Mexican American Studies

UNC’s Mexican American Studies program works to achieve a strong, culturally-based education for you to thrive in. Through community engagement and small classes guided by top faculty who are well rounded on contemporary culture and history, our deeply experienced teachers ensure that our students receive personal attention. The superb education practices will assist all students in meeting their professional career paths.

The variety of program concentrations available through the MAS department provides plenty of opportunities to expand your career path. Students will gain sophisticated skills to work with complex and changing populations in the U.S. In recent years, undergraduates have been involved in celebrating Dia de los Muertos and the Chicana/Chicano Festival de Artes; they have participated in UNC’s World Language Day.

Teaching English as a Second Language & Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

Ideal for education majors in any program, the undergraduate Teaching English as a Second Language—also referred to as Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)—and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Education programs examine current theories and practices of language acquisition and multilingual language development in global contexts. You’ll be thoroughly versed in the cultural development of multilingual learners, and the varied experiences of multicultural and multilingual families and communities in the United States, even other countries. Completing this program can either be done through a Teaching English as a Second Language minor (non-licensure), a K-12 teaching endorsement (the CLD Education Endorsement), and/or a CLD Bilingual Education Specialist Endorsement.

The undergraduate TESOL and CLD Education endorsements are housed in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in Candelaria Hall. Although numerous immigrant groups are addressed in TESOL coursework at UNC, there is a special focus on Spanish-speaking children and youth. An appropriate decision, this was reached considering that in Colorado 84% of all English language learners are Spanish-speaking; in the U.S., 75% of all English language learners are Spanish-speaking, the majority of whom are from Mexico. Approximately 75% of students seeking endorsement are Elementary Education majors; the remainder are Secondary Education or K-12 licensure students.

Undergraduate Concentrations

Youth Advocacy

The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2020, youth from ethnic/racial minorities will together comprise half of the population under the age of 18. Use your education to examine concepts of race, ethnicity, class, gender and diverse family experiences to assist this quickly-growing population. Some careers include: residential youth advocacy programs, juvenile corrections, new-corner programs, probation offices and many more.

Social Justice and Public Policy

For those pursuing careers in such places as immigration law, education, political office and many others, the Social Justice and Public Policy concentration is a superb place to start. This will introduce students to human rights and political issues through the lens of social justice. They will be led to navigate frameworks and theories of poverty, inequality and intersectionality among diverse Latinx populations.

Globalization, Borders, and Migration

With global migration patterns becoming an ever-prevalent modern dynamic, students in the Globalization, Borders, and Migration concentration will be introduced to the complex migratory concerns that have evolved in the 21stcentury. Internships complementing the concentration are available for students in many various local and state non-profit organizations.

Community Health and Nutrition Professions

Combine your passion for health professions with your understanding of the Humanities in the Community Health and Nutrition Professions concentration. Since Latinx are the second largest ethnic population in the United States, information about specific health and nutrition concerns among these populations is a growing concern—here, you can use your studies to help assess this concern.

Secondary Teaching Emphasis

UNC’s reputation as a teacher-training university is unparalleled in the state of Colorado. Proudly sporting an excellent education in the history, geography, political science and cultural studies of Mexican-American cultures, graduates of this program are perfectly suited to teach a culturally diverse social studies curriculum.

News & Announcements

Students Recognized at 2019 Honors Convocation

Spanish students Maren Barger, Miriam Hernandez, Diana Keever, Samuel Kloeckner, Carlos Montes Mujica, and Monica Perez Nunez were recognized on April 14th for excellence in their program. Congratulations! View the event program. See all the event photos.

Sigma Delta Pi Receives National Award for 12th Consecutive Year

SEE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT HERE

Students Recognized at 2019 Honors Convocation

Mexican American Studies students Stephanie Carrillo Ramirez, Sofia Miranda, Abril Olivas, and Jasmine Sandoval-Gutiérrez were recognized on April 14th for excellence in their program. Congratulations! View the event program. See all the event photos.