Upper-Division

Engages diasporic and people of color (POC) writers whose work inspires social justice. Through course materials and creative exercises, students examine and break down the roadblocks that create silence. Focuses on the craft of writing, and revision and performance to create socially relevant and powerful words through community engagement.

Engages literature and culture from multiple generations of diasporic Central Americans in the U.S. whose work inspires conversations on politics and identity. Through course materials and oral history projects, examines the (in)visibility of this emergent Latinx group. Focus on oral history, aesthetics, poetics, and projects of representation.

Gives students a broad overview of the historical and social construction of queer identities in the United States. Through assigned readings and archival research, students contribute to the project of documenting queer history in the present. Students also examine how queer theory addresses the meanings that U.S. politics and culture have placed on sexual orientation over time.

Required seminar for first-quarter students in the Corre la Voz program. Examines theories, curriculum design, and teaching methods that emphasize social connection, leadership, verbal enrichment, multi-modal literacies, and community empowerment. Taken concurrently with field study. Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements. Co-requisite(s): course 151B. Enrollment is by interview only and successful application to the Corre la Voz program.

Field study for Corre la Voz interns. Intensive on-site training and participation in team teaching of dual-language (Spanish English) students (4th-5th grade). Literacies include social-emotional, expressive (artistic/dramatic), collaborative problem-solving, academic, and use of digital tools as well as traditional tools. Enrollment by interview only, and successful application to the Corre la Voz program. Concurrent enrollment in OAKS 151A is required during the first quarter after which OAKS 151B may be repeated by itself.

Combines a seminar on critical inquiry into different theories and practices of transformative literacy work with community-service placement or a creative project to assist a local organization in its mission communicating internally and externally.

Students study the theories and methods of community mapping, and work in research teams to design and conduct social-research projects. Emphasizes research questions that focus on assets and capacities, as well as on participatory-action research for justice.

Examines how social science research informs advocacy and advances social justice issues. Students analyze quantitative and qualitative data and use evidence-based findings to create a final advocacy project. Students will strengthen skills for developing research questions, interpreting qualitative and quantitative data, articulating research findings, and effectively communicating research for advocacy and public outreach. Relevant for students interested in careers in advocacy, policy, and nonprofit work.

Advanced seminar on the politics of knowledge production and translation in queer theory across the Américas, considering the meaning and construction of queer/cuir in three languages. Students develop bibliographies of academic and activist work addressing the lives of queer/trans people throughout the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Américas, including U.S. Latinx communities. Examines gaps in translation in this field, and students practice translation of work specific to sexual minority communities based on their language training and proficiency. Class works from the language and community expertise of students in the course inspired by bilingual poetics. Final projects produce a translation of a significant article or chapter-length work in queer theory from Spanish, Portuguese, or English to another one of these languages.

Cross Listed Courses

Prerequisites: SPAN 6, SPHS 6, or PORT 65B; or submission of a writing sample in either Spanish or Portuguese for instructor approval. Course requires language and composition proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese.

Examines the complexities of food systems with special attention to labor practices, food access, and food production. Students consider the nature of culture in advancing problematic notions of food options and sustainability. A service-learning project is required.

Firsthand experience with the global pandemic of COVID-19. Students train as certified contact tracers in partnership with the Public Health Institute's Tracing Health Program and work as bilingual contact tracers as part of the field study. Teaches essential skills in helping members of marginalized communities stay safe and prevent further spread of SARS-COV-2. Trainings emphasize public health protocols and cultural/linguistic competency in promoting positive health behaviors related to COVID-19. Introduces students to theories of public health, health disparities, and effective strategies for community-based health interventions. Students must be bilingual and culturally competent in English and Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, or an indigenous language of Mexico or Central America. Interview required for acceptance in the class. Contact oakscara@ucsc.edu for instructions on applying.

Offers placement, standards, and support during on-site experiential training in professional skills and ethics for students working in the legal field or with legal information to empower under-served communities. Previous or concurrent enrollment in LGST 188A or OAKS 188A and by permission of instructor.

In this fast-paced course, students learn a full framework for building digital campaigns and robust website designs for social movement organizations. The first half focuses on learning the framework, including communication strategy, working with stakeholders, and developing a proposal, In the second half, students apply the framework to a project with a community partner associated with the course. Final projects deliver a website, social media campaign, or email strategy to support the partner’s goals. Lab-based, hands-on course with minimal homework requirements. (Formerly Building Websites for Social Change.)

Teaching a lower-division seminar under faculty supervision. (See course 42.) Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing in Oakes; a proposal supported by a faculty member willing to supervise.

Supervised off-campus study conducted under the immediate and direct guidance of a faculty supervisor. To be used primarily by upper-division students doing part-time off-campus study. Prerequisite(s): approval of student's adviser, certification of adequate preparation, approval of provost. If taking two or more such courses in any one quarter, must obtain approval of academic adviser.

Senior thesis related to college-sponsored individual majors. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency. Sponsoring faculty must be member of individual major committee.

College-sponsored individual study programs off campus for which faculty supervision is not in person (e.g., supervision is by correspondence). Up to three such courses may be taken for credit in any one quarter. Prerequisite(s): approval of the student's adviser, certification of adequate preparation, and approval by provost.

Individual study for junior and senior members of Oakes College directed by a fellow of Oakes. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Independent study on various topics to be arranged between student and instructor. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.