City: Oakland, California and Washington,
D.C.
Major: Open to All
Dates and Resources
Immersive Independent Study: Exploring Black Immigrant Food
Geographies through Ethiopian Cuisine
Are you interested in exploring cultural heritage, foodways, and
geography through an immersive experience in Ethiopian eateries
within the United States? The Ethnic Studies department in
collaboration with International Education and Global Engagement
at Stanislaus State is offering a one-credit special course as an
independent study, co-taught by Professor Goshu Tefera and
Professor Jose Diaz-Garayua. This program combines field research
with immersive experiential learning, providing a unique
opportunity to engage with Ethiopian communities in Oakland and
Washington, DC.
This program is designed for motivated students eager to deepen
their understanding of Black immigrant geographies through
diasporic eateries. Throughout the course, participants will
examine Ethiopian restaurants as cultural and communal spaces and
conduct field research on topics such as belonging,
intergenerational memory, food practices, and community
resilience and sustainability within the Ethiopian diaspora. Two
immersive field visits are planned, one to Oakland in February
and a multi-day trip to Washington, DC, in late April or early
May 2025.
Course Dates: January – May 2025
Field Visits: Oakland (February) and Washington,
DC (late April/early May)
Course Credit: 1 unit (Independent Study)
Eligibility: Open to all majors; however,
preference may be given to students studying Ethnic Studies,
Geography, or related fields
Funding: External funding is available to
support related travel expenses.
Application Deadline: To Be Determined.