Ethnic Studies

Baylor University will introduce an Ethnic Studies minor in fall 2024. Sparked by the Dear Baylor Instagram after the murder of George Floyd, the initiative gained momentum. The Ethnic Studies minor draws on the expertise of multiple faculty members across the College of Arts & Sciences as well as the larger university. Some of the existing classes that will count toward the minor are the Sociology of Race and Ethnicity; Gender, Race and Media; and Cross-Cultural Communication. Dr. Pittman sees the ethnic studies minor as mission-driven due to Baylor’s Christian commitment.

To develop a curriculum, Dr. Kellison and Dr. Pittman bring together a group of faculty who are already teaching classes that might fit into the minor. One of the new course offerings in the minor will be Scott Varda’s, Rhetorics of Race. Dr. Pittman said offering the ethnic studies minor will provide students with multiple benefits. Dr. Sharp says, “the minor is part of how we hope to integrate academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community as laid out in the University’s mission”.

After six years of planning, Baylor University will launch a new ethnic studies minor in fall 2024. One of the goals of the minor is to educate students on how racial and ethnic groups relate to the world. The minor will include an introduction to ethnic studies course along with other electives. The addition of this minor will hopefully encourage students to grow in their willingness to discuss ethnic issues.