At the Institute for Ethnic Studies, we examine the world through a social justice, human rights lens. Our faculty are experts in minority health research and global historical issues. Our professors are award-winning teachers and writers.
We’re composed of three interdisciplinary programs: African and African American Studies, Latinx and Latin American Studies, and Indigenous Studies. We offer one major (Ethnic Studies), six minors, and graduate specializations in Ethnic Studies at the M.A. and Ph.D. levels. Majors, minors, and specializers can focus in one area or design a broad-based course of study, according to their interests. Our courses — many of which are ACE-certified — reach more than 3,000 UNL students each year.
We also offer and co-sponsor lectures, symposia, research projects, and cultural events that are free and open to the public. We serve as a resource for UNL students, faculty, and staff as well as the wider community on social and political issues related to race and ethnicity.
The Institute includes 18 joint-appointed faculty members from six academic departments within the College of Arts and Sciences and 30 affiliated faculty members from departments across the university. These appointments include faculty from Fine and Performing Arts, Business Administration, and the College of Education and Human Sciences. All of our faculty and affiliated members work at the boundaries of scholarship and teaching where traditional disciplines intersect with issues of race, ethnicity, and social justice.