How to Get a Master's Degree in Ethnic Studies
Expand your knowledge of historical and contemporary issues related to ethnic groups with a master's degree in ethnic studies. Students often come to the major with related work or educational experience, and graduates frequently go on to pursue or continue careers in academia, research, public service, or private business.
A Guide to the Master's Degree in Ethnic Studies
The application process for a master's degree in ethnic studies begins by researching the degree program itself. Gain a fuller understanding of the degree, learn about your school options, find top schools, and find a program that works with your needs as a student and your career goals.
Earning a master's degree in ethnic studies means taking a focused look at ethnicity, race, and culture in the past, present, and future. Tailor your ethnic studies degree to your interests and mix your education with prior study and work experience to further the career of your choice.
Graduates of ethnic studies degree programs use their education to respond intelligently to issues in the diversifying workplace. Professional careers for graduates of master's in ethnic studies degree programs include:
- Law and criminal justice
- K-12 and community college educators
- Immigration services
- Health care and social service
Beyond business, graduates of ethnic studies programs may go on to government organizations, doctoral programs and higher education, research and nonprofit advocacy groups, and more. Your career's future depends on your own work history and educational profile, and a master's degree in ethnic studies only adds to your level of expertise.
Master's of Ethnic Studies Degree Distinctions
Take the first step to earning a graduate degree in ethnic studies. Before you can learn more about the schools themselves, you'll need to gain an understanding of the basics about the degree. Consider the two major distinctions between ethnic studies master's degrees:
This broad-based master's degree incorporates research, theory, and focused study on topics related to ethnic studies. Students may specialize in a certain race or culture.
This ethnic studies master's degree is considered academically equivalent to the more-popular MA degree in ethnic studies. MS degrees may focus more on research and practical application of study within the discipline.
Another option for many ethnic studies students is to enroll in a PhD program that awards a master's degree as part of its doctoral course of study. Some PhD programs require students to complete MA coursework as part of the PhD program of study even if students already hold an MA degree. Learn more about liberal arts majors with WorldWideLearn's helpful guide.
Specializations within the Master's in Ethnic Studies
Choose between earning a broad-based ethnic studies degree, or focus your study with a specialization. Ethnic studies master's degree programs might be narrowed down by culture, race, or location. Popular ethnic studies master's degree specializations include:
- American Studies
- Chicano Studies
- African Studies
- Asian Studies
- African American Studies
- Native American Studies
Choosing a specialization may help broaden your master's degree program list, as some master's degree programs related to ethnic studies may only offer degrees based on specialization. Other schools offer a singular ethnic studies degree, allowing students to specialize their research and coursework within the broader major.
Finding the Right Master's Program in Ethnic Studies
1. Choose Campus or Online Master's Degree Program
A graduate nonprofit management program prepares you for leadership roles within charitable foundations, advocacy groups, international NGOs, public health agencies, and fundraising organizations. Sample master's-level job titles in nonprofit management include:
Once you've considered basic majors and specializations within an ethnic studies master's degree, you'll need to choose between course delivery methods. Earn a master's degree online or on-campus and customize your academic experience. Because ethnic studies master's degrees generally don't require hands-on research, you should find a number of schools offering online degree programs. Consider the benefits of each method:
- Campus-based ethnic studies master's degree:
Earn a campus-based ethnic studies master's degree and enjoy face-to-face interaction with peers and professors. Students who benefit from teamwork and group learning benefit most from this learning model.
- Online ethnic studies master's degree:
Earn a master's degree online and enjoy the convenience of accessibility from anywhere in the world. Working adults, traveling students, and other busy individuals appreciate the self-paced nature of an online education.
- Hybrid ethnic studies master's degree:
Some master's degree programs may offer hybrid degrees, with some classroom requirements mixed in with online coursework. Seek out this option if you're interested in the benefits of both styles of education.
It's important to note that neither style of learning is inherently superior. Your location, situation, and learning style all help determine which type of degree you choose. See WorldWideLearn's guide to different learning styles to find out more.
2. Create A List of Ethnic Studies Master's Degree Programs
At this point, you've got the basics of your ethnic studies degree, Now, it's time to start compiling a list of degree programs that fit your basic requirements. Think about ethnic studies degrees offered by individual schools, and create a long list of potential programs. Use these resources to begin your search:
- U.S. News and World Report maintains a listing of top social sciences and humanities schools. Browse these programs for potential ethnic studies master's degree programs. Additionally, browse the site's rankings of best cultural history graduate programs.
- Use WorldWideLearn's directories for listings of ethnic studies degrees. The site offers listings of online ethnic studies degrees at all levels, along with campus-based ethnic studies programs.
- The American Studies Association offers a list of graduate programs, including schools offering ethnic studies degrees. Browse this list for a fuller idea of the range of degree programs within ethnic studies.
Aim for a final list of five to ten graduate programs that meet your quality standards without overreaching your competitiveness as an applicant. Your grades, test scores, and work experience figure prominently in a school's admissions decision.
Using the resources above, you should begin to compile a fuller picture of ethnic studies graduate programs available across the country. Whether you hope to earn a master's degrees online or attend school at a campus near you, make it your goal to create the largest list of potential schools that meet your basic criteria. Eventually, you'll narrow down this long list to the strongest programs. Before you can do that, however, you'll need to confirm the accreditation status of each schol.
3. Determine Ethnic Studies Master's Degree Program Accreditation
Determine the accreditation status of each school on your list. The accreditation process requires a third-party agency to measure a school's financial records, academics, hiring practices, and more, making its findings public and helping potential students like you take confidence in their education. Schools with accreditation offer these potential advantages:
- Access to federal financial aid funding, including grants and loans
- Degree recognition by schools and hiring managers
- A quality education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
It's simple to check the accreditation status of every school on your list. Use the U.S. Department of Education's searchable database to look up each school on your list by name or location. Head to WorldWideLearn's accreditation answers page to learn more about the importance and process of school accreditation.
4. Narrow Your List of Master's Degree Programs in Ethnic Studies
After you've confirmed that each ethnic studies degree school on your list maintains current accreditation status, it's time to narrow your options down. Take your long list of ethnic studies programs. Then, use these categories to narrow your options and personalize your list to match your preferences:
The most selective schools will generally come with the most requirements for admission. Every degree program will include its own application requirements. Be prepared to provide your transcripts, GRE and TOEFL test scores, recommendation letters, a professional resume, and more. Additionally, be prepared to meet different deadlines for application materials.
College rankings, like those published by U.S. News and World Report, are a helpful way to start your search for ethnic studies programs. As you search, however, remember that rankings aren't the final word on a school's quality. Think about college rankings along with elements like location, cost, application, faculty, and your personal preferences.
Think about the location of each school on your list. Treat the school's location like you're a job seeker looking for work related to your ethnic studies degree. Look for government work, research organizations, nonprofit groups, businesses, and other organizations that would be interested in your skills. If you choose to stay in the region after graduation, you'll want to have plenty of work options.
Think about the cost of your education. Elements like tuition, cost of living, and other fees make your master's degree add up. Think about financial aid options such as loans, grants, and scholarships. One ethnic studies program could offer you a research grant or teaching stipend, while another might waive out-of-state tuition for all students. Think about the expenses involved with each program, weighing them against the salary you hope to earn after you graduate.
Learn about the instructors who will help to shape your master's degree experience. Read faculty profiles and bios on school sites in order to learn more about the research and publication history of professors in each ethnic studies program. Go for a well-rounded approach in your search and be sure to choose strong overall departments instead of basing your interest on one faculty member.
After you've gone through the list above, you should think about the little perks offered by each ethnic studies department. You might be encouraged to volunteer or complete community internships for school credit, participate in advocacy organizations, teach in the community, or enjoy other academic extras.
Your ethnic studies degree should be personalized to your needs as a student. This step of your school research process will take some time, but once you've considered multiple elements of each potential program, you'll have much more valuable information about your ethnic studies degree to help you make an informed decision. Additionally, you can learn more about each school on your shortened list. Use your new found knowledge to begin the application process.
Applying to a Master's in Ethnic Studies Degree Program
By the time you reach this final step, you should be ready to begin your applications to the top ethnic studies master's degree programs on your list. Whether you hope to earn a master's degree online or pursue your MA or MS in Ethnic Studies on a traditional campus, you must complete an application process for each school. Begin your application by keeping the following in mind:
Consider each school carefully as you write your application letters and gather your work history to submit. Some schools will place a heavier weight on graduate test scores like the GRE, while others will be more interested in work history and your own personality. Let your strengths shine by writing different letters of application to each school.
Don't miss out on an application by forgetting an important deadline. Once you've gone to the trouble of researching individual ethnic studies degree programs, keep your deadlines organized and don't forget to complete your applications on time. Use a calendar to keep track of the deadlines for transcripts, applicaitons, and test scores.
It takes time to fully research your ethnic studies degree options, but the process is essential to your overall happiness as a student. Learn about MS and MA in Ethnic Studies programs before you apply and you can help save yourself time and money when you apply to the schools that truly suit your needs and preferences.
Sources
- Accreditation Search U.S. Department of Education
- Best Social Sciences and Humanities Schools U.S. News and World Report
- Careers in Ethnic Studies University of California, Berkeley
- Ethnic Studies San Francisco State University
- FAQ's Regarding the Graduate Program University of California, Berkeley
- Graduate Certificate Bowling Green State University Graduate Program Minnesota State University
- Publications: Directory of Graduate Programs American Studies Association
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