MAIS — Mexican American Studies
Masters of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in Mexican American Studies
The MAIS in MAS provides master’s students with a concentrated study in the transdisciplinary field of Mexican American Studies, including Chicana/o and Latina/o studies. Our location as a border institution in South Texas and the available resources (such as our numerous, established faculty in the fields of Mexican American studies and Chicana/o studies, and other academic resources, such as our growing Mexican American Studies program, and other institutional resources, such as the border studies archive) makes this an exciting program for UTRGV students. Many careers today in South Texas and nationally – including those in Education, Health, Social Services, Communication, Law, Humanities, among others – require students to have a specialized knowledge of the Mexican American community and experiences, due to regional and national demographic trends. The MAS concentration in MAIS will strengthen your competitiveness in the job market in various fields. The MAIS in MAS, as evidenced by our Graduate Certificate student placement in PhD programs, will lead to continued and increased student placement in PhD programs in various fields, including in Chicana/o Studies, English, American Studies, Spanish, Education, among other programs, both state-wide and nationally. Ultimately, the interdisciplinary nature and culturally relevant curriculum of the MAIS in MAS, offers exciting, rich, and unique opportunities for UTRGV students and faculty engaged in research, experiential learning, and community engagement, related to Latina/o communities in South Texas and nationally.
MAIS- MAS Primary Area of Concentration (Non-Thesis Option) Total 36 hours
Research Methods in Mexican American Studies (3 hrs) Mexican American and/or Latina/o Studies Coursework (15 hours) 9 hours in Discipline Two 9 hours in Discipline Three
MAIS-MAS Primary Area of Concentration (Thesis Option) Total 36 hours
Research Methods in Mexican American Studies (3 hrs) Thesis Hours (6 hrs) Mexican American and/or Latina/o Studies Coursework (9 hrs) 9 hours in Discipline Two 9 hours in Discipline Three
Apply for the MAIS in MAS program here:
MAIS in MAS Courses
MASC 6300 Research Methods in Chicana/o Studies
An introduction to the broad range of transdisciplinary approaches and methodologies used in Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies.
MASC 6315 Mexican American Pedagogies
This course examines how Mexican American Studies pedagogies are innovative, culturally responsive and transformative within academic institutions.
MASC 6320 Chican@/Latin@ Schooling
This course is an intensive analysis of Chicanx & Latinx educational experiences. This course is concerned with how Chicanx & Latinx/@ educational experiences reflect coloniality and how we as educators can create transformative experiences for Chicanxs and Latinxs grounded in decolonialism.
MASC 6325 Studies in Critical Race Theories
This course is a survey of the critical race theories that encompass the Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, and Middle Eastern experiences dealing with racism and racialization.
MASC 6330 Chicana/Latina Feminist Epistemology
Students will examine the epistemological and methodological contributions of Chicana feminist scholars. A particular, focus on the lived experiences of brown bodies and the intersectionality nature of Chicana feminism will be foregrounded.
MASC 6335 Chicanx/Latinx Language and Identity
In this course, students will examine how language, identity and power interplay in different communities and in particular the U.S/Mexican borderlands.
MASC 6340 Directed Readings in Chicana/o Studies
A directed study of selected readings in Chicana/o and/or Latina/o Studies. Topics are varied according to availability of faculty and student interest.
MASC 6345 Studies in Critical Latinx Decolonial Theory
This course explores the salient features of emerging decolonial thinking and discourses in the context of indigenous and Latinx thought.
MASC 6350 Learning and Reflective Service: The Mexican American Experience
This course will provide students with an experiential learning opportunity in a topic related to social justice in Mexican American communities.
MASC 6355 Gloria Anzaldúa
The purpose of this course is to engage in readings, discussions and deeper investigation of the transformative and decolonizing work of Valley native and Pan American College graduate Gloria Anzaldua.
MASC 6390 Special Topics in Chicana/o Studies
This course is a specifically designed for focused study of a single topic of importance in the field of Chicana/o and/or Latina/o Studies.
MASC 7100 Thesis
MASC 7300 Thesis Course A (Thesis Option Only)* 3 Credit Hours
MASC 7301 Thesis Course B (Thesis Option Only)* 3 Credit Hours
For additional information please contact the MAS Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Cathryn Merla-Watson at cathryn.merlawatson@utrgv.edu or mas@utrgv.edu