Independent Study: The Mexican and Mexican-American Heritage of the Quad
Cities
Professor Masterson-Algar from the department of Spanish is accepting up to four
students for an independent study researching the histories of the Mexican and
Mexican-American communities in the Quad Cities. The purpose of this study is
threefold:
1. To compile, discuss and contribute to the Mexican and Mexican-American histories
that make the Quad Cities. Students will be conducting historical research in a variety of
historical archives, working with a variety of primary sources: interviews, legal
documents, letters, music recordings, and press coverage.
2. To contribute to the proper filing and classification of materials gathered by previous
students at the Mexican-American Research Center.
3. To reflect and analyze how individual stories challenge and/or dialogue with master
narratives of U.S. History.
The study is an exploratory experience, which will serve as the basis for a future three
credit course. Students will receive one credit, and the workload expectation is of four
hours per week, plus one hour meeting per week. Students with majors/minors in
Spanish and/or in the Social Sciences and/or Humanities, and a GPA above 3.0 will
have priority, although all students with good academic standing are encouraged to
apply.
If you'd like to participate in this independent study please email Dr. Masterson-Algar
(aracelimasterson@augustana.edu) prior to March 3rd with a brief paragraph
explaining why you are interested in participating in this initiative. In the email, include
the name and contact information of two references, one of them must be a professor
from a department other than Spanish.