Graduate Resources
Embrace your curiosity in the Institute for Ethnic Studies.
We offer graduate specializations in Ethnic Studies at the M.A. and Ph.D. levels. You can focus in one area or design a broad-based course of study according to your interests. Our courses reach more than 3,000 UNL students each year.
We 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 seven academic departments within the College of Arts and Sciences and over 30 affiliated faculty members from departments across the university, including Fine and Performing Arts, Business Administration, and the College of Education and Human Services. 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.
M.A. Graduate Specialization
Our vibrant graduate program draws from courses in ten different disciplines: Art & Art History, Anthropology, English, Geography, History, Modern Languages, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Child, Youth & Family Studies. Students earning an M.A. or Ph.D. in one of these participating departments can also earn a graduate specialization in Ethnic Studies. This credential reflects a coherent intellectual focus on a research area within ethnic studies and helps students distinguish their profile in a competitive market.
The Ethnic Studies Master's-Level Specialization is offered by the Institute for Ethnic Studies through the College of Arts and Sciences.
Requirements for Ethnic Studies Master's-Level Specialization
- Coursework: 12 hours
Nine (9) hours must be from at least two departments outside the home department. Courses can be chosen from among the following:
ANTH 812, ANTH 830, ANTH 833, ANTH 834, ANTH 851, ANTH 872, ANTH 873, ANTH 884, ANTH 915, ENGL 845, ENGL 845B, ENGL 845N, ENGL 940, ENGL/ETHN 945, ETHN 890, HIST 859, HIST 864, HIST 878, HIST 886, HIST 933, HIST/ETHN 983, POLS 920 (when subtitle/content reflects Ethnic Studies content), POLS 965, POLS 979 (when focus is on developing nations), PSYC 825, PSYC 979, SOCI 844, SOCI 848, SOCI 880, SOCI 906 (ETHN 896, Independent Study)
The following courses are taught in French or Spanish, and you must have graduate-level proficiency to enroll: FREN 860, FREN 861, SPAN 855, SPAN 859, SPAN 860, SPAN 862, SPAN 870, SPAN 943. Contact the course instructor if you have any questions.
Other courses may be substituted with the approval of the Ethnic Studies faculty advisor and committee member. Applicable graduate courses are offered by departments including Child, Youth, & Family Studies; Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education; Educational Psychology; Journalism; and Law.
- Master’s degree in a participating department (AHIS, ANTH, COMM, ENGL, GEOG, HIST, MODL, POLS, PSYC, SOCI, CYAF)
- Approval from graduate chair of home department
- One member of the M.A. examining committee who holds a joint-appointment with the Institute for Ethnic Studies
- Thesis relating to an Ethnic Studies issue
For information regarding the Ethnic Studies graduate specialization, please contact Director Dr. Joy Castro at jcastro2@unl.edu.
Ph.D. Graduate Specialization
Our vibrant graduate program draws from courses in nine different disciplines: Art & Art History, Anthropology, English, Geography, History, Modern Languages, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Child, Youth & Family Studies. Graduate students earning an M.A. or Ph.D. in one of these participating departments can also earn a graduate specialization in Ethnic Studies. This credential reflects a coherent intellectual focus on a research area within ethnic studies and helps students distinguish their profile in a competitive market.
The Ethnic Studies Doctoral-Level Specialization is offered by the Institute for Ethnic Studies through the College of Arts and Sciences.
Requirements for Ethnic Studies Doctoral-Level Specialization
- Coursework: 18 hours
Twelve (12) hours must be from at least three departments outside the home department. Courses can be chosen from among the following:
ANTH 812, ANTH 830, ANTH 833, ANTH 834, ANTH 851, ANTH 872, ANTH 873, ANTH 884, ANTH 915, ENGL 845, ENGL 845B, ENGL 845N, ENGL 940, ENGL/ETHN 945, ETHN 890, HIST 859, HIST 864, HIST 878, HIST 886, HIST 933, HIST/ETHN 983, POLS 920 (when subtitle/content reflects Ethnic Studies content), POLS 965, POLS 979 (when focus is on developing nations), PSYC 825, PSYC 979, SOCI 844, SOCI 848, SOCI 880, SOCI 906 (ETHN 896, Independent Study)
The following courses are taught in French or Spanish, and you must have graduate-level proficiency to enroll: FREN 860, FREN 861, SPAN 855, SPAN 859, SPAN 860, SPAN 862, SPAN 870, SPAN 943. Contact the course instructor if you have any questions.
Other courses may be substituted with the approval of the Ethnic Studies faculty advisor and committee member. Applicable graduate courses are offered by departments including Child, Youth, & Family Studies; Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education, Educational Psychology, Journalism, and Law.
- Doctoral degree in a participating department (AHIS, ANTH, COMM, ENGL, GEOG, HIST, MODL, POLS, PSYC, SOCI, CYAF)
- Approval from graduate chair of home department
- One member of the Ph.D. supervisory committee who holds a joint-appointment with the Institute for Ethnic Studies
- Dissertation relating to an Ethnic Studies issue
For information regarding the Ethnic Studies graduate specialization, please contact Director Dr. Joy Castro at jcastro2@unl.edu.