Fall Semester: CSUB 1029 - First-Year Seminar (2 units)
This first-semester course focuses on providing students with a supportive and engaging environment where they can connect with a cohort of peers, their instructor, and key members of the campus community. The course emphasizes African American and multicultural content to strengthen participants' academic skills and cultural knowledge. Students will:
- Learn about campus resources, university policies, and the General Education program (GE-AIMS).
- Develop strategies for academic success, explore majors and career interests, and get involved on campus.
- Create an academic roadmap to graduation.
Participants also benefit from mentorship, academic support, and social activities facilitated by Black faculty, staff, and community leaders, fostering a supportive and empowering environment. This course satisfies the General Education requirement for First-Year Seminar.
Spring Semester: ETHS 1208 - Introduction to Ethnic Studies (3 units)
This course introduces students to Ethnic Studies as an interdisciplinary and comparative study of race and ethnicity, with a focus on four historically defined racialized core groups: First Nations, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latina and Latino Americans. Key aspects of the course include:
- Examination of historical, political, economic, and social forces that rationalize structural inequalities.
- Exploration of racial dynamics and their intersections with gender, sexuality, class, and nation.
- Contextualizing the origins of Ethnic Studies, including the student movements that led to its creation, such as the pivotal efforts at San Francisco State University in 1968.
This course satisfies the General Education Area F Ethnic Studies requirement and Theme R: Revolutionary Ideas and Innovations. Prerequisite or Corequisite: GE A1.
Additional Benefits for Sankofa Scholars:
- Exclusive enrollment in these courses.
- Opportunities to connect with a network of supportive peers and mentors.
- Academic and cultural enrichment designed to promote student success, retention, and a sense of belonging at CSUB.
Both CSUB 1029 and ETHS 1208 are integral components of the SANKOFA Scholars Program, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and community connections to thrive in their academic journey.