Minor in International Migration Studies (IMS)

1. One lower-division course from the following list is required. These courses provide background for understanding immigration to the United States and an appreciation of the ethnic and cultural diversity that immigrants have created. Other courses with similar content may be considered, by petition, to satisfy this requirement.
   
   
   • ANTH 23 - Debating Multiculturalism: Race, Ethnicity, & Class in American Societies (4)
   • DOC 2 - Dimensions of Culture: Justice (6)
   • ETHN 1A - Introduction to Ethnic Studies: Population Histories of the United States (4)
   • ETHN 1B - Introduction to Ethnic Studies: Immigration & Assimilation in American Life (4)
   • HILD 7A - Race and Ethnicity in the United States (4)
   • HILD 7B - Race and Ethnicity in the United States (4)
   • HILD 7C - Race and Ethnicity in the United States (4)
   • POLI 40 - Introduction to Law and Society (4)
2. One upper-division immigration course using a comparative, cross-national approach is required from the following list. These courses provide a broad perspective on the social, economic, and political aspects of immigration and expose students to the experiences of countries of immigration other than the United States. (Prerequisites: upper-division standing required)
   
   
   • POLI 150A - The Politics of Immigration (4)
   • SOCI 125 - Sociology of Immigration (4)
3. Twenty (20) more required units by pursuing one of three separate tracks:
   
   
   • Track A - Course Work
   • Track B - Independent Research or Internship
   • Track C - Field Research

After completing Requirements 1 and 2 (see Requirements for the Minor), students can choose to take five additional courses (four of which must be upper-division) from our list of approved courses in the UCSD Catalog. These courses provide in-depth coverage of specialized topics in immigration studies.

Students using Track A may not take more than a total of four courses from any one department for this minor.

Planning to Study Abroad?

Because of the international nature of the minor, students will be allowed to complete up to three courses (12 units) for their minor requirements through study abroad, especially in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Mexico, countries where immigration studies programs are now well-established.

After completing Requirements 1 and 2 (see Requirements for the Minor above), students may choose to complete their minor by doing independent research or internships. Students choosing this track will receive intensive training through academic internships in a local immigrant/refugee service-providing organization or conduct independent research in the area. 

Independent Field Research

Students who choose this option are required to take one upper-division research methods course from the following:

• ETHN 190 - Research Methods: Studying Racial and Ethnic Communities (4). (Crosslisted: USP 129)
• SOCI 104 - Field Research: Methods of Participant Observation (4). (Prerequisite: SOCI 60)
• SOCI 108 - Survey Research Design (4). (Prerequisite: SOCI 60)

Students will complete the remaining sixteen (16) units for this track through a combination of:

• Courses from the list under Track A and,
• Completing one or two "199: Independent Studies" courses (4 units each) in order to pursue a field research project with a faculty member.

Internship*

Students who choose this option are required to take one upper-division research methods course from the following:

• ETHN 190 - Research Methods: Studying Racial and Ethnic Communities (4). (Crosslisted: USP 129)
• SOCI 104 - Field Research: Methods of Participant Observation (4). (Prerequisite: SOCI 60)
• SOCI 108 - Survey Research Design (4). (Prerequisite: SOCI 60)

Students will complete the remaining sixteen (16) units for this track through a combination of:

• Courses from the list under Track A and,
• Completing an internship in a non-governmental organzation/agency that services immigrants or refugees in the San Diego area. Internships for up to eight units will be arranged by the Academic Internship Program (AIP).

*Note: Students choosing this option must be eligible for and follow AIP deadlines and guidelines.

After completing Requirements 1 and 2 (see Requirements for the Minor above), students may choose an intensive training in field research methods, appropriate for studying international migration, and conduct field research in immigrant communities.

Note: Students choosing this option must apply, and be accepted, to the Mexican Migration Field Research Program (MMFRP). Students must follow MMFRP deadlines and guidelines. Advanced competency in conversational Spanish is recommended for this option.

Students who choose this option and have been accepted to MMFRP will take the following consecutive three-course sequence. These courses provide students with field research methods training and allow them to go to Mexico for three weeks to conduct research and analyze data in a rural community that sends migrant workers to the United States:

• LATI 122A - Field Research Methods for Migration Studies: Seminar (4). (Offered: Fall Quarter, Prerequisite: permission of instructor, department authorization required, may not receive credit for both SOCI 122A and LATI 122A)
• LATI 122B - Field Research Methods for Migration Studies: Practicum (12). (Offered: Winter Quarter, Prerequisite: permission of instructor, department authorization required, may not receive credit for both SOCI 122B and LATI 122B)
• LATI 122C - Field Research Methods for Migration Studies: Data Analysis (4) (Offered: Spring Quarter, Prerequisite: permission of instructor, department authorization required, LATI 122B)