27 Cultural Studies and Area Studies Associate of Arts Programs

Asian and Asian American Studies (AAAS) provides an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the historical and current experiences of Asian Pacific Americans. It is an academic program and a major for the Associate Arts (AA) degree in the Ethnic Studies Department.

The Associate in Arts Liberal Arts: Cross-Cultural Studies degree program is designed for students who wish for a broad knowledge of liberal arts and sciences with an area of emphasis in Cross-Cultural Studies. This program is an ideal choice for students planning on transferring to the California State University or the University of California as the student can satisfy their general education requirements, plus focus on transferable course work that relates to majors at CSU or UC.

The Ethnic Studies program is designed to assist all students in developing an understanding and appreciation of diverse peoples and cultures at a local and global level. Using comparative methodologies and honoring community-based knowledge, our programs emphasize a critical understanding of race and race relations. Students may elect among the following majors: African American Studies, Asian/Asian-American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Mexican/ Latin-American Studies or Native American Studies.

The Associate in Arts in Global Studies for Transfer Degree is designed for students planning to transfer into several related majors such as Global Studies, Global Politics, International Relations, International Studies, and Comparative Government. Through interdisciplinary coursework, students will gain exposure to the global scope of contemporary and historical issues.

American Studies examines the American experience from the colonial period of the United States to the present. Students will study, interpret, and evaluate events, cultural products, and trends in American economic, political, and social history as well as in American architecture, art, literature, music, and religion, and they will evaluate questions to which there are multiple plausible interpretations. Students pursuing the program in American Studies will enhance their skills in critical thinking and both oral and written communication. The American Studies program prepares students for further study in English/literature, history, political science, and sociology at a four-year baccalaureate institution and provides an excellent foundation for students interested in administration, communications, law, public service, and teaching.

By familiarizing students with a range of methodological tools for the study of social life, while prioritizing the voices and perspectives of marginalized individuals and minoritized communities, we open up an intellectual space within which the term "ethnic" in "ethnic studies" is both critically deconstructed and strategically affirmed.

The focus of African-American Studies (AFRAM) is to assist students on a path of consciousness that ultimately leads to improving their lives and family and liberating our communities. The primary goals and objectives of the program are consistent with and enhance the overall Merritt College mission and have consistently sought to help community college students develop factual information, tools of analysis, and favorable attitudes toward the African-American struggle and the liberation of African people from powerlessness, poverty, and racism.

The Associate in Arts in Middle East Studies degree (AA in Middle East Studies) is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with a solid foundation to transition to a Baccalaureate Degree in Middle East Studies at UCSB or at any of the other UC or CSU campuses offering a similar major. The Middle East Studies major also seeks to understand the question of democratization, political violence, the role of religion and ideology, and the role of tradition and history in shaping the physical and psychological makeup of the region. The Program will be complemented with a Study Abroad component offering students a hands-on experience of the life and culture and tradition and history of the Middle East.

How are we influenced by culture? Culture is everywhere. Our cultural understanding benefits us in many ways. Through classroom learning, field trips, and study tours, this programme of study enriches learners’ understanding of concepts and theories in cultural studies, as well as cultural identities, preservation, and management.

The Department of American Ethnic Studies provides a major in Black Studies. The Black Studies major is geared to increase our awareness and understanding of the Black experience. The Black Studies major examines the history, culture, contributions and problems of this community. It is the department's belief that, through an examination of the heritage and contributions of the Afro-American experience, one can appreciate ones own heritage.

The United States, California, and the Santa Barbara area have a great variety of peoples of different ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds. All of these together make up the American Mosaic. The American Ethnic Studies Department examines the heritage, contributions and problems of these communities. Emphasis is placed on the Black, Mexican-American and Native American cultures. It is the department's belief that through an examination of the heritage of others, one can appreciate ones own heritage.

Nyack’s AA degree in Intercultural Studies is designed to equip students for the engaging opportunities and challenges of our current and future world. It provides the foundation to explore additional education and work in a cross-cultural context. It is designed specifically for the student who wants to get some preparation, but who is not sure which which 4-year degree to pursue. Why Study Intercultural Studies at Nyack? proximity to New York City and its diverse international communities experienced professors a strong departmental community our legacy: Nyack has been preparing intercultural workers for over 120 years. At a Glance Credits: 60 Standard Completion Time: 2 years What Will I Study? cultural sensitivity and awareness core courses that can be transferred into nearly any degree program valuable basic ministry skills a biblical foundation for mission and intercultural engagement Career Opportunities Those who receive an AA in Intercultural Studies can expect to have a basic foundation of education that will lead to viable internships and experiences that will guide the student towards the completion of a 4-year degree.

The Dakota Studies Program is designed to prepare students for entrance into the local workforce or transfer to a four-year institution. In this program, students acquire an interdisciplinary understanding of the Dakota people's culture, language, history, arts, and contemporary situations.

The Associate of Arts Degree (AA) in Asian Studies will introduce you to the discipline and prepare you for further study. By completing the AA Degree you will gain a broader understanding of the world in which you live and will become a more informed and engaged citizen. You can choose to focus on a particular geographic region; however, we recommend that you complete as broad a range of courses as possible.

This program is designed to prepare students to engage in missions work in a cross-cultural or global setting. All of the courses within this program may also count toward one of the bachelor’s degree programs at Manna U. In addition to the 61 credit hours of academic studies, students are required to fulfill the Leadership in Action requirement.