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Prerequisite

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

This Ethnic Studies course explores how race, ethnicity, nationality, and culture have shaped American society and individual identities. Focusing on African American, Latin American, Native American, and Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences, the course fosters critical thinking, cultural appreciation, and an understanding of social justice and responsibility.

As students complete the course assignments, they will increase their knowledge of ethnic studies, improve the 21st-century skill of communicating with digital media, and develop the attribute of respect.

Knowledge: Ethnic Studies

In this course, knowledge refers to the subject matter and content students will learn while completing the readings, practices, quizzes, and assignments.

On successful completion of this course, students will develop their understanding and appreciation of these overall goals: 

  • pursuing justice and equity

  • working toward greater inclusivity

  • furthering self-understanding

  • developing a better understanding of others

  • recognizing intersectionality

  • promoting self-empowerment for civic engagement

  • supporting a community focus

  • developing interpersonal communication

As they progress through the course, students will be able to meet these goals: 

  1. Plan, conduct, analyze, and present original research related to topics in ethnic studies.

  2. Critically evaluate and analyze the sources and meanings of social narratives.

  3. Describe the major waves of migration and immigration-related policy in the United States.

  4. Identify and explain the importance of different cultures, values, voices, experiences, and contributions to the American experience.

  5. Describe the roles that specific ethnic groups played and play in creating America.

  6. Describe the issues different ethnic groups face in society, culture, and policy. 

21st-Century Skill: Communicating with Digital Media

As students complete this course's assignments, they will gain skills in Communications—Communicating with Digital Media. This skill is part of the Communications category.

Attribute: Respect

This course focuses on developing the attribute of Respect in the context of ethnic studies. 

Course Materials

All materials are included in this course. You do not need to buy anything additional.

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Assignments

The due dates in the course are only suggestions to help the students pace themselves. You do not need to complete assignments, quizzes, and exams by the due date set in the course.

Study Guides

Study guides are documents with prompts for students to take notes on the main concepts and information. They are automatically graded on completion, so students get full credit for submitting them. Thus, there are no resubmissions for content guides. 

Module Quizzes

Module quizzes are open-book and computer-graded. They check the students' comprehension of the readings. 

Module Assignments

Module assignments ask students to apply what they are learning. Each assignment is based on a pre-designed document that the student completes. 

Portfolio Assignments

Portfolio assignments ask the students to select four projects (out of ten possibilities) that explore the topics in more depth and give the students a deeper understanding of and empathy for others' experiences. 

Midcourse Quiz

This computer-graded quiz will cover the material up to the midcourse quiz. The questions on the midcourse quiz will be similar in format to the questions on the final exam. There are 30 Questions, and it covers material in modules 1–7.

Final Exam

Students must pass the final exam to earn credit for the course. They may retake it once, for a fee, upon request. There are 30 questions, and it covers modules 8–15.

Grading

Your grade in this course will be based on these assignments and exams:

Assignments and Exams
Assignment or Exam Grading Percent of Total Grade
15 Study Guides Computer-Graded 5%
15 Module Assignments  Teacher-Graded 35%
2 Portfolio Assignments Teacher-Graded 30%
15 Module Quizzes Computer-Graded 10%
Midcourse Quiz Computer-Graded 5%
Final Exam* Computer-Graded 15%

* You must pass the final exam with at least a 60% to earn credit for the course.

Grade Scale

Your letter grade is calculated according to these percentages.

A 93% - 100%
A- 90% - 92%
B+ 87% – 89%
B 83% - 86%
B- 80% - 82%
C+ 77% - 79%
C 73% - 76%
C- 70% - 72%
D+ 67% - 69%
D 63% - 66%
D- 60% - 62%
F (fail) 0% - 59%

Getting Help

Please use the help menu in this course to contact Academy of America or your instructor. You can find information about tutoring available to Academy of America students on the Tutoring website.

The Resources page offers a wide variety of services to support you:

  • Academic success skills coaching such as time management, study skills, test preparation, motivation, and more.

  • Course-specific support that includes live tutoring and on-demand resources.

Come find out how we can help you achieve your goals.

Course Policies

For information about how long you have to complete the course, resubmitting assignments, retaking exams, and other questions, please see Academy of America’s Policies.

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