Abstract:

This presentation examines and discusses the collaboration between two academic programs and disciplines in creating an MA graduate program in Multicultural Education:
(A) Ethnic Studies Department in the College of Social Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies (SSIS) and
(B) the Teaching Credential Program in the College of Education.

Context:
In 2016, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 2016 that mandated that California shall "develop, and the state shall adopt ... a model curriculum in ethnic studies to ensure quality courses of study in ethnic studies." While some states are outright antagonistic towards immigrants and to the teaching of "ethnic studies" courses, California leads the U.S. in embracing immigrants and in promoting the field of ethnic studies; for example, in Arizona, a state known for its very strong anti-immigrant stance, the State banned the teaching of "Mexican American Studies" (a program in Ethnic Studies) in public schools in 2010. The field of Ethnic Studies was formally created in California by college students who went on strike to create "Ethnic Studies" classes: "Third World" Strikes occurred in San Francisco College in 1968 and in Berkeley in 1969. Today, there are Ph.D. and M.A. programs in Ethnic Studies at Berkeley, Davis, San Diego, Riverside, and UCLA. In signing AB 2016, Governor Brown signaled a major change not only for California but also for the rest of the country. California has the largest population in America; thus, school textbooks will have to revise their content to include ethnic studies. Otherwise, they would not be able to sell their textbooks in California.

The problem:
Not only has there been a State law to develop an ethnic studies curriculum, but several school districts have already passed policy requiring that ethnic studies courses be taught in high schools: for example, Union City, San Francisco, Stockton and Sacramento passed policies to this effect. To meet the State law of creating a model curriculum for ethnic studies, there is a friendly race to see who can (1) create a university program that will certify teachers, and (2) more importantly create a "model curriculum" and lesson plans for teaching ethnic studies in our high schools. THE

Solution:
To meet the State law for an ethnic studies curriculum, faculty from Ethnic Studies (SSIS College) and the Teaching Credential Program (Education College) started meeting and discussing the development of an MA Program in Multicultural Education with the specific purpose of:
(A) providing a certificate for teachers to teach ethnic studies in our high schools, and
(B) provide an MA degree for ethnic studies teachers.
This presentation will examine and discuss:
(A) the challenges of making a major curriculum change at the local and state-wide level and
(B) working across disciplines to create a joint-MA program.

In sum, Ethnic Studies faculty were not familiar with the state-wide requirements for a teaching certificate, and Education faculty needed our guidance and expertise in creating an ethnic studies curriculum. I shall present and discuss these issues and also share my experience in working at the State Legislative level in bringing about these fundamental changes and in working with close friends and colleagues in the College of Education to develop the MA Program in Multicultural Education to certify teachers to teach ethnic studies in California's high schools.

Keywords:

Multicultural Education, Ethnic Studies, Diversity, University networks.