This report describes the evolution of Afro-American, Hispanic, and American Indian studies supported by the Ford Foundation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. An overview of the events which led to increased interest in minority/ethnic studies is provided. Specific undergraduate programs discussed include the Afro-American studies program at Yale, the Mexican American studies program at California State University, and programs for minority students at Oakes College. Aspects considered include vocational concerns of those in Afro-American studies, the demand for bilingual/bicultural education in Los Angeles, and the role ethnic studies has played in increasing minority student interest in science. Specific graduate programs referred to include the Afro-American Studies Programs at Boston University and Atlanta University, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at the City University of New York, and the multi-ethnic program at the University of California at Los Angeles. Reviewed are strategies undertaken by these universities to develop and establish professional interest and concern for the respective minority/ethnic groups. (EB)