Fall 2021  |  AAS 3211W Section 001: Race & Racism in the U.S. (21975)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
A-F or Audit
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
In Person Term Based
Class Attributes:
UMNTC Liberal Education Requirement
Meets With:
SOC 3211W Section 001
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
09/07/2021 - 12/15/2021
Tue, Thu 08:15AM - 09:30AM
UMTC, West Bank
Hanson Hall 1-109
Enrollment Status:
Closed (19 of 19 seats filled)
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
We live in a society steeped in racial understandings that are often invisible - some that are hard to see, and others that we work hard not to see. This course will focus on race relations in today's society with a historical overview of the experiences of various racial and ethnic groups in order to help explain their present-day social status. This course is designed to help students begin to develop their own informed perspectives on American racial "problems" by introducing them to the ways that sociologists deal with race, ethnicity, race relations and racism. We will expand our understanding of racial and ethnic dynamics by exploring the experiences of specific groups in the U.S. and how race/ethnicity intersects with sources of stratification such as class, nationality, and gender. The course will conclude by re-considering ideas about assimilation, pluralism, and multiculturalism. Throughout, our goal will be to consider race both as a source of identity and social differentiation as well as a system of privilege, power and inequality affecting everyone in the society albeit in different ways.
Class Description:
This course is designed to help students begin developing informed perspectives on American racial "problems" by introducing them to how sociologists deal with race, ethnicity, race relations, and racism. We will cover the core theories that sociologists use to understand race in U.S. society and provide a historical overview of various racial and ethnic groups' experiences to explain racialized groups' present-day social status. We will expand our understanding of racial and ethnic dynamics by exploring the dominant social narratives of race in the United States. Throughout, our goal will be to consider race both as a source of identity and social differentiation as well as a system of privilege, power, and inequality affecting everyone in the society, albeit in different ways.
Learning Objectives:

By the end of the semester, students will be able to:

  • Utilize sociological theories and concepts to understand, discuss, apply, and create knowledge about race and racism in society in all of the course activities. These concepts are tools for thinking about society.

  • Locate claims and evidence in media sources on race and develop the skills to assess public narratives about race topics.

  • Practice and improve evidence-based communication, drawing on theory, course topics, and secondary sources to discuss race topics.

  • Create a final paper focused on developing personal interests in a specific race topic.

Exam Format:
Midterm and final exams are in the form of papers.
Class Format:
Active participation and discussion are encouraged in this class environment. Students should expect in-class activities.
Workload:
Students interested in this course can expect to read 10-30 pages of academic work per week; since this is a writing intensive course, we will be writing and revising paper work over the course of the semester.
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/21975/1219
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
9 April 2021

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