PASADENA, Texas – San Jacinto College has announced that it will add a Mexican American Studies program to its curriculum beginning with the Fall 2008 semester.

The program, designed to familiarize students with the culture of Mexican Americans, will examine the political systems within which this population operates. It will also look at the history, literature, art, music, and language, all of which are central to the culture of the Latino population. In addition, the program will address the differences and similarities of other ethnic groups of Spanish-descent active in the United States, such as the Puerto Rican and Cuban populations.

“Geographically, San Jacinto College is located in a region with a high-concentration of Latino residency and employment, making the Mexican American Studies program of utmost importance to our community,” said San Jacinto College history professor Danielle Bible, who will teach Introduction to Mexican American Studies and Mexican American History I and II. The College’s total population is approximately 35% Hispanic and the school districts the College serves are approximately 49% Hispanic. “We believe these courses will provide greater awareness and cultural representation to a significantly underrepresented portion of our local population,” added Bible.

The addition of the Mexican American Studies program at San Jacinto College is a result of a 2005 study completed by the University of Houston Center for Mexican American Studies which demonstrated that Latino students exposed to Hispanic studies courses yield a higher graduation rate by nearly 50 percent, which the College felt is too great a ratio to ignore.

Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner, Sylvia Garcia, feels it is important to introduce programs such as the new Mexican American Studies program to local students. “I am pleased that San Jacinto College is expanding its curriculum to include a Mexican American Studies program,” she said. “Our world becomes smaller everyday, and it is imperative that educational institutions like San Jacinto College expose students to other cultures and political systems, and produce global students. Programs such as these make our students more competitive and better prepared employees for a global economy.”

As the University of Houston study demonstrated, Latino students in particular will be attracted to the information discussed in these courses. “We hope the program will provide these students with a more inclusive relationship with their learning environment, ensuring they fulfill their goal of graduating or transferring to the university setting,” said Bible.

San Jacinto College students may take individual Mexican American Studies courses or they may also major in Mexican American Studies. Students desiring to major in Mexican American Studies must complete their core requirements and 18 hours in Mexican American Studies courses.

For more information on the Mexican American Studies program, contact Van Wigginton by phone at 281-476-1501, ext. 2712, or via e-mail at van.wigginton@sjcd.edu.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150.