Chicana and Chicano Studies

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OFFICE: Arts and Letters 348
TELEPHONE: 619-594-6452 / FAX: 619-594-3195
E-MAIL: ccs@sdsu.edu
WEBSITE: http://aztlan.sdsu.edu

Undergraduate Information

Faculty

Emeritus: Butler, Grajeda-Higley, Griswold del Castillo, Rodriguez, Villarino
Chair: Ibarra
Professors: Hicks, Iglesias Prieto, Ortiz
Associate Professors: Del Castillo, González-Rivera, Hernández, Ibarra
Assistant Professor: Domínguez

The Major

Chicana and Chicano studies is an interdisciplinary field that takes as its focus of study Chicana/o-Mexicana/o, other Latina/o populations, the US-Mexico border/lands, and society at large. Through an academically rigorous program, the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies seeks to develop bachelors of art who have a general knowledge of the history, cultures, and social life of Chicana/o-Mexicana/o communities over time in comparative and global contexts. The program provides an in-depth understanding of the social, political, and economic inequalities and challenges faced by Chicana/o-Mexicana/o and other Latina/ o communities. Students will learn to critically interrogate assumptions about race/ethnicity, class, gender, citizenship, and sexuality, among other axes of power, as well as understand the influence of border/lands in marking the experiences of Chicana/ o-Mexicana/o communities and society at large.

The department was created in 1969, and has its origins in the Chicano Movement, which envisioned and fought for a world free of inequality. In this spirit, Chicana and Chicano studies majors will acquire the knowledge and skills to exercise responsible leadership, effectively engage diverse communities, and advocate for social justice and equality.

Chicana and Chicano studies majors are prepared for graduate study and careers in education, government (federal, state, and local), journalism, law, and nonprofit and grassroots organizations.

Advising

All College of Arts and Letters majors are urged to consult with their department adviser as soon as possible. Students are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after declaration or change of major.

Impacted Program

The Chicana and Chicano studies major is an impacted program. To be admitted to the Chicana and Chicano studies major, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Complete preparation for the major;
2. Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units;
3. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

To complete the major, students must fulfill the degree requirements for the major described in the catalog in effect at the time they are accepted into the premajor at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.

Graduate Information

Faculty

María de la Luz Ibarra, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies, Chair of Department
D. Emily Hicks, Ph.D., Professor of English and Comparative Literature and Chicana and Chicano Studies
Norma V. Iglesias Prieto, Ph.D., Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies
Isidro D. Ortiz, Ph.D., Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies [Senate Distinguished Professor]
Adelaida R. Del Castillo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies (Graduate Adviser)
Victoria C. González-Rivera, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies
Roberto D. Hernández, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies
Michael C. Domínguez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies

Associateships and Assistantships

Graduate teaching associateships and graduate assistantships in Chicana and Chicano studies are available to a limited number of qualified students. Application forms and additional information may be obtained from the graduate adviser in the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies or at http://aztlan.sdsu.edu/ma_gta.html.

General Information

The Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies offers graduate study leading to the Master of Arts degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies.

The department has a distinguished faculty in the humanities and social sciences with special expertise in the U.S.-Mexican border and gender issues. The faculty’s multidisciplinary orientation encourages students to explore many theoretical approaches grounded on a community-oriented and borderlands theory and praxis.

The Master of Arts degree provides advanced training for students who plan to make the master’s degree their terminal degree as well as those who want to continue their studies at the doctoral level with an emphasis on Chicana and Chicano studies in a borderlands context.

The master’s degree also provides advanced training for those who want to pursue professional degrees in the fields of public health, education, counseling, law, and social work. The master’s degree provides students with the ability to work with professional competence in U.S.-Mexican environments involving populations of Mexican and Latin American origin in both the private and public sector.

Admission to Graduate Study

The application deadlines are posted on the Web or can be obtained from the graduate adviser. All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the university with classified graduate standing as described in Admission and Registration . In addition, students must demonstrate sufficient preparation for the program. This may include a bachelor’s degree in Chicana and Chicano studies or a related discipline from an accredited institution or completion of equivalent academic preparation as determined by the Graduate Dean. Evaluation of a student’s transcript will be made on an individual basis by the admissions committee to determine whether evidence of sufficient preparation can be demonstrated. A student whose preparation is deemed insufficient by the admissions committee may be admitted as conditionally classified and will be required to complete specified courses in addition to the minimum of 30 units required for the degree.

The grade point average required for admission to the master’s program in Chicana and Chicano studies is 3.0 for the last 60 units (2.85 overall) of the student’s undergraduate work plus satisfactory scores on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE.

Students applying for admission should electronically submit the university application available at http://www.calstate.edu/apply along with the application fee.

All applicants must submit admissions materials separately to SDSU Graduate Admissions and to the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies.

Graduate Admissions

The following materials should be submitted as a complete package directly to:

Graduate Admissions
Enrollment Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

1. Official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all postsecondary institutions attended;
   • Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.
   • Students with international coursework must submit both the official transcript and proof of degree. If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
2. GRE scores (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682);
3. English language score, if medium of instruction was in a language other than English (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682).

Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies

The following materials should be mailed or delivered to:

Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies
(Attention: Graduate Adviser)
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-6034

1. Two or more letters of reference from persons with direct knowledge of the applicant’s academic ability;
2. Personal statement;
3. Research statement;
4. Writing sample (such as a research paper);
5. Curriculum vitae or resume.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees .

Programs

• Chicana and Chicano Studies Minor
• Chicana and Chicano Studies, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Chicana and Chicano Studies, M.A.
• United States-Mexican Border Studies Minor
• United States-Mexico Border Studies Certificate

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