Chicana and Chicano Studies
Associate of Arts Degree Chicana and Chicano Studies · San Diego Mesa College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Summary
The Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies offers a dynamic, innovative program that emphasizes an interdisciplinary and comparative approach to understanding the historical experiences and contemporary social realities of Chicana/os as the largest segment of the Latino population in the United States. Critical thinking and effective oral and written communication skills are integrated across the curriculum which incorporates the arts and literature, gender studies, border studies, cultural studies, history, the social sciences, and policy studies. Students earning a degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies may pursue careers in education, humanities, law, social work, business, the arts, public administration, ethnic studies and more.
Award Note: The Associate Degree requires a minimum of 60 degree applicable semester units.
Learning Outcome(s): Students who complete the Chicana and Chicano Studies Program will be able to:
- Think critically in reading, writing, and/or speaking about topics in Chicano/a Studies, with a focus on the multiple historical factors that have contributed to the origins of the Chicano/a community in the United States, thereby identifying problems, theses, arguments, evidence and conclusions.
- Write or speak about topics in Chicano/a Studies, with a focus on understanding and communicating the Chicano/a alternative world view as expressed in history, literature and art, thereby addressing problems, formulating theses, making arguments, analyzing and weighing evidence, and deriving conclusions.
- Demonstrate an ability to understand one’s role in society, take responsibility for one’s own actions, and make ethical decisions in complex situations.
- Analyze one’s own actions, see others’ perspectives, and work effectively with others in groups.
- Analyze the development of the contemporary Chicano/a community in the United States by articulating similarities and contrasts among cultures, times, and environments, and demonstrate an understanding of cultural pluralism.
Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| COURSES REQUIRED FOR THE MAJOR: | 15 | |
| CHIC 110A | Introduction to Chicana and Chicano Studies | 3 |
| CHIC 141A | United States History from a Chicano Perspective | 3 |
| CHIC 141B | United States History from a Chicano Perspective | 3 |
| CHIC 170 | La Chicana | 3 |
| CHIC 130 | Mexican Literature in Translation | 3 |
| orCHIC 135 | Chicana/o Literature | 3 |
| orCHIC 138 | Literature of La Raza in Latin America in Translation | 3 |
| Select three to five units (one course) from the following: | 3-5 | |
| CHIC 110B | Introduction to Chicana and Chicano Studies | 3 |
| CHIC 140 | Chicana/o Sociology | 3 |
| CHIC 150 | History of Mexico | 3 |
| CHIC 155 | Introduction to Central American Studies | 3 |
| CHIC 190 | Chicano Images in Film | 3 |
| CHIC 201 | The Indigenous Tradition of Mexico and Ancient Mesoamerica | 3 |
| CHIC 210 | Chicano Culture | 3 |
| CHIC 230 | Chicano Art | 3 |
| CHIC 250 | Introduction to Chicana/o Dramatic Art | 3 |
| SPAN 101 | First Course in Spanish | 5 |
| SPAN 102 | Second Course in Spanish | 5 |
| SPAN 201 | Third Course in Spanish | 5 |
| SPAN 202 | Fourth Course in Spanish | 5 |
| SPAN 215 | Spanish for Spanish Speakers I | 5 |
| SPAN 216 | Spanish for Spanish Speakers II | 5 |