National and Ethnic Identity OpenCourseWare: MIT's Free Undergraduate Cultural Studies Course

Published Jan 27, 2009

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Discover the reason for conflict between ethnic groups in this OpenCourseWare offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 'Ethnic and National Identity' discusses race, culture, religious, sexual and gender issues common today and throughout history, which play a role in ethnic and national identity. This free course has no prerequisites but is ideal for undergraduate students studying anthropology or a related subject.

National and Ethnic Identity: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Undergraduate Yes No No Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
Yes Yes No

National and Ethnic Identity: Course Description

Analyze the way language, gender, religion and race play a role in nationality and ethnicity. The course is offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)'s School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences in Cambridge, MA, and examines how national loyalties, instead of diminishing as globalization becomes more prevalent, have remained strong, resulting in many present-day conflicts. The course looks at examples of strong national identity even within certain countries, like regional ties in Spain and the role of gender in ethnic and national identity. Cultural recovery is also discussed with the reasons why it is often seen in a negative light. MIT Professor Jean Jackson teaches this course about the ties between various aspects of culture and social identity.

Lectures, notes, study materials and a list of course readings are available for free online. To take this OpenCourseWare, visit the ethnic and national identity course page.

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