Transborder Studies, PhD
Border Studies, Chicana/o, Chicano Studies, Hispanic, Immigration, Latina/o, Mexican-American, Migration, Southwest, transnational
Are you interested in border issues? You can conduct innovative and multidisciplinary research tailored to your specific interests in the nation's only doctoral program in transborder studies.
The Doctor of Philosophy program in transborder studies develops the next generation of superior research, scholarship and application in transborder and transnational contexts.
Students gain foundational knowledge in transborder, transnational and border issues from interdisciplinary scholars in anthropology, history, literature, political science, public policy, sociology, urban planning, and women and gender studies.
Faculty in the program approach transborder studies in a way that has been historically grounded in and inspired by the geographical specificity of the U.S.--Mexico border and the Chicano, Chicana, Latino and Latina populations. Arizona State University's proximity to the U.S.--Mexico border and the faculty's expertise make the university the ideal place of study. Given the massive scale of globalization in the 21st century and its influence on local, regional, national and transnational environments, the program is expanding to examine other transborder regions and populations.
- College/school:
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Location: Tempe
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
84 credit hours, a foreign language exam, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (6 credit hours) Electives and Research (66 credit hours) Dissertation (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
TSS 502 Foundations of Transborder Studies (3)
TSS 503 Epistemologies and Transborder Thought (3) or TSS 504 Theories and Methods for Transborder Research (3)
TSS 799 Dissertation (12)
When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree. If students do not already have a master's degree in a related field, the remaining 30 credit hours are made up of electives and research that equal the 84 credit hours required for the doctoral program.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S.
applicants | International
applicants | English
proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a master's degree in a related field such as anthropology, economics, education, sociology, literature or psychology from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants who have earned a master's degree in another discipline must align their scholarly interests with the program's mission.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- personal statement
- writing sample
- resume or curriculum vitae
- three letters of recommendation (from academicians)
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The personal statement should include an explanation of past experiences and current scholarly interests but concentrate on potential areas of research that draw on the specific resources of the department and faculty.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 04/01 | Final |
| Session A/C | In Person | 01/01 | Priority |
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:
- Analyze transborder and transnational issues using appropriate theoretical and methodological approaches.
- Conduct research or produce creative work related to issues affecting transborder communities
- Effectively communicate findings, creations, or productions orally to academic and non-academic audiences.
Graduates have a number of career options, depending on the plan of study. Graduates with an academia-focused trajectory may pursue careers as faculty members or in research. Opportunities for graduates of a more professional and applied track include positions with local, state, national or international agencies.
School of Transborder Studies
|
INTDSB 165
sts.grad@asu.edu
480-965-5091
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.


