Certificate Program

A certificate in Chican@ and Latin@ Studies is the equivalent of an undergraduate minor.

Information on the certificate is available in the Chican@ & Latin@ Studies Program Office, 312 Ingraham Hall. Prospective certificate students must make an appointment with the Chican@ and Latin@ Studies Program Administrator Jillian Alpire (608-263-4486) or Miguel Rosales (608-262-8788) to discuss requirements, courses, and application to the certificate. Requirements listed below are for certificates declared effective fall semester 2005 and later. Completion of the certificate requires a minimum of 15 credit hours in Chican@ and Latin@ Studies.

1. At least two 100- or 200-level courses, one of which must be CLS 100, 201, 210, or another designated introductory interdisciplinary survey.

2. At least one 300-level course.

3. At least one 400-level course.

4. At least one 500-, 600-, or 700*-level capstone seminar course.

See the undergraduate catalogue for restrictions on 700-level courses. All courses numbered 700 and above are graduate courses and considered to be advanced. In order to receive degree credit for a 700-level course, undergraduates must meet all of the following requirements:

1.  Senior standing (or junior standing in the L&S Honors Program).

2.  A minimum 3.5 grade point average, and instructor's consent to register.

3.  One graduate course credit allowed per semester.

The Portfolio is required of all Certificate Program Students. There are three parts that must be fulfilled.

Part A consists of completion of course requirements for the Certificate.

Part B consists of samples of written work in at least three courses completed for a
Certificate in Chican@ & Latin@ Studies from the following:

• One sample from a capstone course; and one sample from any other course. A creative piece (film, art, music, play, etc.) may be substituted for one of these writing samples, if it is accompanied by a 250-word descriptive and analytic essay on the creative piece. Writing samples must be submitted to the PROGRAM OFFICE at the conclusion of the semester for which the student completed the writing assignment. Writing samples may include book reviews, extended position/reaction papers (250-750 words in length), review essays, and research papers (examinations may not be included).

• At least one of the samples must be 1250-words in length.

Part C consists of advising sessions required once each semester with the Undergraduate/Graduate Student Advisor. The Student Advisor will include a narrative report of each advising session in the Portfolio.

Copies of declaration forms and all documents related to the students' participation in the Certificate Program will be kept in the student portfolio.