Program Overview
The University of New Mexico is pleased to offer a 12-credit hour transcripted graduate certificate in Chicana and Chicano Studies. The graduate certificate program offers an exploration of the field including the unique cultural, historical, political and social development of Chicana and Chicano communities in New Mexico. The certificate is a "stand-alone" program that is available to UNM graduate students, graduate students from other colleges or universities, or community members who have completed at least a bachelor's degree program. It is designed as an area of specialization for students pursuing a Master's degree or Doctorate in disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, fine arts, or professional disciplines. The graduate certificate will provide students with professional academic skills designed to enhance their job and career prospects.
Chicana and Chicano Studies is also known as Mexican-American Studies. It is also one component of Latino Studies offered at other colleges and universities in the United States. UNM's Chicana and Chicano Studies program is designed to enhance our student's analytical, critical thinking, communication, cross cross-cultural competency, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Similar to other Ethnic Studies types programs, Chicana and Chicano Studies provides students with a grounding in social justice and community-based advocacy. The online Chicana and Chicano Studies graduate certificate program is a good foundation for pursuing a graduate degree in law, the humanities, or the social sciences. For those wishing to pursue a Latino Studies graduate program, the online graduate certificate program in Chicana and Chicano Studies will prepare students for graduate school success.
Disclosures
All online and distance education is protected by federal regulations and policies. For details on how, refer to the following resources: State Authorization, Disclosures, Accreditation and Complaint Resolution.Admissions
Tuition and Fees
The total cost per credit hour is $480.76 and is comprised of: $428.12 base tuition + $52.64 college differential. There is a student technology fee charged each semester. The fee is $150 in the Fall, $150 in the Spring, and $20 in the Summer. There may be additional costs, depending on the class. Additional costs are often for textbooks, supplemental course materials, and proctoring fees.
Admission Requirements
Applicants should complete and submit an online application. As part of the application, students will need to provide the following documentation:
- A substantive letter of intent (3-5 double-spaced pages) summarizing prior academic training and explaining current academic and professional objectives. The letter of intent should focus on scholarly and research interests and how they relate to the field of Chicana and Chicano Studies.
- One letter of recommendation.
- Transcript(s) from the institution where the student received their BA and/or MA degree(s).
For more information on these requirements see the application guidelines for the graduate certificate in Chicana and Chicano Studies.
To apply for the program, in the Program of Interest section of the UNM Graduate Admissions Application, select the following:
College/School: College of Arts and Sciences
Department: Chicana/o Studies
Program/Major: Chicana/o Studies
Degree: GCERT Chicana and Chicano Studies
Interest: Certificate Only (Online Only)
Degree Requirements
The Chicana and Chicano Studies graduate certificate program is a stand-alone program available to students who have completed a bachelor's degree. The transcripted graduate certificate program requires 12 hours of graduate-level coursework. Students must complete 50% of the courses required after admission to the certificate program. Students must receive at least a 3.0 GPA in all courses.
Program Coursework
The UNM Chicana and Chicano Studies Department offers a graduate certificate in Chicana and Chicano Studies for UNM and non-UNM students as a stand-alone program. The graduate certificate provides students the opportunity to complete a program that addresses themes and content related to topics such as:
- gender and sexuality
- race and ethnicity
- arts and culture
- political and social mobilization
- immigration and citizenship
- history and heritage
- land grant studies
- Chicana and Women of Color feminisms
- queer studies
The program consists of 12 credit hours of graduate-level coursework in Chicana and Chicano Studies. The following courses are available in an 8-week Accelerated Online format for the graduate certificate:
Chicana and Chicano Studies Courses
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| CCS 530 | Transnational Latina Feminisms | 3 |
| CCS 564 | Raza Genders and Sexualities | 3 |
| CCS 580 | New Approaches in Chicana and Chicano Studies | 3 |
| CCS 586 | Chicanos and Latinos in a Global Society | 3 |
| CCS 590 | Advanced Seminar in Chicana and Chicano Studies | 3 |
Select four courses from the list, in consultation with an advisor.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate certificate for Chicana and Chicano Studies has the following learning outcomes:
- Students will draw on diverse gendered, social, historical, economic, and cultural perspectives to evaluate the historical and contemporary conditions, issues, and challenges facing diverse Mexican descent populations.
- Students will analyze intersectionality so as to understand the impact of the social construction of race, class, gender, and sexuality as related to diverse Chicana/o, and Latina/o communities in national and transnational contexts.
- Students will evaluate the applicability and relevance of theories and approaches to Chicana/o experiences and to the discipline.
