Degree Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum of 33 credits in ETST coursework.
2. Students must complete a minimum of 16 upper division (3000-level and above) ETST credit hours.
3. Students must earn a minimum grade of C- (1.7) in all courses that apply to the major and must achieve a minimum cumulative major GPA of 2.0. All graded attempts in required and elective courses are calculated in the major GPA. Courses taken using pass/fail grading cannot apply to major requirements.
4. Students must complete 15 ETST credit hours with CU Denver faculty.

In addition to Introduction to Ethnic Studies, which provides a foundation in the basic concepts and theories of the field, students must also take history courses in the department's four areas of focus, including: African American history and experience, Chicano/a and Latino/a history and experience, Asian American history and experience, and American Indian history and experience. These courses provided critical historical, social, and political context fundamental to a comprehensive understanding of US history, culture, and society. Discovering how the experiences of different racial and ethnic groups are distinct but interrelated sets students up for success in the four upper-level elective courses they choose to take. Near the end of their degree students take Research Methods in Ethnic Studies where they learn about the techniques Ethnic Studies researchers use to gather and analyze data. In that class, students create an original research plan for a project they will execute in their final course, Capstone in Ethnic Studies. In this way, these two courses build on one another so that students will have designed and produced an original research project that helps them move toward their future career or graduate school goals. Please consult the Ethnic Studies degree map for more information. 

Required Courses

Latin Honors Requirements

Cum Laude

Students must achieve a GPA of 3.3 in ALL CU Denver courses and a GPA of 3.5 in all ETST course

Magna Cum Laude

Students must achieve a GPA of 3.5 in ALL CU Denver courses and a GPA of 3.7 in all ETST courses

Summa Cum Laude

Students must achieve a GPA of 3.7 in ALL CU Denver courses and a GPA of 3.85 in all ETST courses.

Major Declaration Form

CLAS Major/Minor Declaration Form

* This form is used only for major/minor changes within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). If you are currently enrolled in a different college at CU Denver and would like to transfer to CLAS or complete a double degree between both colleges, you need to set up an appointment to meet with a CLAS advisor. Additionally, if you would like to pursue a double degree within CLAS (e.g. a BA and a BS), you must meet with an advisor.

Questions?

Contact Ethnic Studies Advisor Dennis Green at Dennis.Green@ucdenver.edu. To declare the major and begin the planning process, contact the CLAS Advising Office.