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Transborder Studies, PhD

Transborder Studies, PhD

Academic programs / Graduate degrees / Transborder Studies, PhD

Border Studies, Chicana/o, Immigration, Latina/o, Mexican-American, Southwest, transnational

Are you interested in border issues? You can conduct innovative and multidisciplinary research tailored to your unique interests in the nation's only doctoral program in transborder studies.

Program description
Degree awarded: PHD  Transborder Studies

The PhD 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.

At a glance
Degree requirements

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)
TSS 502 Foundations of Transborder Studies (3)
TSS 503 Epistemologies and Transborder Thought (3) or TSS 504 Theories and Methods for Transborder Research (3)

Electives and Research (66 credit hours)

Dissertation (12 credit hours)
TSS 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information
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.

Admission requirements

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 applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. personal statement
  4. writing sample
  5. resume or curriculum vitae
  6. three letters of recommendation (from academicians)
  7. 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 upon the specific resources of the department and faculty.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Application deadlines
SessionModalityDeadlineType
Session A/CIn Person 04/01Final
Session A/CIn Person 01/01Priority
Session A/CIn Person Rolling
Career opportunities

Depending on the plan of study, students may focus on a trajectory in academia with career options as faculty or in research positions. Students who wish to pursue career options outside of academia may focus the plan of study on a more professional and applied track, with potential interest in local, state, national or international agencies.

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

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.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is WRGP (Western Regional Graduate Program)?
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.

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