The Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies major offers a systematic and interdisciplinary analysis of Mexican- and Latin-American-origin people, cultures, and collectivities within the United States. The Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies major is designed to provide students with a broad knowledge base and the intellectual tools to understand the unity and diversity of those people and cultures, both historically and in the contemporary period, as they explore the central questions and topics that have emerged in this interdisciplinary field. The Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies curriculum enables students to engage with the history, experience, arts, literature, cultural production, and social lives of communities of Latin American descent in the United States, developing their capacities for civic and community engagement as well as research, writing, and analytical skills. Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies graduates are equipped to include and engage with diverse perspectives as they pursue careers in such fields as education, social service, communications, publishing, business, journalism, agriculture, engineering, the arts, construction, and the health professions.

Note: The endings “x” and “e” in “Chicanx/e and Latinx/e” represent two gender-neutral ways of referring to people of Latin American descent in the United States.

How to Get in

To declare the Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies (CLS) major, a student should set up an appointment with the CLS advisor. It is recommended that students declare the major as early as possible to plan the required coursework. There are no specific courses that must be completed before declaration.

Students declared in the Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies Certificate may not be declared in the Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies major at the same time. Students who do wish to declare this major must first cancel their declaration into the Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies Certificate.

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.

College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science curriculum.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major

Non–L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.

Requirements for the Major

The major requires a minimum of 30 credits and the specific requirements include: 

Residence and Quality of Work 

• 2.000 GPA in all CHICLA and major courses
• 2.000 GPA on at least 15 credits of upper-level work in the major, in residence.  Upper-level in the major includes CHICLA courses numbered 300 and above and courses that count for the major that are designated as Intermediate or Advanced level.
• 15 credits in CHICLA taken in residence on the UW-Madison campus

University Degree Requirements

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and analyze core concepts, important social and political issues, and key artistic and cultural expressions related to Chicana/o and Latina/o life in the United States.
2. Discuss the histories of Chicanas/os and Latinas/os in the United States and their implications for contemporary problems of racialization, social stratification, colonialism, and oppression.
3. Describe the commonalities and differences among Chicanas/os and Latinas/os along lines of class, gender, race, sexuality, citizenship, and national origin, and evaluate Latinidad as a pan-ethnic category in the United States.
4. Analyze relations between Chicanas/os and Latinas/os in the United States and their countries of heritage from a transnational and transborder perspective.
5. Apply ideas from Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies to concrete problems through service-learning and community-based research, in a spirit of dialogue and reciprocal exchange informed by ethical and social justice principles.

Four-Year Plan

This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.

Three-Year Plan

This Sample Three-Year Plan is a tool to assist students and their advisor(s). Students should use it —along with their DARS report, the Degree Planner, and Course Search & Enroll tools — to make their own three-year plan based on their placement scores, credit for transferred courses and approved examinations, and individual interests.

Three-year plans may vary considerably from student to student, depending on their individual preparation and circumstances. Students interested in graduating in three years should meet with an advisor as early as possible to discuss feasibility, appropriate course sequencing, post-graduation plans (careers, graduate school, etc.), and opportunities they might forgo in pursuit of a three-year graduation plan.

Departmental Expectations

A three-year degree is feasible for students with a variety of backgrounds and specific preparation. The plan assumes that students are coming to UW-Madison with approximately 27 credits from AP/IB or college transfer credits.  Your plan may look different depending on the number of credits you bring in.

Advising and Careers

Declare or Cancel This Major

Please follow the process described on the Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Program website.

Departmental Advising

Academic advising for the Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies major is available in the Student Advising Office. Prospective and current students must make an appointment with advisor Rachelle Eilers, reilers@wisc.edu, to discuss requirements, courses, and application to the major or certificate. Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies graduates have enjoyed great success in fields including the health professions, social service, education, law, journalism, business, the arts, politics, and government service.

SuccessWorks

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.

Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.

• What you can do with your major  (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
• Make a career advising appointment
• Learn about internships and internship funding
• Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students

Wisconsin Experience

The Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies Program provides co-curricular support programs and opportunities for undergraduate research as part of the Wisconsin Experience, UW–Madison’s vision for students’ growth inside and outside the classroom. Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies majors at UW–Madison have a wide range of opportunities available to help them make the most of their major and carry the study of communities of Latin American descent into the broader community. 

CLS Community Gatherings

Join us on Thursdays at noon for a workshop luncheon featuring speakers on topics of interest to undergraduate Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies students. The gatherings are a great place to learn about resources available on campus, make new friends, and create community.

Resources and Scholarships

Undergraduates in the CLS Major or Certificate may apply for the Jesus Salas Academic Activist Scholarship and the Somos Student Development Award. Conferred annually in the spring, the Salas Scholarship recognizes academic excellence and community leadership by outstanding CLS students. The Somos award supports internships, research projects, or other initiatives by undergraduates. Students pursuing the Somos award may wish to contact the Program at chicla@letsci.wisc.edu to determine whether their initiatives and the expenses they propose are eligible. The Program encourages students to seek out other opportunities through the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub.

The Program has a library with a collection of books and videos on topics related to the field, as well as an Academic Resource Center with computers and a printer that are available to students. 

Students enrolled in the CLS Major or Certificate may participate in the Chicanx/e & Latinx/e Studies Certificate Students Association (ChiLaCSA). A list of related student organizations is available on the Program’s website.