Ethnic Studies
The Nebraska Difference
Curiosity
Discover what moves you with a variety of academic disciplines.
Flexibility & Choice
Customize your degree with course choices. Add a minor or second major.
Hands-On Experience
Build knowledge, skills and experience in and out of the classroom.
Limitless Career Paths
Connect your major, interests and goals to any field.
Program Features
Focus and Range
Dive deep into your ethnic studies major while taking a wide variety of courses across all areas in the College of Arts and Sciences. Graduate academically well-rounded and eager to keep learning. Use your collaboration and communication skills to address complex problems and make a positive impact professionally and personally.
1-to-1 Academic Advising and Career Coaching
Along with your faculty, professional academic advisors and career coaches will help you make a one-of-a-kind degree plan. We are focused on your success, while at Nebraska and after graduation, whether your goal is employment or graduate/professional school.
Interdisciplinary Learning
Because most of our courses are cross-listed with other fields, it’s simple to minor or double-major in ethnic studies. Our dynamic professors are joint-appointed in various departments, including psychology, political science and history.
Notable Courses
How to Be Antiracist (ETHN 101)
Examination of issues related to racism and antiracism, including the history of U.S. racial conflict, whiteness, white fragility, white allyship, white abolitionism and community action.
History of Hip Hop (ETHN 113)
A chronological and thematic survey of the history of Hip Hop and major debates in Hip-Hop studies.
And Justice for All: Race, Gender & the Law in US History (ETHN 115)
Introductory survey of the intersections between race, gender and the law in U.S. history.
African Culture and Civilization (ETHN 150)
Broad interpretative survey of the major features that have shaped modern African life.
Native Americans in Popular Culture (ETHN 160)
Representations of Native Americans in popular culture and what they mean for understanding Native experiences and North American history more generally.
Immigration and Politics (ETHN 333)
Immigration as a multifaceted sociopolitical phenomenon. The history of different waves of immigration to the United States. Public attitudes towards immigration in historical perspective.
Huskers Do Big Things
Internships
- Family Service Lincoln
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska
- Lincoln Public Schools
Careers
- Visitor services coordinator, Nebraska History Museum
- Community support care manager, CenterPointe
- Professional development lead, Lincoln Financial Group
- Bilingual education teacher, Teach for America
- Public health coordinator, West Central District Health
Graduate Schools
- Master’s degree, Higher Education Administration, University of Nebraska
- Master's degree, Social Work, Ohio State University
- Master's degree, International Business, University of Oregon
- Master's degree, Ethnic Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- Ph.D., Family Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Outside the Classroom
Depending on your major, interests and goals, you can choose to do research, work as an intern, study abroad, become a leader or serve your community. The university’s Experiential Learning requirement ensures you have at least one of these transformative learning experiences; students in the College of Arts and Sciences typically complete at least two.
Work alongside a faculty member as a research assistant or design your own research project through the Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience (UCARE) program.
Explore a wide variety of local, national and international internships. Connect with our career coaches to identify opportunities and document the skills and experience you gain on the job.
Join students studying culture and societies in Brazil and South Africa, or connect with our Global Experiences Office to find an affiliate program in almost any location you can imagine.
Get involved in a student organization. Our majors and minors have served in leadership roles with clubs such as UNITE, the Mexican American Students Association and the Multicultural Greek Council.
Featured Faculty
Laura K. Muñoz, Director and Professor
Dr. Muñoz studies Latinx communities in the American West and Great Plains. She is the author of Desert Dreams: Mexican Arizona and the Politics of Educational Equality (Penn Press, 2024).
Academics & Experiential Learning
- Our motto is Academics + Experience = Opportunities. Employers and graduate/professional schools are looking for students who have a strong academic background and hands-on experience.
- Ethnic studies majors and minors can study abroad, participate in life-changing internships and work on original research with professors.
Career Preparedness
- CASC 200: Career Development in Arts and Sciences. Explore your interests, abilities and values while identifying career options and preparing to apply for internships, jobs or graduate/professional school.
Community
- Engage with our growing Indigenous, Latin American, African-American and African communities in Lincoln and Nebraska at Large.
- Become a Student Ambassador and connect with prospective students and families.
Have Questions? We're Here to Help
If you have questions about the Ethnic Studies major or navigating the application process, contact us.
- Contact Name
- Nicholas Gordon
- Contact Title
- Director of Recruitment
- Phone
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