Mexican American Studies, Bachelor of Arts
Program Overview
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. The Mexican American Studies program offers a Bachelors of Arts in Mexican American Studies, a Minor in Mexican American Studies, a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in Mexican American Studies, and a Graduate Certificate.
The goal of the BA in MASC is to recognize, validate, and engage students, faculty, and Mexican American, Chicana/o and Latina/o communities as agents of conocimiento and knowledge. Our place-based pedagogies and transdisciplinary methods provide a holistic approach to the study of complex and dynamic Mexican American experiences. We 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 .
Students develop the skills to engage in self-discovery and to communicate their conocimientos to produce salient applied research to effect positive social change in their comunidades . Our position en la frontera requires and enables MASC to have a simultaneous local and hemispheric concentration. This unique transcultural context shapes academic and public conversations regionally, nationally, and globally.
Core Curriculum - 42 hours
The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.
The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.
The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.
040 Language, Philosophy and Culture - 3 hours
| MASC 2301 | Introduction to Mexican American Studies | 3 |
060 American History - 6 hours
Major Requirements - 36 hours
Required Courses - 18 hours
Mexican American Studies - 9 hours
| MASC 2351 | Introduction to Mexican American Literature | 3 |
| MASC 3332 | Mexican American History | 3 |
| MASC 4350 | Research Methods in Mexican American/Chicanx/Latinx Studies | 3 |
Spanish language - 9 hours
Choose from:
Prescribed Electives - 18 hours
Complete 6 hours from 3 categories below for a total of 18 hours. 12 hours must be advanced.
Special Topics courses may be offered and applied to the Mexican American Studies degree plan at the discretion of the department.
Anthropology
Creative and Fine Arts
| ARTS 3350 | Pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTS 4352 | Latin American Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTS 4354 | Modern Mexican Art, 1785-1940 | 3 |
| ARTS 4355 | Modern Mexican Art since 1940 | 3 |
| ARTS 3356 | Mexican Viceregal Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTS 4357 | Latin@ Art History | 3 |
| Or | |
| MASC 4357 | Latin@ Art History | 3 |
| MASC 1307 | Mexican Folk Music | 3 |
| DANC 2250 | Foundations in Mexican Folklorico Dance - Two Credit Hour | 2 |
| Or | |
| DANC 2349 | Foundations in Mexican Folklorico Dance - Three Credit Hour | 3 |
| | |
| DANC 3250 | Intermediate Mexican Folklorico Dance - Two Credit Hour | 2 |
| Or | |
| DANC 3349 | Intermediate Mexican Folklorico Dance - Three Credit Hour | 3 |
| | |
| DANC 4250 | Advanced Mexican Folklorico Dance - Two Credit Hour | 2 |
| Or | |
| DANC 4349 | Advanced Mexican Folklorico Dance - Three Credit Hour | 3 |
History
HIST 3300 only required for 4000 history courses.
Language and Literature and Linguistics
Mexican-American Studies
| MASC 4300 | Learning and Reflective Service (Practicum) | 3 |
| MASC 4392 | Special Topics in Mexican American Studies | 3 |
Philosophy
| PHIL 1305 | Introduction to Latin American Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 1362 | Race, Sexuality, and Class | 3 |
| PHIL 3365 | Chicana and Latin American Feminisms | 3 |
| PHIL 4305 | Special Topics in Latin American Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 4345 | Mexican/Mexican-American Philosophy | 3 |
Political Science
Sociology
Interdisciplinary Studies
PSYC 2301 required in advanced psychology courses.
Free Electives - 42 hours
Free elective credit hours at the advanced level may be needed to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.
Students interested in applying free elective hours towards a double major or minor should see an advisor for more information.
Total Credit Hours: 42
Total Credit Hours: 120
View this program’s recommended roadmap to graduation.
UTRGV Roadmaps are a suggested sequence of courses designed to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree requirements. This is a term-by-term sample roadmap of courses required to complete the degree. Students must satisfy all requirements in their catalog including, but not limited to course prerequisites, grade point average and course grade benchmarks, progression requirements, and graduation requirements.
Students should meet with their academic advisor every semester to discuss their individualized path toward completion. Degree progress within this roadmap depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation and readiness, student time management, work and personal responsibilities, and financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.