The Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies major offers a systematic and interdisciplinary analysis of Mexican-, Caribbean-, and Latin-American-origin people, cultures, and collectivities in the United States and their transnational dimensions. The Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies major provides students with a broad knowledge base and the intellectual and practical tools to understand the diversity, unity, and complexity of those peoples and cultures as they explore the central questions of 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 Latinx/e communities, developing the students’ capacities for civic and community engagement as well as research, writing, and analytical skills. Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies graduates are equipped to implement and engage diverse perspectives as they pursue careers in such fields as education, social service, communications, publishing, business and finance, law, journalism, agriculture, science and engineering, the arts, construction, the nonprofit sector, government, 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

Students declared in the Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies Certificate may not be declared in the Chicanx/e and Latinx/e 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 Requirements

All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later. 

Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.

Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements

For more information see the policy.

University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements

All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.

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. Some courses satisfy more than one L&S degree requirement (visit College of Letters & Science: Requirements for details).

This major can be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree requirements.

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

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and analyze core concepts, important social and political issues, and key artistic and cultural expressions related to Chicanx/e and Latinx/e life in the United States.
2. Discuss the histories of Chicanxs/es and Latinxs/es in the United States and their implications for contemporary problems of racialization, social stratification, colonialism, and oppression.
3. Describe the commonalities and differences among Chicanxs/es and Latinxs/es 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 Chicanxs/es and Latinxs/es in the United States and their countries of heritage from a transnational and transborder perspective.
5. Apply ideas from Chicanx/e and Latinx/e 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.

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 the advisor 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 education, social service, communications, publishing, business and finance, law, journalism, agriculture, science and engineering, the arts, construction, the nonprofit sector, government, and the health professions.

Study Abroad

Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu

As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.

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

Resources and Scholarships

Undergraduates in the Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies 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 Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies 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 collection of books and videos on topics related to the field, as well as a space with computers and a printer that are available to students.

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

Sobremesa Community Gatherings

Join us every other Thursday 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. Follow the Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies Program on social media (@UWChicla) for information about the dates and locations of the gatherings.

Wisconsin Latinx History Collective

The Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies Program is the major UW–Madison partner for the Wisconsin Latinx History Collective, an effort to document the history of communities of Latin American descent in Wisconsin. Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies faculty and students are interviewing members of those communities and collecting documents to be held in the Wisconsin Historical Society collection for future researchers. The Wisconsin Latinx History Collective has also embarked on a public humanities initiative to make these oral histories and documents more widely available through a digital platform. Many Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies classes offer the opportunity to participate in original research related to this project.

Latinx Studies Journal

The Latinx Studies Journal is an annual publication that highlights writing by Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies students. Students may submit original research papers, creative writing, art, and more.