High School Ethnic Studies meets online on Tuesdays at 12 PM, Pacific Time.

• Fall semester classes begin on August 19, 2025 and end on December 16, 2025 with a break at Thanksgiving.

• Spring semester classes begin on January 6, 2026 and end on May 5, 2026 and include a spring break.

The WriteAtHome High School Ethnic Studies semester class, created for California charter schools, will examine cultural identity and cultural bias within American society concerning African American, Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x, Native American, and Asian American and Pacific Islander ethnicities, cultures, and subcultural groups per the California A-G requirements. We will examine the role, contributions, and history of these cultures in terms of the American experience through a historical and documentary lens (i.e., according to primary sources).

This course is designed to help students come to terms with issues of bias and cultural and ethnic identity within broad American culture.

What Students Will Learn

Unit 1: Sources and Bias (1 Week)

Unit 1 is an introduction to cultural and ethnic studies that provides starting points of operative epistemology and interpretive lenses. This unit sets the stage for studying particular ethnicities and cultures by distinguishing terms (e.g., ethnicity, race, nation, state, culture, bias) and seeks to help students understand how bias operates, both personally and in broader society. This unit will help students distinguish between types of historical sources - primary, secondary, tertiary/aggregate.

Unit 2: Native American Culture and Experience (3 Weeks)

Unit 2 will examine the history of North American Native cultures and language groups and nations, tracing the history of relations between native communities and European and US settlement. We will examine bias in cultural depictions of Native Americans in media and society, and the history of US government policy and native communities, and the contributions of Native Americans.

Unit 3: Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x Culture and Experience (2 Weeks)

Unit 3 will examine the history of Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x culture tracing the history of relations between native communities in Southern North and Central America, and European and US settlers. We will examine bias in cultural depictions of Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x people in media and society, and the contributions of Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x Americans.

Unit 4: Asian American and Pacific Islanders Culture and Experience (3 Weeks)

Unit 4 will examine the history of Asian American and Pacific Islander culture tracing the history of relations between Asian immigrant communities in North America, and European and US settlers. We will examine bias in cultural depictions of Asian American and Pacific Islander people in media and society, and the contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander Americans.

Unit 5: African American Culture and Experience (4 Weeks)

Unit 5 will examine the history of African forced immigration, African American culture and, will trace the history of African chattel slavery, abolition, Jim Crow and modern issues of race. We will examine bias in cultural depictions of African Americans in media and society and the contributions of African Americans

Unit 6: Perspectives on a Diverse America (3 Weeks)

Unit 6 pulls together the insights from Units 1-5 to reassess bias and the cultural interpretive lens, and examines perspectives and standpoints in the broader current culture concerning race, ethnicity, representation, and opportunities (e.g., affirmative action, reparations, critical theory, critical race theory, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, cultural appropriation, personal bias, and systemic race issues, etc.). We will examine issues of government policy and minority groups, civil rights and civil liberties and selective incorporation. 

How Students Will Learn

• Read writings and/or watch interviews about Culture and Experience

• Weekly live, online lesson

• Weekly keyword quizzes

• Weekly thought-provoking discussion question

• Write a paper on one of the primary culture writings they have read this year, or comparing two, or report on one of a selection of books that discuss ethnicity/race and culture