Why Ethnic Studies?
The guiding principles of Ethnic Studies—including holistic humanization, critical consciousness, and hope—align with Baylor University’s mission to prepare students “for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.” In addition to its values, Ethnic Studies’ interdisciplinarity fosters the ability to draw connects and inferences across multiple fields, enhancing students’ ability to understand and apply what they are learning within the classroom and beyond.
Further, Ethnic Studies promotes skills that are beneficial in the job market. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has established eight career readiness competencies that employers prefer their employees to have: Career & Self-Development; Communication; Critical Thinking; Equity & Inclusion; Leadership; Professionalism; Teamwork; and Technology. Ethnic Studies cultivates several of these competencies directly (and advances the others indirectly).
Below are two incomplete lists. The first features several of the skills that Ethnic Studies helps develop, and the second highlights a portion of the professional fields into which Ethnic Studies translates.
Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Cross-Cultural Understanding
- Collaboration
- Cultural Competency
- Communication
- Inclusivity
- Leadership
- Problem-Solving
- Research
- Responsible Citizenship
- Self-Efficacy
- Teamwork
- Writing
Fields
- Anthropology
- Business & Entrepreneurship
- Community Planning
- Education
- Engineering
- Government Agencies
- Journalism
- Law
- Marketing
- Non-Profits
- Politics
- Social Work
- Science