Ethnic, Women's, and African American Studies Majors in U.S. Institutions of Higher Education

Abstract

African American Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Women's Studies programs in higher education have received wide support from faculty members and students, yet few programs offer a major or have tenure-line faculty positions. Our analysis used sociological theories to generate testable implications about the chances that an institution will offer these majors. We found that the relevant size of students' and faculty's demographic profiles reflect the chances that these majors will be offered. Moreover, institutions that offer Women's Studies programs are significantly more likely also to offer majors in Ethnic Studies and African American Studies, but this effect is asymmetric.