1. Graduate
  2. M.S. MAS

Masters Program Requirements

All graduate students in a Mexican American Studies program will be evaulated by MAS faculty and also by the Graduate College. The Graduate College has set minimum and essential requirements need for the completion of graduate degrees which are embedded into the MAS M.S. degree requirements.

Degree Requirements

The M.S. in Mexican American studies requires 33 units:

Core Courses

Complete 18 units.

A critical examination of Mexican American culture as portrayed in the social sciences. An assessment of the social, political, and economic factors influencing representations of Mexican Americans.
This course will examine immigration from Mexico to the U.S. The course focuses on current immigration issues such as the economic assimilation of immigrants, as well as other social issues.
A public health perspective in examining health and mental health issues affecting Latinos residing in the U.S., with particular emphasis on Mexican Americans.
Targeted for graduate students across campus, this course will focus on the study of Chicana/Latina perspectives that include feminisms, womanisms, and standpoints. The course will engage these perspectives from (her)storical, theoretical, empirical, and literary texts. The course will ground the application of these perspectives in educational research so as to enable participants to subsequently relate the ideas to their respective research areas like in public health or history.
Designed to provide students with an exposure to qualitative and quantitative decision-making methods, focusing on the Mexican American population. Graduate-level requirements include a research project.
Students will enroll in an MAS course based on their M.S. specialization.

Elective Courses

Complete 9 units. 

See elective course options in the MAS Handbook. Look for courses taught by MAS core faculty, affiliated faculty and courses offered in the following departments:

  • Anthropology
  • College of Public Health
  • Gender and Women's Studies
  • History
  • Language, Reading, and Cultures
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Spanish and Portuguese
  • Teaching and Teacher Education

Thesis or Oral Examination

Students must complete 6 units by writing a thesis paper or presenting three 15-paged papers written in MAS courses in an oral presentation to MAS committee members.

Students choosing to complete a thesis will enroll in 6 units of MAS 910 (thesis coursework).

Students choosing to complete an oral examination will enroll in 6 additional elective units.

Required Forms

All of the forms requried will be submitted online through GradPath, which will be routed for approval through the department, your advisor, and the Graduate College. To access GradPath, the student will need to visit UAccess > Advising > GradPath > GradPath Forms. Contact the MAS Degree Counselor for GradPath Support: Hayley Kral (hayleykral@arizona.edu).

The Responsible Conduct of Research Statement is submitted on GradPath. The form will need to be submited in order to continue on to the other forms. 

Students in the M.S. program must complete a "Master's Plan of Study" form by the end of the first year in consultation with their Major Advisor. The form is submitted on GradPath.

Students can also use this template to outline your plan to discuss with your advisor before filling out the form on GradPath.You can also visit the FAQs page on the Graduate College page. 

Students who are writing a thesis, the student will need to report the thesis committee on this form. Students will need to enter the Thesis Title and the three committee members who will be evaluating the Thesis. 

Students who are choosing to the Oral presentation option, the student will enter the three committee members on the form. 

The student will start the form by submiting it and will move on to the committee members to confirm a successful completition.