Academic Accelerator - Bachelor of Arts - Ethnic Studies

Program Description

The Academic Accelerator Program (AAP) is a balanced first-year program for international students with good English-language skills. It supplements immersive classes taught in English with just the right amount of support.

Students in the Academic Accelerator receive:

• The right amount of support for their academic and English-speaking needs
• A full year’s worth of college credits
• Access to courses exclusively for international students
• English-language help with words they need to know for their classes
• A mix of classes with international and U.S. students

The Ethnic Studies program at the University of Utah explores differences in power as expressed by the state, civil society, and individuals, challenging social constructions of race, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality and gender. Students examine traditional forms of history and culture from the perspective of people who are underrepresented while considering the role that race and racism play in today’s world. The curriculum includes required courses in Ethnic Studies experiences and theory, as well as electives from six different content groups: African American Studies, American Indian Studies, Asian Pacific American Studies, Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x Studies, Pacific Islands Studies, and general Ethnic Studies. Through the coursework, students will learn to conceptualize socio-historical and political issues from the viewpoints of the various peoples that constitute U.S. diverse populations, using various disciplinary frameworks to do so. They can then apply this framework to current issues of race, gender and ethnicity. Students with this degree work in any career field - healthcare, nonprofit, business, government – bringing their knowledge working with historically underserved populations into their industries.