American Demographics: Spotlight on U.S. Chicanos and Latinos
Instructor: Refugio Rochin, Department of Chicana/o Studies, College of Letters & Science
Description: This course will provide a general introduction to the social sciences and demographics with special emphasis on Chicanos and Latinos within the United States. This class will discuss the questions of Chicano/Latino identity, population growth, immigration, English Language Learners, youth and workforce, senior citizens, gender differences and geographic dispersions and concentrations.
On the practical side, this course should help students increase their interest in demographics and should be helpful for students as they address questions of Chicana/o and Latina/o ethnic identity, U.S. methods for collecting data on race, ethnicity, gender, age, geographic dispersion and more. The course will also cover state and federal data collection, official websites, and methods for projecting changes in the population.
I hope that students will gain a new appreciation for the role that social science research has played—and continues to play—in shaping American public life.
Format: In the first meeting of the quarter, I will discuss demographics and distribute a list of various topics related to Chicanos and Latinos. In the second meeting I will discuss each topic and related data, and work with the class to identify 3 to 4 students to research each topic. In the third meeting I will make a presentation based own research with demographic data and ask for a critique of my presentation: the “do’s and don’ts of presentation.” From the 4th through the 9th meeting, there will be six group presentations, with time for an evaluation of each groups’ performance. During those discussions, numerous questions of facts may arise, many of them related to the presentations as well as your own perceptions of facts and myths. For any such question, the relevant group is then assigned to research the issue some more and present their findings during the next class, either in a handout or a brief oral presentation of 5 minutes or so. At every meeting, I will insist on presentations that are sharply focused (i.e. get to the point), are based on research, and provide demographic data from reputable research organizations. Grading: This one-unit course will be graded P/NP based on student attendance; group presentation and feedback from others; a 5-page take-home written exam (based on your part of your groups’ presentation), and general class participation (an integral component of this learning experience). There are no texts for the class; however there will be occasional handouts, on-line reading assignments prior to each meeting. No more than two (2) missed lectures and no more than one (1) excused absence (for doctor or emergency) will be allowed.
Use at least one library reference for your 4-5-page paper and support your written assignment with performance observations, class notes, on-line readings, and /or class discussions. Please use the Chicago School or similar documentation style and include a bibliography page on top of the five pages.
Students will be graded based on their class and performance participation – their frequency and ability to discuss the topics and presentation (25%); the quality of their oral commentary (25%); and the quality of the final term paper (50%). Grading may be modified at the discretion of the professor.
About the Instructor: Refugio I. Rochin is Professor Emeritus in Chicana/o Studies and Agricultural Economics at the University of California, Davis and Director Emeritus of Research & Evaluation at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Dr. Rochin is currently on recall at U.C. Davis as Director of Chicana/o Studies and Senior Evaluator for Lab Aspire, the California Public Health Laboratory Director Training Program, established to create a pipeline of qualified professionals to assume State and County Public Health Laboratory Director positions in California. Dr. Rochin was former Executive Director of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Latinos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS); first permanent director of the Julian Samora Research Institute at Michigan State University; Senior Fellow, Professor, and Associate Director of the Inter-University Program for Latino Research at the University of Notre Dame; and Founding Director of the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives, Washington D.C. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Institute for Teachers of the California Teachers Association, Sigma Xi’s Committee for Distinguished Lecturers, and the Council of Economic Advisors of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Dr. Rochin’s research and publications span topics on Latino socio-economics, arts, culture, community, and international development. His most recent publication (with Mello): “Latinos in Science: Trends & Opportunities,” Journal of Hispanics in Higher Education, Sage Publications, Fall 2007, 56 pages.