Students at the March Up Bascom looking to the right, carrying flags of Latin American countries

Students gather in front of Bascom Hall to celebrate the beginning of Latinx Heritage Month. Photo credit: Ray Kirsch/WSUM News

MISSION STATEMENT

The Program in Chican@ & Latin@ Studies (CLS) offers a systematic and interdisciplinary analysis of Mexican- and Latin American-origin people, cultures, and collectivities within the United States.  The CLS certificate and major are designed to provide students with a broad knowledge base and the intellectual tools to understand the unity and diversity of U.S. Latina/o populations.  The primary objective of the CLS Program is to train students in the study of Chican@s and Latin@s and to introduce them to the central questions, topics, and applications that have emerged in this field of inquiry.  CLS offers a variety of courses, some focusing on particular national-origin groups or specific academic disciplines, and others organized around comparative topics or issues.  We welcome you to join our community of learners.

Declare the Major

The CLS Program offers an interdisciplinary major and certificate. Contact Advisor Rachelle Eilers via Starfish or email, or learn about the program and declare online!

Detail of mural "The Inheritance of Struggle" by Leo Tanguma (Memorial Union)

 

 

Newsletter

Our latest newsletter highlights the CLS familia’s achievements during the Fall of 2023.
Thumbnail of Fall 2023 CLS Newsletter, showing images of Director Ruben Medina and faculty

Latinx Studies in the Midwest
and Beyond

Graffiti Mural in Puerto Rico. Credit: Colectivo La Puerta.

 

 

 

Ready for a stimulating dialogue on important issues of the day?  With the support of the Anonymous Fund and several campus partners, the Chican@ & Latin@ Studies Program will bring emerging figures in our interdisciplinary field to campus this year.  Check out the full schedule on the speaker series web page.

CLS News

  • Rachelle Eilers Headshot

    L&S Video Profiles New CLS Major, Advisor Rachelle Eilers

    In case you missed it, the College of Letters and Science has created an excellent video portrait of the new major in Chican@ & Latin@ Studies, centered on a great interview with Rachelle Eilers, the …

  • Detail of Leo Tanguma Mural "The inheritance of struggle" showing a three-faced image

    CLS Seeks Summer Lecturers

    The CLS Program seeks a lecturer or lecturers to teach CHICLA 210 (“Chicana/o and Latina/o Cultural Studies”) and CHICLA 501 (“Chicana/o and Latina/o Social Movements in the US”) online.  For more information and to apply, …

  • Detail of mural "The Inheritance of Struggle" by Leo Tanguma (Memorial Union)

    CLS Seeks a Student Hourly Worker

    JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: Chican@ & Latin@ Studies Program Student Assistant A student hourly/work study position is available for the Spring 2024 semester in the Chican@ & Latin@ Studies Program. The position may be extended to future …

  • More news