Associate of Arts in Ethnic Studies

North Seattle College

This pathway meets the requirements for the Associate of Arts (AA) degree with an emphasis in Ethnic Studies/Equity and Social Justice. Students in this pathway develop skills in critical thinking, interpersonal communication, analysis and research, leadership, and cultural competency and awareness. Competencies in these areas consistently rank at the top of employer wish lists. Completion of this degree opens doors to a variety of careers in sectors including non-profit, business, government, entertainment, and education. It also allows you to transfer at the junior level into similar programs at a four-year college or university. The sample schedule at the link below is our Equity and Social Justice pathway. The core classes are the same, but please work with your advisor on how you can plan your electives to include additional work in Ethnic Studies. The sample schedule assumes a Fall Quarter start, but with careful planning you can start during a different quarter. North Seattle College offers two ethnic studies classes: America's Ethnic History and Societies and Cultures of the United States. American Ethnic Studies at NSC is interdisciplinary, with exposure to basic concepts and vocabulary from a number of different fields. Material for study is pulled not just from traditional published research on race, gender and class, but also from poetry, art, personal diaries, letters and online archival video footage. Classes focus on learning by asking questions and drawing conclusions. NSC’s American Ethnic Studies courses satisfy A.A. degree or transfer preparation without degree, provide individual courses for those already in a four-year school, fulfill requirements for career training programs (nursing, early childhood education) and provide personal enrichment.