The Immigrant Experience

In this seminar we will explore the diverse experiences of immigrants to the United States through literature and experiential, community-engaged learning. We will examine themes such as migration, identity, belonging, labor, language, race, and intergenerational change. Readings include novels, memoirs, and essays from writers who draw on their own immigrant experiences and scholars who study migration across cultures and generations. We will engage immigrant voices through conversation and hands-on cultural exploration. We will critically think about and reflect on the links between individual stories to broader questions about immigration in American life. We will focus on lived experience, storytelling, and cultural expression rather than contemporary political debates surrounding legal and illegal immigration.