Gain an advanced understanding of Chicana/o and Latina/o histories, politics, culture, language and education with a master's in Chicano and Chicana studies.
Why Earn a Master's in Chicano and Chicana Studies?
California and the U.S. as a whole need engaged leaders who can critically analyze complex social issues and serve as advocates for social change in Chicana/Chicano communities.
A master's degree gives you an appreciation of the Chicana/o people, their history and their culture, and an understanding of how to work with this fast-growing community.
A master's degree prepares you for a traditional academic career, but also for careers in advocacy, the arts and related professions in which advanced knowledge of Mexican American and Latina/o studies is crucial.
Why Study Chicano and Chicana Studies at CSUN?
A Powerhouse Program
CSUN's Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies is the largest of its kind in the country, housing 25 full-time and 35 part-time professors. Between 160-170 class sections are offered every semester.
A Comprehensive Approach
Our program provides you with in-depth knowledge of Chicana/o history, culture, arts, language and sociopolitical issues. You'll develop a critical understanding of the role of the creative and performance arts in the expression of Chicana/o identities and social issues.
Commitment to Community
We emphasize leadership skills that will assist you in promoting social change in Chicana/o communities as well as the broader society.
Preparation for a Global World
Our program prepares U.S. students as well as exchange and foreign students to critically assess cultural expression, power relations, intellectual inquisitiveness and the process of student and community self-actualization in an increasingly global world.
What You'll Learn
The online M.A. program will develop your ability to think critically, analytically and creatively about the Chicana/o experience in the local and global society. During your first year, you'll take seminars in:
- Chicana/o Studies
- Social Sciences and the Chicana/o
- The Humanities and the Chicana/o
- Chicana/o Studies Research Methods
You'll then choose six additional elective courses, such as:
- Studies in the Education of the Chicana/o
- Seminar in Chicana/o and the Arts
- Advanced Fieldwork in the Barrio
- Selected Graduate Topics in Chicana/o Studies
- Performance and Identity
- Xicana Visual Art
Careers & Outcomes
Our graduates have gone on to careers in education, mass media, marketing, community development, community organizing, social work, medicine, law and a wide variety of positions in federal and local government. Below are sample job titles and some of the places our graduates work.
Job Titles
- Professor
- Nonprofit Administrator
- Visual Artist
Employers
- L.A. Community College District
- TreePeople
- Four-Year Universities
Admission Information
To be considered for admission to CSUN as a master’s student, you will need to:
- Meet university requirements.
- Meet department requirements for the Master of Arts in Chicano and Chicana Studies.
- Apply to both the university and the specific graduate program of interest.
Learn more about applying for a master's program at CSUN.