SUBJECT:  UCSD CREATES MINOR IN CHICANO AND LATINO ARTS AND HUMANITIES

A Chicano and Latino arts and humanities minor that focuses on the political, cultural and linguistic importance of Spanish-speaking communities in the United States will be offered to University of California, San Diego undergraduates beginning this Fall.

This interdisciplinary minor will tap into an existing interest in U.S. Latino studies among UCSD students, and will include courses in theatre, visual arts, history, literature, ethnic studies, music, Latin American studies, and Spanish. Although the minor is expected to have broad appeal to all undergraduate students, it also was created in anticipation of continued growth in UCSD's Chicano and Latino undergraduate population. By 2008, Chicano and Latino students will be the largest ethnic group among California's high school graduates; the Latino population in California is expected to reach 50 percent by 2030.

"There was strong support from the UCSD faculty for this minor. And based on the wealth of courses that already exist in this area, we've created a rigorous and rich curriculum to underpin this minor," says UCSD literature professor Jorge Mariscal, chair of the Steering Committee for the new minor.

"The courses are designed for all students who have an interest in Spanish-speaking communities in the United States. The minor will explore the rich histories of Latinos in this country with a focus on diverse cultural legacies and contemporary artistic achievements. We hope to cover all facets ranging from the centuries-old Mexican heritage to the Puerto Rican and Cuban diasporas to more recent Central American and Caribbean migrations.

"Chicano and Latino culture is a growing and exciting area of study, and we hope the minor will broaden everyone's understanding of how Chicanos and Latinos have contributed to the American experience."

In recent years, several universities, including Columbia, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of Michigan, also have developed U.S. Latino Studies programs.

Mariscal expects the minor to attract the many UCSD students who wish to add an historical and cultural component to their undergraduate studies. In addition, the courses will be important to students who intend to pursue careers in business, medicine or education in Spanish-speaking communities in the U.S., Mexico and Latin America.

UCSD sought the counsel of community members throughout the creation of this initiative. According to Olivia Puentes-Reynolds, chair of the Higher Education Committee of the San Diego Latino Coalition for Education, the Chicano/Latino community is very pleased with the creation of the new minor.

"This serves as an example of UCSD's excellence in community collaboration, and its commitment to responding to the needs of the communities of San Diego and California," says Puentes-Reynolds.

In total, the minor will require 28 units. It will include two years of Spanish language instruction, as well as courses and research materials in Spanish.

The minor is sponsored by the UCSD Division of Arts and Humanities and affiliated with UCSD's new Sixth College. Steering Committee members include Jorge Huerta, Theatre and Dance; Rosaura Sanchez, Literature; Ross Frank and Ana Celia Zentella, Ethnic Studies; David Gutierrez, History; and Patrick Velasquez, director of the Office of Academic Support and Information Services.

For further information contact Professor Jorge Mariscal at (858) 534-3897 or (858) 534-3210. Or visit the Chicano and Latino arts and humanities website at http://clah.ucsd.edu.

                                                Marsha A. Chandler
                                                Senior Vice Chancellor