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Welcome to Mexican American Studies

MAS is the study of the Mexican American experience. MAS majors and minors will take a wide range of courses in many disciplines to study the political, cultural, social, economic, and artistic conditions and contributions of Mexican Americans, within a historical and contemporary context. Since UTPA is a Hispanic Serving Institution on the Texas-Mexico Border that enrolls nearly 19,000 students, 89% of which are classified as Mexican American or Latino, MAS is committed to providing students with a culturally affiriming education that allows them to critically asses the Mexican American experience. Such preparation is essential to students pursuing a variety of careers and who want to work effectively in and with Mexican American and Latina/o communities in almost any field. MAS students are uniquely positioned for graduate studies, law school, and other advanced degrees or a career in a variety of fields, such as law, education, government, the arts, health, social services, and many others in which they may apply their knowledge to effect positive social change in the community and beyond.

Research & Creative Activities

Dr. Catherine Ragland

Dr. Ragland studies the music of the borderlands between the United States and Mexico. Her book Música Norteña: Mexican Migrants Creating a Nation Between Nations published by Temple University Press explores the history of this musical genre while at the same time underscoring the socio-economic forces that influence it. Maria Herrera Sobek calls Dr. Ragland's study "brilliant and informative" (2010). Angie Isaak states that Música Norteña is the first definitive history of this transnational music that has found enormous commercial success in norteamérica."

Alumni Corner

Orquidea Morales

earned her Master's in Interdisciplinary Studies and Graduate Certificate in Mexican American Studies in 2011. Today, she is earning a PhD in American Culture at the University of Michigan. Read more >>

Student Spotlight

Teresa Hernández

plans to graduate from The University of Texas-Pan American with a bachelor's degree in English and a minor in Mexican American Studies in May 2012.
Read More>>

Rio Bravo
Journal of Borderlands

Río Bravo Journal is a peer reviewed journal that publishes peer-reviewed articles on the borderlands between the United States and Mexico. This goal includes the promotion of the development of a better international understanding, to help in the design and implementation of further research and new discoveries concerning the relations between the United States and México, to serve as a model for such investigations along the Rio Grande and to shed light on borderlands studies in general.

MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES AT UTPA will host 2013 NACCS Tejas Regional Conference

Tenative Dates: February 21-23, 2013

Conference Theme:

Chican@ Studies !Ahora!

Community Based Pedagogies, Scholarship, and Activism

Recent attacks on Chican@ and Ethnic Studies are also direct attacks on our communities. They are reminders of the need for academic spaces to produce knowledge about our communities and for a re-evaluation of our discipline's commitment to them. Thus, we are excited about bringing this conference to UTPA to explore these issues---we will put out call for papers very soon. Students, community residents, faculty, staff, and independent scholars/artists are encouraged to participate.

UPCOMING EVENT! EL RETORNO: OUR SERPENT'S TOUNGE

See 'Events' for more information

Eventos Y Noticias

The Smithsonian traveling exhibit Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program, 1942-1964/Cosecha amarga, cosecha dulce: El programa bracero, 1942-1964 hosted by MAS and Cosecha Voices will be at UTPA from Feb. 18 - April 29, 2012 in the Visitor's Center. For more information about the exhibit Click here

Tatcho Mindioala, Director of the Center for Mexican American Studies, was the first speaker of the Diálogos: (Re)Envisioning MAS at UTPA Series on October Other confirmed speakers include; January - Marcos Pizarro, Director of Mexican American Studies at San José State University, March-Lisa Garcia-Bedolla, Director of the Center for Latino Policy and Research at UC Berkeley, and May - Aída Hurtado, Luis Leal Endowed Chair of Chican@ Studies at UC Santa Barbara.

MAS graduated its first two students with the "Mexican American Studies" degree Summer 2011. Roberto Reyna is currently earning a Master's Degree in Mexican American Studies at San José State University with a focus on Policy. Anna Muñoz is at the University of Michigan pursuing a Master's Degree in Educational Studies with a concentration in Policy and Leadership. Both students spent their Spring semester studying abroad in Argentina. ¡Muchas felicidades, estamos muy orgullosos de l@s dos!