BA in Chicano Studies in Riverside United States | University of California, Riverside

The Chicana/o Studies program explores the historical and modern experiences of Mexican-descent individuals in the U.S., examining their connections to both Mexico and the United States through a comparative lens. As the majority of births in California and comprising approximately two-thirds of all Latinos—the nation's largest racial/ethnic group—Chicanas/os represent an Indio/Mestizo population with a vibrant, multifaceted heritage encompassing language, culture, and history, deeply rooted in Mexico, the American Southwest, and Indigenous American communities.
The Chicana/o Studies curriculum offers an in-depth exploration of the Chicana/o experience from historical and modern viewpoints. Aimed at cultivating awareness and respect for Chicanas/os' significant societal contributions, the program emphasizes their history, culture, arts, and music while drawing parallels with Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Central Americans, and other Latino groups, as well as African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans.
The program also addresses key areas such as education, employment, housing, voting rights, and legal issues, alongside pressing contemporary challenges facing the Chicana/o community—immigration, politics, identity, border dynamics, bilingual/bicultural education, gender equity, economic conditions, anti-immigrant sentiment, the English-Only movement, family structures, and community development.
This major pursues three core objectives:

Delivering a diverse, comparative curriculum on Chicana/o culture, history, and experiences for the broader academic community
Equipping students with critical perspectives to thrive in multicultural workplaces and linguistically diverse settings
Preparing graduates for advanced studies in fields like ethnic studies, law, education, urban planning, sociology, government, social work, counseling, labor organizations, and community development