PhD Admissions

Eligibility

Applicants to the PhD program in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies must meet the minimum requirements for graduate study at The University of Texas at Austin:

A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or proof of equivalent training in a foreign institution;
A grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division (junior- and senior-level) coursework and in any graduate work already completed;
Submission of official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. However, this requirement is waived for the 2025-26 admissions cycle. An official score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for international applicants is still required;
Adequate subject preparation for the proposed field of study. Evidence of adequate preparation varies by program, but examples include letters of reference, auditions, samples of work, and personal statements;
A recommendation for acceptance by the Graduate Studies Committee.

In addition, prospective students are encouraged to visit the Admissions website of The Graduate School at The University of Texas at Austin for more information on the application process.

Admissions

An admissions committee composed of faculty serving on the Graduate Studies Committee in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies evaluates all complete applications, giving preference to candidates who demonstrate a strong academic background, articulate a clear sense of their intellectual goals in statement of purpose, submit a writing sample that clearly shows their scholarly preparation, and demonstrate an interest in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies.

The Department of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies admits PhD students for the fall semester only—the annual application deadline is December 1.

All application materials must be submitted online by the application deadline. Please visit the Graduate School's Graduate Admissions website for more details. We strongly discourage the submission of paper documents in support of an application. The graduate major code for Mexican American and Latina/o Studies is 667300.

Electronic Application. (visit the Graduate School Application to apply)
Statement of Purpose. Describe in a statement (two pages maximum, double-spaced, 12 pt font) your reasons for pursuing the PhD in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies at UT Austin and how your academic and professional interests and goals shape your application. (Uploaded by the applicant.)
Writing Sample. Demonstrate your ability in a writing sample of your work (15 pages maximum, double-spaced, 12 pt font) where you define research-worthy questions and situate your own arguments within larger scholarly debates. (Uploaded by the applicant.)
Official GRE Scores or TOFEL or IELTS Scores. *The GRE requirement is waived for the 2025-26 admissions cycle. TOEFL or IELTS scores should be submitted directly by the testing agency.
Curriculum Vitae or Résumé showing all relevant professional preparation. (Uploaded by the applicant.)
Copy of Official College/University Transcripts. (Uploaded by the applicant.)
Three Letters of Recommendation. (Submitted directly by each recommender.)

All three letters of recommendation must be submitted online. Applicants will enter the names, e-mail addresses, and titles of the recommenders. Once the application is submitted, an e-mail is sent to the recommenders with instructions and a secure link to the letter of recommendation website.

Incomplete applications will NOT be reviewed. It is up to each applicant to visit the MyStatus website to verify receipt of application materials and to ensure that all required materials are submitted by the application deadline.

PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free download from Adobe's website.

Graduate Advisor

Dr. Maria Cotera | maria.cotera@utexas.edu

Senior Academic Program Coordinator

Luis Guevara | lvg@austin.utexas.edu