Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How many units do I need to become a CLAS Major, Dual Major, or CLAS Minor?
For either the Chicano or Latin American Major you need 120 units total.
For a Chicano Studies Dual Major you will need to complete 24 units.
For a Minor you will need to complete 21 units.

Q. Who can I contact about academic advising?

The Department of Chicano and Latin American Studies encourages all students to seek faculty advising for guidance in planning their academic schedules. Please also visit the College of Social Sciences Advising Center located in McKee Fisk 207.

Q: Do I have to speak Spanish to become a Chicano Major?
No, Spanish is not needed all you need is to have the interest and the will.

Q: Do I have to speak Spanish to become a Latin America Major?
While you won't need to become fluent in either Spanish or Portuguese, you'll need to take at least 6 units total in either language, or take an exam that demonstrates your proficiency in the language.

Q: What can I do with a CLAS degree?
A CLAS Major will serve all majors. Given the growth of Latino populations nationally, most employers will be hiring Latin@s and will want you to have a good understanding of Chicano/Latino issues, culture and history. CLAS will highly support your career choice (see our Careers section).

Q: What is the difference between Chicano, Mexican, Hispanic and Latino?
The meanings of these terms fluctuate given the context, time period, and the people who utilize them
Chicano = A Latin@ social change activist whose vision is closely associated with "El Movimiento," the Chicano Civil Rights Movement.
Mexican = A person who has strong national associations with Mexico.
Hispanic = A Latin@ who accepts the more general and "acceptable" identity label usually utilized by government institutions for data gathering; the terms is also used for proposal writing and conference panels
Latino = A "politically correct" term currently in use to include Mexican@s, Chican@s and Latin Americans.