Ethnic studies programs are often considered a distinctly American program deeply rooted to the wide range of diverse races that have melded to form the contemporary American social fabric. What can an Ethnic Studies major do after college? The need for fundamental ethnic understanding runs deep in all areas of business and industry. Many graduates of an Ethnic Studies program may go into politics, business, education or the social sciences.

Private Funds

The National Association for Ethnic Studies is a not-for-profit organization that provides the scholastic arena in which ethnic studies students and professionals may collaborate on constantly evolving issues. NAES provides two student awards:

• Courtland Auser Undergraduate Student Paper Award is given to the winning essayist on a topic related to ethnic studies. $200 is up for grabs.
• Phillips G. Davies Graduate Student Paper Award is similar to the Auser Award, but the level of scholarship is expected to be higher. $200 for the winning paper.

College Scholarships

Washington State University Department of Comparative Ethnic Studies offers a handful of students in the Comparative Ethnic Studies major the Kofi Buenor Hadjor Annual Book Award, a modest scholarship that helps fund textbook expenses.

Kansas State University offers two scholarships in their American Ethnic Studies program:

• Wayne C. Rohrer Scholarships are given to students in the major and are based on both need and academic merit. Up to $1,000 is possible.
• Yvonne Lacey Scholarships go to students who came to the Ethnic Studies program from a Headstart program in school. Awards may be up to $1,000.

Graduate students at the University of Minnesota who are pursuing the Ethnic Studies degree, might try qualifying for the full ride offered by the graduate assistantships in the department. These are competitive and candidates are advised to apply early.

From the Ethnic Studies Department at the University of Hawaii comes the Roland Kotani Endowment Fund Student Scholarship. Candidates must be undergraduates and pursuing a major in Ethnic Studies. Eligible applicants must be top scholars and able to articulate their career goals clearly in an essay. Up to $1,000 in awards.

The University of Colorado-Boulder has a very progressive ethnic studies program. The Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race in the Americas extends the Salvador del Pino Scholarship. Eligible students must have both high academic scores and financial need for the funds.

The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs offers two scholarships to students in the ethnic studies program. UC’s Ethnic Studies program emphasizes the diversity of the American fabric. Awards are $500 for each:

• The Cesar E. Chavez Student Conference Scholarship Foundation engages top-notch students passionate about ethnic studies and social injustice. Candidates are required to present a major research project for consideration.
• The Rosa Parks Scholarship also requires a written piece. Candidates must be able to articulate how Rosa Parks’s proactive actions effected change and given a similar chance, how the applicant might respond to the social climate.