SOCIOLOGY 250: Racial and Ethnic Communities in the United States Syllabus

Authors

• Minglei Zhang, CUNY Graduate CenterFollow

Document Type

Syllabus

Publication Date

4-28-2026

Abstract

This Open Educational Resources (OER) syllabus for SOC 250: Racial and Ethnic Communities in the United States provides a no-cost, adaptable framework for examining the sociological dimensions of race, ethnicity, and power in American society. The course is organized thematically across four modules, progressing from foundational concepts of race as a social construct through analyses of institutions, inequality, and historical movements for social change. Drawing on diverse theoretical perspectives including intersectionality, critical race theory, and racial formation theory, this OER syllabus emphasizes critical thinking, analytical writing, and evidence-based inquiry. All course materials, including academic readings, documentaries, podcasts, and digital resources, are openly licensed or freely accessible. This syllabus aims to develop students’ capacity for sociological analysis, engagement with multiple perspectives, and application of theoretical frameworks to contemporary social issues.

Comments

This OER was funded in part by the CUNY OER Initiative.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

CUNY OER Funding

CUNY OER Initiative