A student uses her graduation cap to thank her parents in Spanish
School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement

Mexican American Studies

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About MAS - UTRGV

The Mexican American Studies (MAS) academic program at UTRGV is a social justice-oriented program that prepares students to work, serve and research in their communities to address and navigate the complex socio-political/historical conditions surrounding Mexican American/Chicanx/Latinx communities. MAS prepares students to be leaders and advocates in their communities and professions to transform their conditions and promote a just society.

Graduate Program

MAS Affiliate Application

MAS (academic program) affiliates are integral to the success of accomplishing the mission and vision of MAS in our UTRGV and RGV communities. Faculty/staff affiliates should plan to attend at least one meeting per semester and/or MAS graduation. Affiliates will renew their membership every three years. To affiliate, please select one or both of the following options: In addition to meeting the criteria below, applicants for affiliate status will have demonstrated a commitment to MAS core values in research, teaching and service.

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MAS Affiliate

MAS Affiliate

A MAS academic program affiliate is a faculty or staff member who (check at least one of the following):
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Others

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Information

Information

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Resources

Financial Assistance

MAS offers a limited number of Graduate Assistantships to students pursuing the MAIS in MAS

  • Assistantships carry with them a stipend of approximately $10,000/year
  • GA's work with the MAS Program 20 hours a week
  • Non-Texas residents with a GA position may obtain a waiver for the out-of-state portion of tuition. Students will need to fill out appropriate paperwork with the Registrar's Office
  • GA's eligible to purchase health insurance through UTRGV with UTRGV paying a portion of the premium
  • For more information on Travel Scholarships for UTRGV Graduate students please visit the Office of Graduate Studies
  • Graduate College Scholarship
  • General Financial Aid for Graduate Students

For additional information please contact the MAS Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Cathryn Merla-Watson at mas@utrgv.edu

PUENTES - Culturally Wealth Model for Student Success  www.utrgv.edu/puentes
"PUENTES- A Cultural Wealth Model for Student Success is a U.S. Department of Education research-based grant that aims to improve student success at UTRGV through culturally sustaining pedagogy in the classroom, culturally responsive praxis in student services, the expansion of ethnic studies, and culturally relevant family engagement to assist parents of first-generation college students in gaining a better understanding of college culture."
Nurturing Ethnic Studies in the Borderlands https://www.utrgv.edu/puentes/grants/index.htm
In partnership with the Mellon Foundation MAS is happy to support the Mellon-Puentes Fellowship Program which will provide faculty development to Humanities and Humanities-adjacent faculty with three years of support to create and implement a new Ethnic Studies course at UTRGV. In addition, the program will support MAS Undergraduate Student Research and support the nurturing and strengthening of MAS at UTRGV.
Latinx Museum Internship Program 
MAS in partnership with the Institute of Library and Museum Services is proud to provide UTRGV undergraduate and graduate students from any major the opportunity to participate in a paid summer internship at Latinx Museums in the Rio Grande Valley and New Mexico. For additional information please visit https://www.utrgv.edu/puentes/news/index.htm

Center for Mexican American Studies

Mission

UTRGV folklorico dancing
The mission of the UTRGV Mexican American Studies (MASC) program is to prepare students to critically investigate community knowledge and socio-political, economic, cultural, and artistic conditions of and contributions by Mexican Americans, Chicana/ os and Latina/ os to the history, culture, and institutions of the United States and broader Americas
UTRGV MAS