Mexican American Studies
Do you hold a strong interest in the early origins, experiences and deeply-held traditions of Mexican Americans? If you’d like to uncover the history and heritage that has helped shape this community’s rich identity, then you may be interested in majoring in Mexican American Studies
UTSA’s Mexican American Program
UTSA’s Mexican American Studies degree draws upon the legacy of Mexican American history and activism to teach, research and analyze its cultural origins and experiences. You’ll learn to critically analyze the legal, economic and social conditions that foster marginalization within Mexican American communities, as well as study the cultural expressions of perseverance and resistance that challenge that oppression. Earning a B.A. in Mexican American Studies will enable you to pursue a career as an educator, researcher, community leader or social advocate, and can also serve as an avenue for further study in graduate school.
What You’ll Learn
Mexican American Studies majors have a large selection of nine concentrations that they can choose from to enhance their learning experience. The concentrations available are Anthropology, Literary and Cultural Studies, History, Communities-Familes-Children, Non-profit Management, Interdisciplinary Studies, Political Science, Sociology and Spanish. Concentrations are declared after you’ve been admitted and have met with your academic advisor. Nearly 80% of MAS majors graduate with dual degrees—one in MAS and the other in a complementary field of their choice.
Academic Information:
College
College of Education & Human DevelopmentDepartment
Department of Bicultural-Bilingual StudiesDegrees Offered
Careers in Mexican American Studies
Top job titles for Mexican American Studies graduates include:
• Sales Representative
• Account Manager
• Recruiter
• Legal Assistant
• Technical Writer
• Event Planner
Mexican American Studies and its related career pathways are currently in average demand in San Antonio in the 2018-19 financial year. US States/Regions with high demand for related jobs include Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL and Washington D.C. More than 144,000 Mexican American Studies-related job opportunities existed nationwide in 2018-19.
Career Resources
UTSA’s University Career Center offers several resources to help students identify and develop the global skills necessary to successfully pursue and achieve lifelong career goals.
Industries for Mexican American Studies Graduates
Mexican American Studies is a widely applicable major as businesses and organizations across several industries require staff and services related to this major. The industries that posted the largest number of Mexican American Studies-related positions over 2018-19 included:
• Business Support Services
• Insurance Carriers
• Legal Services
• Higher Education
• Consulting Services
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Salaries for Mexican American Studies Graduates
The salary range for open Mexican American studies-related positions in the US between November 2018 and October 2019 were:
| lowest 10% | $39,183 |
| median | $64,550 |
| top 10% | $104,072 |
Source: Burning Glass
Skills and Interests for Mexican American Studies Majors
While many skills and interests translate to potential careers as a Mexican American Studies graduate, some are more commonly sought after than others. Mexican American Studies may be a good fit for you if:
• You enjoy working with others
• You enjoy learning
• You are well organized
• You are detail oriented
• You enjoy solving puzzles and problems
Scholarships Offered:
- El Patronato de la Cultura Hispanoamericana Scholarship
- Undergraduates must have minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA or better
- Graduates must have minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
- Applicants must major in Spanish, Mexican-American Studies or History
Student Life
UTSA’s Mexican American Studies degree draws upon the legacy of Mexican American history and activism to teach, research and analyze its cultural origins and experiences. You’ll learn to critically analyze the legal, economic and social conditions that foster marginalization within Mexican American communities, as well as study the cultural expressions of perseverance and resistance that challenge that oppression. Mexican American Studies majors have a large selection of nine concentrations that they can choose from to enhance their learning experience. The concentrations available are Anthropology, Literary and Cultural Studies, History, Communities-Familes-Children, Non-profit Management, Interdisciplinary Studies, Political Science, Sociology and Spanish. Students studying Mexican American Studies may consider becoming involved in:
- Mexican American Studies Student Organization
Student Spotlight
Matthew Hinojosa
Mexican American Studies & Anthropology Major