This is an archived copy of the 2021-22 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu.
About the Program
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
The Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies major offers an interdisciplinary curriculum of academic study that critically examines the historical and contemporary experiences of people of Mexican descent in the context of American society and institutions. Moreover, in light of continuous immigration from Mexico, and now Central America, the Chicano studies major curriculum includes the study of particular aspects of Mexican history, culture, and politics as they bear upon the Chicano community, past and present. Emphasis is given in the major to the student developing a broad knowledge of the Chicano experience. Thus, the major stresses the analysis of the interrelationships in the historical background, cultural patterns, and artistic expressions of the Chicano community in order to acquire a well-rounded, in-depth understanding of the contemporary interface between Chicanos and American society. In this connection, the major strives to incorporate various disciplines in its approach, such as political science, sociology, anthropology, history, literary criticism, and art. Through the interdisciplinary nature of our curriculum, the major is aimed at preparing students for incorporation into the world of work and for a wide range of advanced graduate work and/or professional training in various fields.
Honors Program
The Chicano Studies program provides an option leading to the A.B. degree with honors. Students must have senior standing; a 3.5 University GPA; and a 3.5 GPA in the major. The honors thesis consists of a 6-unit research project (CHICANO H195A and CHICANO H195B). The faculty will establish criteria and grade the project. For more information, see the Chicano Studies adviser in 532 Social Sciences Building.
Minor Program
The department offers a minor in Chicano Studies. For further information regarding how to declare the minor, please see the department's website.
Other Majors and Minors Offered by the Department of Ethnic Studies
In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.
General Guidelines
All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for graded credit, other than courses listed which are offered on a Pass/No Pass basis only. Other exceptions to this requirement are noted as applicable.
No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs, with the exception of minors offered outside of the College of Letters & Science.
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in both upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.
For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.
Field Study in Chicano Studies [1-3] (4 units total)
Minor Requirements
Students who have a strong interest in an area of study outside their major often decide to complete a minor program. These programs have set requirements and are noted officially on the transcript in the memoranda section, but are not noted on diplomas.
General Guidelines
All minors must be declared no later than one semester before a student's Expected Graduation Term (EGT). If the semester before EGT is fall or spring, the deadline is the last day of RRR week. If the semester before EGT is summer, the deadline is the final Friday of Summer Sessions. To declare a minor, contact the department advisor for information on requirements, and the declaration process.
All courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements below must be taken for graded credit.
A minimum of three of the upper division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for courses used to fulfill the minor requirements.
Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth requirement, for Letters and Science students.
No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.
All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which you plan to graduate. If you cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time, please see a College of Letters & Science adviser.
All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling. (For further information regarding the unit ceiling, please see the College Requirements tab.)
Selected Topics in Chicanx/Latinx Studies - Study Abroad
5-6
One approved course from another department or EAP
College Requirements
Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.
For detailed lists of courses that fulfill college requirements, please review the College of Letters & Sciences page in this Guide. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages.
All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley.
The American History and Institutions requirements are based on the principle that a US resident graduated from an American university, should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.
All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.
College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements
The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course.
The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work.
In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses by the end of their second semester and a second-level course by the end of their fourth semester.
College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements
The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.
Unit Requirements
120 total units
Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units
Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department
Residence Requirements
For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes here for four years. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you go abroad for a semester or year or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.
Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.
Senior Residence Requirement
After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your BA degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.
You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.
Modified Senior Residence Requirement
Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.
Upper Division Residence Requirement
You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.
Student Learning Goals
Learning Goals of the Major
Undergraduates are expected to obtain the following skills by the time they graduate. These skills belong to five different general areas: historical knowledge, empirical knowledge and quantitative methods, interpretation and qualitative analysis, theory and critique, and community service. They are:
Historical Knowledge
Familiarity with the history of modern Western civilization, including European expansion, conquest, and enslavement.
Specific knowledge of the modern history of at least three different ethno-racial groups.
Acquaintance with debates in historiography, particularly as they relate to the use of history in relation to the understanding of people of color.
For students who specialize in history, proper use of primary and secondary historical sources, as well as the writing of scholarly historical work.
Empirical Knowledge and Quantitative Methods
Familiarity with different methods of gathering empirical data about human communities (anthropological, sociological, etc.).
Knowledge of critical debates about the use and implications of traditional methods of gathering empirical data to obtain knowledge about communities of color.
Identification of proper methods to conduct research, and awareness of the limits and possibilities of such methods.
Creative use, delimitation, and expansion of methods of empirical and quantitative study based on the nature of the problems and questions addressed in the research as well as the object of study.
Interpretation and Qualitative Analysis
Acquaintance with major methods and debates in the humanities.
Familiarity with the art, film, literature, or music of at least three different ethno-racial groups.
Identification of proper methods to conduct research about the creative products of human communities, and ethno-racial communities in particular.
Creative use, delimitation, and expansion of methods of qualitative analysis based on the nature of the problems and questions addressed in the research as well as the object of study.
Theory and Critique
Familiarity with major theories of race and ethnicity and their intersections and constitutive relations with class, gender, and sexuality.
Acquaintance with theories of space and place, including indigeneity, Diaspora, migration, and nation, as well as their use in determining the unit of analysis.
Use of comparison and contrast for evaluating and producing theory as well as for critical analysis.
Creative use of philosophies and theories that are relevant to the understanding and critical analysis of the social contexts, interpersonal dynamics, and multiple creative productions of ethno-racial communities.
Service Learning
Further refinement and enrichment of the above listed skills in settings where the students interact with communities of color and/or their productions.
Major Map
Major Maps help undergraduate students discover academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities at UC Berkeley based on intended major or field of interest. Developed by the Division of Undergraduate Education in collaboration with academic departments, these experience maps will help you:
Explore your major and gain a better understanding of your field of study
Connect with people and programs that inspire and sustain your creativity, drive, curiosity and success
Discover opportunities for independent inquiry, enterprise, and creative expression
Engage locally and globally to broaden your perspectives and change the world
Reflect on your academic career and prepare for life after Berkeley
Use the major map below as a guide to planning your undergraduate journey and designing your own unique Berkeley experience.
We strive to deliver personalized advising services of the highest quality. We seek to continuously educate ourselves on developments in our field and to evaluate, improve, and streamline our services to support students in obtaining the best education and experience possible.
Advising Staff and Advising Hours
Dewey St. Germaine: Monday through Friday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m., or by appointment deweystg@berkeley.edu
530 Social Sciences Building
510-643-6420
Laura Jimenez-Olvera: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m., and Friday, 1:30 to 5 p.m., or by appointment lauraj@berkeley.edu
532 Social Sciences Building
510-642-0243
Mailing Address
Department of Ethnic Studies
506 Social Sciences Building
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-2570
Academic Opportunities
Berkeley Connect in Ethnic Studies
Berkeley Connect in Ethnic Studies matches interested students with ethnic studies graduate student mentors in a semester-long, 1 unit program that includes individual advising, small-group discussions, special events and excursions. Through this program, you will become part of a community of like-minded faculty, mentors, and students that will provide a supportive environment in which to exchange and discuss ideas and goals. Berkeley Connect will help you to make the most of your time at the university as you learn more about the majors offered through the Department of Ethnic Studies. For further information, please see the Berkeley Connect website.
Study Abroad
The Chicano/Latino Studies program encourages all undergraduate majors to consider study abroad opportunities. Whether you are interested in fulfilling major and/or general education requirements, taking courses related to a future career, improving or learning language skills, or simply living and studying in a country that is of interest to you, we will work with you to make it happen. For information about study abroad programs, please see the Berkeley Study Abroad website.
Prizes and Awards
The Department of Ethnic Studies offers the Dr. Carlos Munoz Jr. Scholar/Activist Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded each semester and recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership and activism in their community on and off campus.
Courses
Chicano/Latino Studies
Terms offered: Summer 1998 10 Week Session, Summer 1997 10 Week Session, Summer 1995 10 Week Session
To acquaint Summer Bridge students with methods of expository discourse through the reading of Chicano literature. An introduction to writing, begining with sentence structure, with an emphasis on unity, coherence, and overall organizational of a full composition. Reading and Composition: Read More [+]
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020
Course will acquaint students with methods of expository discourse through the reading of Chicano/a literature. An introduction to writing, beginning with sentence structure, with an emphasis on unity, coherence, and overall organization of a full composition. Satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition Requirement. Reading and Composition: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing Requirement
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Terms offered: Summer 2006 10 Week Session, Summer 2005 10 Week Session
Course will acquaint students with methods of expository discourse through the reading of Chicano literature. An introduction to writing, beginning with sentence structure, with an emphasis on unity, coherence, and overall organization of a full composition. Satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement. Reading and Composition: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing Requirement
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 4 hours of discussion per week
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020
This course examines literary works by Chicano/a writers in their political and social contexts. Emphasis is on literary interpretation and sustained analytical writing. The course aims to develop students' fluency in writing longer and more complex papers, with specific attention to the development of their research skills and their ability to incorporate source material effectively. Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition Requirement. Reading and Composition: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Previously passed an R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Previously passed an articulated R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Score a 4 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Literature and Composition. Score a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition. Score of 5, 6, or 7 on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination in English
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week
Terms offered: Summer 2005 10 Week Session, Summer 2004 10 Week Session, Summer 2003 10 Week Session
Continuation of Spanish 1 in the area of grammar. Special emphasis on increasing vocabulary and developing functional fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish. Focus on conversational practice of everyday situations, supplemented by language laboratory work. Further study and discussion of different aspects of Latin American culture. Intensive Elementary Spanish Language and Latin American Culture: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Spanish 1 or two years of high school Spanish
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Summer 2005 10 Week Session, Summer 2004 10 Week Session, Summer 2003 10 Week Session
An intensive Spanish language immersion course in Mexico with a review and enrichment of grammar and vocabulary, and practice in composition. This course will also present an overview of Mexican culture including historical, geographical, and economic aspects, as well as literature, art, music, and folklore, with special focus on family life and direct social contact. Particular emphasis will be placed on the period from independence to the present. Intensive Intermediate Spanish Language and Mexican Culture: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 6B or three semesters of Spanish or consent of instructor. 6B or three semesters of spanish or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Summer: 4 weeks - 19 hours of lecture per week 6 weeks - 12 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020
An introduction to the cultural life of Chicanos with its regional differences. Key themes are the symbols and cultural norms created by the historical interaction between Chicanos and American society as expressed in literature, art, music, and folklore. Attention will also be given to change and continuity in Chicano cultural norms on the basis of historical events. Introduction to Chicano Culture: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2015
The Freshman Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small-seminar setting. Freshman seminars are offered in all campus departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Enrollment limited to 15 freshmen. Freshman Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of seminar per week
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Priority given to freshmen and sophomores
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1.5-2 hours of seminar per week
Terms offered: Fall 2013, Spring 2013, Fall 2012
Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Priority given to freshmen and sophomores
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1.5-4 hours of seminar per week
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Spring 2021
The course will introduce students to modern Chicano literature written in English, and will provide necessary background for understanding more specialized courses in the area. Introduction to Chicano Literature in English: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019
A critical analysis of the Latino political experience in the United States. The course compares and contrasts the ideologies, political organizations, and political leadership in the Mexican American, Cuban American, Puerto Rican, and Central American communities. The contemporary issues confronting Latinos are critically examined. Latino Politics: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015
Supervised independent field experience in the community relevant to specific aspects of Chicano studies. Field Study in Chicano Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Open to freshmen and sophomores only. Consent of instructor
Credit Restrictions: Enrollment is restricted; see the Introduction to Courses and Curricula section of this catalog.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of fieldwork per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-7.5 hours of fieldwork per week 10 weeks - 1.5-4.5 hours of fieldwork per week
Terms offered: Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018
Group study of selected topics which will vary from semester to semester. Supervised Group Study: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Open to freshmen and sophomores only
Credit Restrictions: Enrollment is restricted; see the Introduction to Courses and Curricula section of this catalog.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of directed group study per week
Terms offered: Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2022, Summer 2021 Second 6 Week Session
For the last 30 years, the themes of identity and liberation have dominated the social ethic and religious thought of subaltern subjectivities in the Americas. The centrality of these ideas respond to the increasing awareness of and opposition to the legacies of the history of conquest, colonization, racism, and sexism in the region. In this course, we are going to study the intellectual production of various ethnic groups in the Americas, particularly Latinas and Latinos in the 20th century, in order to clarify the ties between concerns for cultural and religious identity and the articulation of alternative ethical and political visions. Latina/o Philosophy and Religious Thought: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session, Fall 2021
A survey of Mexican and Chicano art from Mesoamerican period to contemporary Chicano art. Special focus on the mural movements and the relationship between artistic production and the development of Chicano symbols and cultural production. Mexican and Chicano Art History: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Fall 2011, Spring 2008, Spring 2007
What is Chicano music? When did it begin? Who are considered Chicano musicians? How has Chicano music changed in relationship to the historical changes in the Chicano community? How has Chicano music helped shape and been shaped by popular music and popular culture? How has Chicano music been a music accommodation and/or resistance? What role have Chicano artists/musicians played as cultural workers? Does Chicano music have a political agenda? How have Chicano artists and recording companies fared in the music industry? These are a few of the questions we will explore in this course. Course goals and objectives will be accomplished through readings, research, guest lectures, performance, film, and listening to Chicano music. Classroom discourse will be the key ingredient to the success of this course. Chicano Music: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Terms offered: Summer 2020 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session, Fall 2018
This course examines narrative films primarily of the 1970s and 1980s that deal with the Latino/Chicano experience and the influences that shaped the views reflected in those cinematic works. Films produced in the U.S. and in Latin America will be encompassed in the course, as well as experimental and independent productions. Latino Narrative Film: to the 1980s: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020
This course examines major narrative films produced since the 1980s that deal with the Latino/Chicano experience and the influences that shaped the views reflected in those cinematic works. Films produced in the U.S. and in Latin America will be encompassed by the course. Latino Narrative Film Since 1990: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Summer 2022 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2021 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2019
This course examines documentary films that are Latino-produced and/or Latino-based in content. The course will emphasize documentary film analysis and interpretation, taking into account the influences of both U.S. and Latin American cinema; alternative media, docudrama, pod-casts, and the like will also be discussed. Latino Documentary Film: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Fall 2012, Spring 2011, Spring 2010
Critical analysis of the works of major Chicano Playwrights, Poets and Fiction Writers. Major Chicano Writers: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 40
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013
A study of the relationships and parallel aspects between Latin American and Chicano literature. Emphasis on the literature of protest as a constant underlying current from the Conquest to the present. Chicano and Latin American Literature: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 40 recommended
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Spring 2022
The course examines the historical and contemporary experiences of Latinxs in the United States. It draws primarily from the social sciences to explore U.S. Latinx experiences and identity across national origin groups, immigrant generations, and colonial time periods. Themes include conceptualizations of Spanish/American settler colonialism, the US Border, panethnicity, racialization and categorization of Latinos, immigration and deportation, social movements, and acculturation. Latina/o/x Sociology: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Sociology 1, 3AC, or the consent of the instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week
Terms offered: Spring 2016
Latinas/os have long been the object of intellectual thought: they have been written about, they have been studied and quantified, and quite often not in positive terms. In this course, we will turn Latinas/os from objects of discourse to subjects of discourse, as active participants in intellectual thought. Our goal will be to explore how Latinas/os have reflected critically upon and written about their position as Latinas/os within the United States. In doing so, we will counter the general notion that Latina/o intellectual thought is, at best, a recent phenomenon or, at worst, non-existent. The History of Latina/o Studies: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: To explore recurring themes and debates among Latina/o intellectuals and academics. To historicize the emergence of Latina/o studies and to explore their divergences and convergences. To provide a framework for understanding the field of Latina/o studies.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020
This course provides an overview of Mexican immigration to the United States. The relationship between immigration and Chicano community formation will be examined. Issues addressed include settlement patterns, socialization, educational aspiration, identity transformation, and historical changes. Mexican Immigration: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020
A comparative survey of the peoples and cultures of the countries of the Central American Isthmus from a historical and contemporary perspective. Central American Peoples and Cultures: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Spring 2014, Fall 2012, Spring 2011, Fall 2004
A comparative survey of the peoples and cultures of the seven countries of the Central American Isthmus from a historical and contemporary perspective. Central American Peoples and Cultures: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A critical examination of the role played by the United States in Central America from the 19th Century to the present. The focus will be on trends in U.S. policy, including an assessment of current policy alternatives in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and the impact of those policies in Latinos in the United States. The U.S. Role in Central America: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Terms offered: Fall 2021, Fall 2019, Fall 2018
The main goal of this course is to offer a broad and comprehensive understanding of the Caribbean migration experience to the United States. We will cover crucial issues such as the migration origins, modes of incorporation, racism, cultural/identity strategies, and the political-economic relationship between the country of origin and the metropolitan host society. To understand the specificity of Caribbean migrants to the USA, it is fundamental to understand the regional Caribbean migration circuits to Western Europe. Thus, the course will provide a comparative perspective with Caribbean migrations to Western Europe. Caribbean Migration to Western Europe and the United States: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Fall 2016, Spring 2016
This course examines the contested formation of Cuban identity, where the questions of race and the relationship to the United States have constituted fundamental issues in the debate over the meaning of Cubanidad. The course will address the ways in which Cuba dealt with the issue of race and national identity after the revolution of 1959, as well as, for the Cuban emigre community in the United States. Issues of gender, class, and cultural expression will be crucial elements of analysis throughout the course. Cuba, the United States and Cuban Americans: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Summer 2021 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2021
An examination of the historical and contemporary relationship between the educational system and the Mexican community in the United States; the history of schooling practices within the Mexican population as a backdrop to an examination of the current educational conditions of the Chicano students; the different historical trends in the education of Chicanos including alternative schools, bilingual education, school segregation, and higher education. Chicanos and the Educational System: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 70 recommended
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Summer 2020 First 6 Week Session
An examination of the development and function of law, the organization and administration of criminal justice, and their effects in the Chicano community; response to these institutions by Chicanos. Chicanos, Law, and Criminal Justice: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chicano 70 recommended
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Spring 1982
This course will review various theories that explore the relationship between environmental drivers and
socio-economic outcomes as they relate to the Latinx community. In addition, the course will use case
studies to illustrate methodological approaches and topic specific impacts of environmental conditions on
socioeconomic outcomes. Topics such as climate change adaptation, agricultural labor chemical exposure,
access to clean water, the impact of education on environmental outcomes and others areas will be
explored. Environmental equity and justice will permeate and are fundamentally integrated in all topics as
they address the Latinx communities. LATINX AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: To become familiar with environmental drivers affecting Latinx communities in CA and the US,
including its different segments: labor, entrepreneurs, urban and rural dwellers, different
demographic segments, gender, other. To incorporate theoretical and practical issues related to environmental justice and equity into
the analysis of the impact of environmental drivers on the different segments of the Latinx
population in CA and the US To prepare a paper that analyses the impact of environmental drivers and possible courses of
action that improve environmental conditions for the Latinx segment of the US population. To prepare two policy briefs that explain in a concise and precise manner what are the action
options to change the trajectory of negative impacts of environmental drivers in the Latinx
community. Policy briefs are to be topic specific.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020
Relationship of the health care delivery system in the U.S. to the Chicano community. To include an examination and understanding of the concept of mental health as defined by Chicanos. Analysis of program alternatives and the Chicano response to health care problems and issues. Chicanos and Health Care: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 70 recommended
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021
Topics in Latino/a-related art, history and contemporary issues, such as neighborhood development (e.g., Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland, Mission district of San Francisco), mural arts movements, Spanish-language media, labor history, unionization efforts, immigration, demographic shifts, regional economic and/or social history, and transnational communities. Course topics will vary with the expertise of the particular instructor. Topics in Chicano Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 6 weeks - 2.5-7.5 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 2-7.5 hours of lecture per week 10 weeks - 1.5-6 hours of lecture per week 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-7.5 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020
This course will introduce students to specific Chicana/Latina, Native, Asian, & African American art history and cultural practices developed as an essential aesthetic of art made by Artists of Color in the Bay Area. Focus is placed on the politics, ideas, and methods for working in community that are still viable and integral to current art practice with a commitment to social justice. The course will offer hands-on experience in community schools and organizations. Art experience welcome but not required. Topics in Chicano Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the American Cultures requirement
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of fieldwork per week
Terms offered: Summer 2005 10 Week Session, Summer 2004 10 Week Session, Summer 2003 10 Week Session
This course, taught in Spain, is designed primarily to permit instructors to deal with topics with which they are especially concerned; subject matter usually is more restricted than that of a regular course. Topics in Chicano Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Summer: 4 weeks - 15 hours of lecture per week 6 weeks - 15 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Summer 2021 Second 6 Week Session
This study abroad course is designed primarily to permit instructors to deal with topics with which they are especially concerned; subject matter usually is more restricted than that of a regular course. Selected Topics in Chicanx/Latinx Studies - Study Abroad: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Terms offered: Fall 2017
The purpose of the Casa Magdalena Mora Seminar is to assist Casistas (i.e. Casa Mora residents) with their transition to student and academic life at UC Berkeley, and more importantly engage them in a critical and analytical dialogue and research for issues affecting Chican@ and Latin@ communities. This course is open to everyone. Casa Mora Theme Program Seminar: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part one of a year long series course. A provisional grade of IP (in progress) will be applied and later replaced with the final grade after completing part two of the series. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
The purpose of the Casa Magdalena Mora Seminar is to assist Casistas (i.e. Casa Mora residents) with their transition to student and academic life at UC Berkeley, and more importantly engage them in a critical and analytical dialogue and research for issues affecting Chican@ and Latin@ communities. This course is open to everyone. Case Mora Theme Program Seminar: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part two of a year long series course. Upon completion, the final grade will be applied to both parts of the series. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2016, Fall 2015, Fall 2014
Course for senior Chicano Studies majors designed to support and guide the writing of a senior honors thesis. For senior Chicano Studies majors who have been approved for the honors program. Senior Honors Thesis for Chicano Studies Majors: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Senior standing. Approval of Faculty Advisor, 3.5 GPA on all University work, and a 3.5 GPA in courses in the major
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of independent study per week
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part one of a year long series course. A provisional grade of IP (in progress) will be applied and later replaced with the final grade after completing part two of the series. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014
Course for senior Chicano Studies majors designed to support and guide the writing of a senior honors thesis. For senior Chicano Studies majors who have been approved for the honors program. Senior Honors Thesis for Chicano Studies Majors: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Senior standing. Approval of Faculty Advisor, 3.5 GPA on all University work, and a 3.5 GPA in courses in the major
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of independent study per week
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part two of a year long series course. Upon completion, the final grade will be applied to both parts of the series. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015
Supervised fieldwork experience with campus and community organizations related to the vision and mission of Chicano Studies. This University organized and supervised field program is an opportunity for students to think critically about the work of engaged scholarship through their participation a variety of community-based activities and events. Students will be required to meet regularly with a faculty sponsor and submit a final project. Field Study in Chicano Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-9 hours of fieldwork and 0-2 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-22.5 hours of fieldwork and 0-0 hours of seminar per week 10 weeks - 4.5-13.5 hours of fieldwork and 0-0 hours of seminar per week
Terms offered: Fall 2021, Spring 2019, Fall 2018
Directed group study in Chicano Studies for advanced students. Regular meetings with faculty sponsor and written reports required. Directed Group Study: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Upper division standing; consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of directed group study per week
Terms offered: Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2015
Independent work for advanced students in Chicano Studies. Regular individual meetings with faculty sponsor and written reports required. Supervised Independent Study and Research: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Upper division standing; consent of instructor
Credit Restrictions: Enrollment is restricted; see the Introduction to Courses and Curricula section of this catalog.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-10 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 1.5-6 hours of independent study per week
Raul Coronado, Associate Professor. Histories of sexuality & of the academic disciplines; Latina/o intellectual & literary history; The comparative history of writing in the colonial and 19th century Americas; Theories of modernity & postcolonialism. Research Profile
Ramon Grosfoguel, Associate Professor. Decoloniality; International Migration; Islamophobia; Political-Economy of the World-System; Racism. Research Profile
Laura E. Perez, Professor Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies & Chair, Latinx Research Center. Decolonial aesthetics; Decolonial spiritualities; Latina/o literary + visual + performance arts; Post-sixties US Women of Color Feminist and Queer Thought. Research Profile
Ray Telles, Associate Adjunct Professor. Chicana/o + Latina/o + People of Color Film; Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker. Research Profile
Affiliated Faculty
Adrian Aguilera, Professor. Developing and testing technology-based interventions to address health disparities in low-income and vulnerable populations.
Lisa Garcia Bedolla, Professor, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies, Dean of the Graduate Division.
Cati V. de los Rios, Assistant Professor of Literacy. Critical Pedagogy; Ethnography; K-12 Ethnic Studies; Latinx Family Literacy; Participatory Action Research; Translanguaging Pedagogy; Youth Corrido Literacies.
Marcial Gonzalez, Associate Professor. Chicanx farmworker literary narratives; neoliberalism and economic crises from 1970 to the late 2000s; the rise and fall of the farmworker unionization movement during the neoliberal period.
Kris D. Gutierrez, Carol Liu Professor and Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Education. Critical approaches to: learning, literacy, educational policy, qualitative and design-based approaches to community participatory inquiry, Focus on: translingual, migrant, immigrant, and nondominant youth and communities.
Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Professor in the Division of Social Sciences. Intergroup relations; Stereotyping & prejudice from the perspective of both target and perceiver.
G. Cristina Mora, Associate Professor, Co-Chair of the Institute of Governmental Studies Immigration. Questions of census racial classification; racial politics in the United States.
Kurt C. Organista, Professor. HIV prevention with Latino migrant laborers; Latino psychosocial and health problems.
Bernadette Perez, Assistant Professor. Occupying transforming and controlling the land played in the evolution of the American state; racial capitalism in the post-Civil War period.
Hector P. Rodriguez, Professor, Director of California Initiative for Health Equity and Action & for the Center for Healthcare Organizational and Innovation Research.. Organizational analysis; performance management in health care; performance management in public health organizations.
Lecturers
Jesus Barraza, MA/MFA, Lecturer. Conceptual Art; Contemporary Xicanx Art; Day of the Dead; decolonial aesthetics; Indigeneity; Latinx Art; Mexican Modern Art; Movement Art; Printmaking; Social Practice; Spirituality . Research Profile
Dr. Federico Castillo, Lecturer. Climate change; environmental economics; Migration.
Pablo Gonzalez, Continuing Lecturer. Borderlands anthropology; Chicana/o Studies; criminality and illegality; critical race theory and praxis; decolonial thought and practice; Social movements; the study of the commons; urban anthropology. Research Profile
Dr. Carmen Martinez-Calderon, Lecturer in Education. Research Profile
Emeritus Faculty
Norma Alarcon, Professor Emeritus.
Mario Barrera, Professor Emeritus. Theories of ethnicity, ethnic minority films. Research Profile
Beatriz Manz, Professor Emeritus. Latin America, human rights, peasantry, migrations, social movements, political conflict, Mayan communities in Guatemala, issues of memory, grief. Research Profile
David Montejano, Professor Emeritus. Social change, historical sociology, political sociology, community studies, race and ethnic relations. Research Profile
Carlos Jr. Munoz, Professor Emeritus. Immigration, Mexican American politics, ethnic and racial politics, multiculturalism, affirmative action. Research Profile
Alex M. Saragoza, Professor Emeritus. Ideology, modern Mexico, Latin American history, structural origins of Mexican migration, cultural formations in Mexico, Mexican cinema, radio, television. Research Profile
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