psychological, social and cultural issues will be examined from the perspective of Latina/os from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. We will examine identity development and positive functioning across diverse and multicultural communities. In this class, you will apply what you are learning to real world experiences and community service activities.

Required Books (Low-Cost):

Flores, Y. G. (2013). Chicana and Chicano Mental Health: Alma, Mente Y Corazón. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press.

Rodríguez, L. J. (2012). It Calls You Back: An Odyssey through Love, Addiction, Revolutions, and Healing. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Additional Readings and Films Streaming on Canvas

Modality: In-person, Mondays and Weds. 3:00pm to 4:15pm

Location: Sierra Hall 1212

Graduation Requirements: Fulfills B.A. or Minor in CHS

Course Description

Students work on a community-based research project approved by the instructor that integrates academic learning and community-based research, while simultaneously addressing social injustices in their community. Students will work individually and collaboratively with other students on a research project using primary sources and will present their findings at the annual student research conference on campus. See the presentations from Spring 2025.

Books:

Selected Readings.

Format: Online Asynchronous

The most important class you will ever take at CSUCI, or anywhere else for that matter. Examines interlinked global economies and whether you have money in your pocket or not. By looking at different aspects of work in rural and urban contexts, different forms of labor organizing, and regional and international contexts, we will examine the rich and diverse experiences of Chicanx and Latinx people and their roles in a global economy.

Section: 1

Format: Online Synchronous (Thursdays 4:30-7:20pm)

Course Description:

This upper division course examines the health issues affecting the Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x Communities and considers interventions, public health policies, and health promotion programs developed to improve the health status for these communities. The course content will challenge students to think critically and understand the root causes of health disparities and inequities for Latinx communities. In addition to understanding western health frameworks, foundational frameworks of social justice, indigenous knowledge systems, culture as prevention and healing, intersectionality, and resiliency will be examined in this course.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1) Analyze the health issues facing the Latino/a/x population

2) Apply public health strategies to the Latino/a/x community

3) Demonstrate cultural competency in Latino/a/x health issues

4) Evaluate strengths & weaknesses of public health programs in the Latino/a/x community

5) Identify and explain the principle communicable, infectious, and chronic diseases affecting the Latino/a/x population

6) Identify & explain cultural & structural issues in obtaining healthcare access for Latino/a/x

Format: In-person

T/Th 10:30-11:45am

This course will provide you with a historical overview of 20th and 21st-century Chicana/o/x and U.S. Central American literary history. We will trace some of the key historical events, social movements, and political concerns that this body of literature explores: from the colonization of the Americas and its lasting impact on the peoples of the Western hemisphere, to the Chicano/a, Feminist, and LGBTQ Movements, to contemporary racial and immigration politics in the US and Latin America. We will explore how Chicana/x/o-Latina/x/o artists use storytelling via poetry, novels, autobiographies, and essays to examine and address topics such as: colonization, patriarchy, colorism, assimilation, bilingualism, citizenship, and interracial dynamics, as well as immigrant worker and cross-border experiences, and queer and feminist identities. Overall, the course seeks to answer the questions: what is the role of storytelling in Latinxs’ cultural, economic, and political struggle in the U.S.? How can literature challenge injustice and inequality and serve as a catalyst for social justice? How can it help build coalitions between diverse peoples to seek the greater good for all?

Modality: Asynchronous

Course description: This course explores the history of the Spanish-speaking regions of Latin America,

from pre-Colombian civilizations to the Spanish conquest, to the present. Students

will broaden their knowledge of major geographical, political, religious, and

literary aspects of Latin American culture.

Please note that all students must complete all coursework in Spanish.

Required textbook: Así es Latinoamérica (LingroLearning, ebook and homework platform)

Modality: Hybrid, meeting Wednesdays face-to-face from 10:30-11:45

Course description:

Advanced literature course that explores major Latin American Literary works. Enhances students’ knowledge of Latin American Literature, history, and culture. Develops critical thinking and improves students’ reading and writing skills and Spanish language vocabulary. Please note that all students must complete all coursework in Spanish. This is a hybrid course with an asynchronous online component and an in-person discussion.

Format: in-person & hybrid Wednesday 10:30-11:45 am.

Location: Sierra Hall 1411

Over the last four decades, immigration has again transformed the United States. It is also producing significant changes elsewhere, from the European nations that sent people to the United States a century ago, to oil-rich Middle Eastern states and developing nations. International migration shows no signs of slowing down so the causes and consequences of immigration will be a critical topic during our century. In particular, California stands at the leading edge of these changes—more than one of every four residents in the state was born outside the US. Why do people migrate across international borders? Can states control migration, including “unwanted” migrants? How do we understand the politics of immigration? We begin with these questions and we examine the policies that allow some people in, while keeping others out. Particularly, this course examines immigration through a sociological lens, with a focus on the social, political, and historical contexts of immigration and the relationships between migrants and existing institutions and identities.

Modality: In-Person TUES/THURS 1:30-2:45

Location: Del Norte 1535

This course examines structural (societal/institutional) and behavioral (things people do or believe) elements that contribute to how we live our lives as gendered and raced subjects in contemporary society, including the cultural, economic, political, and spiritual consciousness of Xicanxs in the United States.  We will look at some of the historical elements that shape the particular manner in which gender and sexuality have evolved in Chicana/o/x communities through colonization.  This course seeks to integrate Xicanx Queer experiences, Jotería theory, activism and scholarship as tools of liberation, consciousness raising, and healing. We will examine issues of Indigeneity, (de)colonization, cis-hetero-patriarchy, gender identity, gender roles, sexuality, intersectionalities, power, education, the role of religion and spirituality, and artistic expressions.

Modality: Hybrid; Asynchronous Lecture + In-Person Lab Thursdays: 3:00-5:50

Location: Malibu 120

The Danza Mexica tradition and movement (commonly referred to also as Danza Azteca/Aztec Dance) is but one strand in a dynamic history and legacy that has shaped how both Mexicanas/os/xs and those self-identifying as Xicana/o/x name themselves and their experiences and how they (re)claim and embrace Indigenous knowledge. This class explores how Danza has served as a collective voice of self-representation and self-determination.

This course examines primarily the contemporary history of Danza Mexica as an urban, spiritual, cultural, and social movement. Through examining the rise of such movements in both México and the United States, the common link of Danza Mexica as both a product and catalyst of cultural/social transformation, becomes apparent. We will study Danza Mexica, as well as practice it.  We will gain an understanding that Danza is a constant reflection of life and our relationship to the Earth. Danza is both a social movement and movement of the body.

Modality: In-Person Tuesdays 9:00-11:50am

Location: Del Norte 1535

The objective of this course is to prepare students to pursue empirical research. Empirical research is a way of gaining knowledge by means of direct and indirect observation or experience. Empirical evidence (the record of one's direct observations or experiences) can be analyzed quantitatively or qualitatively. Through research design, method, and theoretical analysis, a scholar seeks to render understandable the characteristics, causes, and consequences of social phenomena and reality (how certain phenomena are created, the variations, and how they take shape and will transform social landscape). 

Chicana/o scholars ask questions such as: What knowledge exists about the Chicana/o Community (who they are, how they perceive the world, how they behave in particular ways, how society shapes their lives)? How can Chicana/o scholarship serve to redress long held beliefs/ideas that have sustained stereotypes about the community?  What are the most pressing issues in this community? What questions, debates, or issues need attention to bring about change (either through shifting paradigms or policy)? You will think about social problems, issues, events, and victories achieved by Chicanas and Chicanos in your own community, family, and in your own lives.

Health and Healing in Latiné/x Communities: Stories, Struggles, and Solutions

Instructor: Dr. José Luis Collazo Jr.

Modality: In-person, Mon & Wed 3-4:15 PM

Location: Del Norte Hall 2550

Course Description

Latiné/x communities face significant health challenges shaped by structural inequities, environmental exposures, and systemic discrimination. Yet efforts to address these issues are often met with barriers, including limited access to culturally responsive care. This course explores the intersection of health, identity, and culture in Latiné/x communities, emphasizing the importance of culturally relevant approaches in clinical and community settings. Through storytelling, scholarship, and lived experience, students will examine illness, healing, and the role of practitioners in advancing health equity.

Topics include:

• Mental health and emotional well-being

• Grief and cultural expressions of mourning

• Labor, migration, and occupational health

• Food insecurity and nutrition justice

• The role of practitioners in advancing health equity

Format: Hybrid: In-person & Synchronous

Wednesdays: 4:30-7:20

Del Norte Hall 2545 and online

Course Description: This course examines the socio-cultural experiences and historical political realities pertinent to the daily lives of Chicanx, Mexican-origin, and/or Latine children and adolescents. The focus is on historical periods, events, and policies affecting youth populations, their demography, migration, and immigration patterns. Considering contemporary issues and effective educational and cultural practices will be used as a resource for teacher knowledge and pertinent classroom projects.

Course Overview: This course centers childrens, middle-grade, and young adult (YA) literature to examine history, sociocultural perspectives, and the political landscape of Latinx communities. Let's dream big as we design meaningful teaching and learning that affirms our children's cultures, language practices, and multiple literacies.

Format: In person, Wed. 12-2:50

Location: Del Norte 2550

No cost course readings

Through a combination of reading, lecture, film, discussion, and written work, this upper-division course examines the history of Latin American societies and cultures from the eighteenth century to the present.  Special emphasis will be placed on material culture, liberal state-building and modernization, and the ways “race”, ethnicity, class and gender have intersected over time to shape historical experience. 

Satisfies Latin American Studies requirement for CHS major.

Modality: Online Synchronous

Day and Time: Wednesdays 6-8:30pm

No cost course.

Survey of select examples of the arts and culture of Latin America including Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Examines artistic achievements from the modern era through contemporary times (1800 to the present) as expressed in various and diverse mediums and creative expressions.