Careers

Given the growing body of evidence that ethnic studies coursework has significant positive impacts on students’ achievement in school (e.g. Dee & Penner, 2017; Cabrera, et al. 2014, 2013), Ethnic Studies has emerged as a trending and growing subject area in K-12 schooling nationwide.

Nationally, school districts in cities as diverse as Seattle, Indianapolis, Albuquerque, and Minneapolis have implemented requirements introducing Ethnic Studies courses into their K-12 curricula. Locally, here in California, Ethnic Studies might be growing faster than anywhere! In San Diego County, the San Diego Unified School District, Poway Unified School District, and Sweetwater School District all have Ethnic Studies courses and curricular requirements in place. Elsewhere, a large number of California School Districts —including the major employers of the Los Angeles Unified School District and San Francisco Unified School District, as well as a number of smaller districts throughout the state—have included ethnic studies as a high school graduation requirement. Moreover, the California Department of Education recently approved a new Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, and the state legislature continues to consider including Ethnic Studies as a statewide requirement at the K-12 level.

In short, the need and demand for well-prepared teachers with expertise in Ethnic Studies is growing and growing rapidly! As this demand grows, schools and districts will increasingly look for educators at all levels who have the skills, training, and expertise to teach the new courses that will be offered. The K-12 Ethnic Studies Teaching Certificate at SDSU is one of only a few programs in California, and the nation, that is dedicated to preparing teachers, pedagogically and culturally, to advance meaningful Ethnic Studies teaching to California’s K-12 students.

Students who complete the certificate as a element of their professional learning can expect to find themselves in a strong position of expertise and leadership for the changing, diversifying landscape of our nation’s schools, and with a specialized area expertise that is sure to make them competitive and valuable to school districts as the demand for well-prepared Ethnic Studies educators grows!