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Studies & Degrees in Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies

Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies is an interdisciplinary subject about people of Mexican origin and Chicano and Latino communities in the United States, and about the region on both sides of the US-Mexico border. It treats that border as one connected region, not only as a dividing line. Teaching draws on history, politics, health, economics, language and the arts.

The name belongs to one institution. Arizona State University (ASU) teaches the subject in its School of Transborder Studies, which describes itself as the first and only school in the United States focused on US-Mexico transborder communities. At other universities, similar content is usually found under names such as Chicano studies, Latino studies or Mexican American studies.

What students learn

According to ASU, students learn about the cultural, social, political, economic, historical, health-related and artistic experiences of these communities, and develop tools for understanding borders and border communities in other parts of the world. Sample courses in the bachelor's degree include Latinas/os in the U.S., Transborder Society and Culture, Transborder Theory, Transborder Research Methods, Transborder Practicum and Field Research, and Folklore of the Southwest.

The degree's stated learning outcomes are to compare the cultures and histories of Latino groups in the Americas, to apply theory to a creative or scholarly work, and to write a research proposal on a social issue in Latino and transborder communities. ASU gives a demographic reason for the subject: it states that Latinos make up 19% of the population of the United States.

The subject grew out of Chicano studies. The Arizona Board of Regents approved a major and minor in Chicana and Chicano Studies at ASU in November 1995. The department took the name Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies in 2007, when it widened its teaching to other Latino groups, and became the School of Transborder Studies in 2010.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor of Arts. The Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, BA has 120 credit hours and is taught on the Tempe campus. Two earlier concentrations of the degree, in media and expressive culture and in immigration policy and economy, no longer accept new students.
  • Minor and certificates. Students of other majors can add a minor in Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, or an undergraduate certificate in Border Studies or in Latino Politics and Policy.
  • Master's degree. The Master of Advanced Study (MAS) in Transborder Studies has 30 credit hours and ends with a thesis, an applied project or a capstone course. Applicants need a bachelor's or master's degree, a minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, a personal statement, a writing sample and three letters of recommendation.
  • Accelerated route. The BA can be combined with the MAS, which allows students to obtain both degrees in as little as five years.
  • Doctorate. ASU also offers a PhD in Transborder Studies, which it presents as the only doctoral programme in transborder studies in the United States.

ASU states that its undergraduate and graduate programmes are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists one active school for this subject: Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, in the United States. The directory entry covers the university's American English and Culture Program. The degrees described here are taught in English. For the master's degree, an applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency. Bachelor's applicants from abroad follow ASU's general international admission requirements.

International students on an F-1 visa should note that neither the BA nor the MAS is eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.

Careers

ASU names immigration lawyer, nonprofit leader, teacher, entrepreneur, government employee, political activist, community organizer, advocate and artist as possible positions for graduates. The fields it lists are the arts, education, film and media, law, government agencies, public and private health services, public policy and administration, and social work and nonprofit organisations. The university adds that some of these jobs require an advanced degree, a certification or a state licence, so the BA is often a first step before law school or graduate study.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I study Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies?

The degree with this name is taught at Arizona State University, on the Tempe campus. Other universities in the United States teach related content under names such as Chicano or Latino studies.

How many credits does the bachelor's degree have?

The BA has 120 credit hours. With the accelerated route, students can obtain the BA and the MAS in Transborder Studies in as little as five years.

Is there a master's degree or doctorate in this field?

Yes. ASU offers a Master of Advanced Study in Transborder Studies with 30 credit hours, and a PhD in Transborder Studies.

Do international applicants need an English certificate?

For the master's degree, applicants whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency. Bachelor's applicants should check ASU's international admission requirements.