Schools and Departments

The mission of the UTRGV Department of Anthropology is to promote a broad understanding of the complexity and diversity of the human experience, past and present. The faculty are committed to excellence in our teaching, research, and service to the University and the wider community. Our primary goal is to help students develop the intellectual curiosity, practical skills, and vision needed for living and working in a culturally diverse, interconnected world. We do this by fueling interest in people and their lives, and by translating this interest into real outcomes.

The Department of Communication, an energetic multidisciplinary department, offers a major course of study designed to prepare its students for successful entry into a growing professional field, while also educating students for inevitable long-run changes in their careers.

The mission of the Department of Criminal Justice at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is to impart knowledge and promote critical thinking about the crime problem and its control through criminal justice institutions and public cooperation. Grounded in the social sciences, the department respects liberal values, encourages open-mindedness, and pursues demographic and curricular diversity in its programs.

As an integral part of a liberal arts education, history courses introduce students to different historical eras, diverse cultures, famous and ordinary women and men, and a variety of geographical settings. Our courses challenge students to think critically, express themselves clearly, and become informed and responsible citizens in an increasingly interconnected world. Students majoring or minoring in history may become teachers or seek employment in business or government. History is an excellent background for those who wish later to go to law school or enter journalism.

The Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies provides coursework and mentoring to prepare teachers of English and French; and considers itself as the very gateway to internationalize and amplify a Liberal Arts education by developing creative problem solving skills that will allow students to understand the complexities of a globalized society.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ROTC is a premier leadership program that partners with both University and Community organizations to promote the values and ethics that develops students into leaders of the United States Army. Leadership development courses build teamwork and enhance individual character. Join us in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Reserves Officers' Training Corps and its commitment to build America’s future leaders.

The Philosophy Department at UTRGV seeks to develop a philosophically engaged life in our students, our colleagues, the Rio Grande Valley, and the world. We aim to help students, faculty, and our various communities make better sense of the world and decide how to better live in it.

Political scientists use a variety of methodological approaches, perspectives, and concepts to examine the political dynamics of all countries and regions of the world. We are the second largest Political Science Department in the University of Texas System and the leading Political Science Department in South Texas by degrees awarded.

At the undergraduate level, the UTRGV Department of Psychological Science offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in psychology. At the graduate level, we offer a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Clinical psychology, a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Experimental psychology, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Clinical Psychology.

The School of Interdisciplinary Program and Community Engagement (SIPCE) at UTRGV seeks to create innovative avenues for interprofessional and educational collaboration that not only allow students and faculty to share and apply their knowledge, but also leave a lasting impact on the RGV community and beyond. SIPCE’s programs leverage our expertise in cultural theory, the humanities, political economy, social sciences, and community knowledge to form a lasting collaborative to reshape our local and global communities.

The Department of Sociology serves as a hub for many important initiatives while providing quality training in sociology and disaster studies. The department offers a B.A. and M.S. in sociology as well as an undergraduate minor

Globalization has intensified contact among cultures, and hence an education in multiple languages is imperative in today’s world. Pursuing a major or a minor in Spanish ensures bilingual, bicultural, and biliterate competencies while fostering critical and creative thinking skills through the study of literature, linguistics, creative writing, Spanish for healthcare-related professions, and culture.

The Department of Writing & Language offers classes leading to majors, minors, and certificates in English, Spanish Translation and Interpreting, Asian Studies, and French. Any of these programs would provide you with a wealth of information on the way people interact and connect on a global scale.