Chicano/Latino Studies (CLS) is a program designed to focus on the histories and the cultures of Chicanas/Chicanos and Latinas/ Latinos. As an academic discipline, Chicano/ Latino Studies began nationally, over 30 years ago, to acknowledge the historical, cultural, and social contributions of the diverse indo-afro-hispano citizens of the U.S. over the last 500 years. Traditionally, it bases its academic programs on an interdisciplinary model in the humanities and social sciences and considers close ties to the community an essential element.

At Michigan State University, the CLS program coordinates the Chicano/Latino Specialization, oversees curriculum development, mentors and advises students, and promotes close faculty, staff, and student relations. In addition, it sponsors academic and cultural activities that benefit not only the university, but also the larger community in the area. CLS has implemented four programs to advance its mission:

• CLS Fellows Program, a mentoring project
• CLS Seminar Series, presentations by visiting scholars, artists, and activists
• Mexican Voices/Michigan Lives, an oral history project
• XLEAP, the Xicano/Latino Enrollment Advocacy Project which seeks to increase the number of admitted students who enroll at MSU

Needs and Opportunities

Why is the study of Chicano/Latino peoples important?

The Chicano/Latino population in the United States has increased steadily in the last decades. According to the recent census, over 35 million Latinos/as reside in the United States. In the 21st Century the ethnic and racial minorities of the past will constitute a sizable and significant percentage of the population, changing the very definition of Òminorities.Ó

Within the U.S., the most rapid growth of Latino communities is occurring in the Midwest. By 2000, over 323,000 lived in Michigan. The number of college-age Latinos is proportionately greater than the college-age segment in the rest of the population as a whole.

Issues of multiculturalism, racial and ethnic diversity, and new social institutions are at the forefront of public concerns and policies as the demographics of the United States continue to change. A study of issues related to identity, culture, ethnicity, and community formation reveals the history, acculturation, politicization, and socioeconomic conditions of minorities and highlights the significance of studies of ethnicity, race, gender, and inequality in the United States today. With the heightened globalization of trade, transnational employment, and economic transactions across nations, the place of Latinos in the new world economy becomes even more significant. Thus, there is a greater demand for Latinos with more employment diversification, specialized skills, and knowledge of the issues at stake for our communities.

Participating in CLS courses represents a unique and challenging way to study the status and conditions of ethnic minorities and emerging populations in the United States. Courses in CLS vary by semester. See our web page at CLS - Requirements for updated course schedules.