• To encourage scholarly development among our students, the program gives out departmental awards to majors who have written outstanding papers during the academic year.
• Learn through seminars, internships, fieldwork, study abroad, and other experimental modes.
• The Department of Critical Culture, Gender, and Race Studies faculty represents the best and brightest of WSU, representing top universities from throughout the nation and a range of disciplines.
• The curriculum is diverse and flexible, allowing majors to take an in-depth examination of a particular community or prepare for a particular career.
• A small department gives you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with your professors, whether for help with class or expanding understanding of a particular issue.
• The department’s commitment to undergraduate education and transgressive pedagogy provides unique opportunities for students to work closely with faculty on independent studies and special projects.
• The department organizes a speaker series each year, which brings top scholars and activists to campus.

Students majoring in comparative ethnic studies take these core courses:

Foundations of Comparative Ethnic Studies
Cultural Politics of Race, Ethnicity, and Identity
Race and Global Inequality
Theories of Racism and Ethnic Conflicts
Internship

As a CES major, you can take classes in a wide array of fascinating topics. A few examples:

Race in Sport Films
Hip Hop Around the Globe
Race and Racism in US Popular Culture
Race and the Law in American History
African American Literature and History
Black Freedom Struggle
Multicultural Literature
Asian Diaspora Across the Americas
American Roots: Immigration, Migration, and Ethnic Identity
Social Psychology of Prejudice

Minor in comparative ethnic studies

A minor in comparative ethnic studies can be a good addition to almost any major. To qualify for a CES minor, students need to take Foundations of Comparative Ethnic Studies and 18 credit hours of CES course work.

Note: See the WSU Catalog for degree requirements and talk with your academic advisor about planning and scheduling your courses. All students must meet requirements as outlined in the catalog in order to graduate.

For comparative ethnic studies majors

The Department of Critical Culture, Gender, and Race Studies offers four undergraduate scholarships for majors each year. In addition, students can apply for more than $50,000 in scholarships awarded by the College of Liberal Arts.

Available to all WSU students

A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs. Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.

Students should complete the Washington State University general scholarship application and the FAFSA to ensure their eligibility for the widest range of scholarships and need-based financial aid.

For information or to apply for financial aid and scholarships from WSU, see the Scholarships and Finances section of the WSU website.

Strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, or a desire to develop these skills.

A willingness to engage in critical discussions and constructive analyses of structures of domination, privilege, colonization, and other prominent themes central to cultural and ethnic studies.

Because contemporary life demands awareness of and engagement with racial diversity, a major in comparative ethnic studies prepares you to pursue graduate or professional training in law, education, journalism, business, medicine, public health, social work, urban planning, international relations, politics, counseling, and other fields. Many graduates are also community leaders and activists.