Photo Credit: Lone Star College - CyFairNews
Explore Core Classes with a Mexican American Perspective at LSC-CyFair this Fall
Students have to take core classes, such as math, history and composition, but they can enroll in these classes at Lone Star College-CyFair with a Mexican American focus, and enjoy them even if they are not of Mexican descent and no matter their major.
As part of LSC-CyFair’s Mexican American Studies Program, History Professor Raúl Muñoz and English Professor Brooke Thrift elevate core classes with fascinating stories of resilience and innovation that have shaped this vibrant culture.
Among the students recommending these professors’ history and English courses are Erick Lima, a future statistician or data scientist, Daniella Covarrubias, psychology major, Joshue Aguirre, history major, Viviana Adams, prospective psychiatrist, Josel Paul Villaraza, aspiring accountant and Cam’Ron Bailey, in pursuit of a career in diplomacy.
Lima said in Thrift’s class he had the opportunity to “appreciate cultural significance”, “become more open to different perspectives” and “improve research skills.”
A first-generation Mexican American and Army veteran, Aguirre said “it was refreshing to learn that the U.S. and Mexico shared so much history together” in Muñoz’s history class, which was also “a safe environment to share ideas and thoughts.”
Villaraza, a Filipino, and Adams, a Peruvian-American, both said they found Thrift’s class relatable and connected with the culture personally with stories and experiences of writers in books, stories and poems read as well as through an Ofrenda project, which celebrated deceased Mexican American authors and was in celebration of el Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead).
Villaraza said “Hearing about the Mexican American writers’ struggles, perseverance, overcoming hardships and success, stories that inspire the younger generation, has given me hope that I can achieve my dreams, too.”
Adams said “I felt empowered to pursue my college degree and intended profession and allowed to explore my own heritage and learn Spanish. Even more so, this class helped me relate more to my Peruvian mother and feel more comfortable asking about her early years in Peru and the culture.”
Both Covarrubias, a Mexican American, and Bailey, a Latino, were interested in learning more about their cultural community and the part of Mexican American history, which is often overlooked, in the identity of the United States and influence embedded in American society.
Another core class option new to the Mexican American Studies Program is Professor Luis Molina’s Math 1332 class, which is open to all students and will explore mathematics through historical, cultural and real-world contexts, while covering essential mathematical concepts such as algebra, statistics, and financial literacy. Students will engage with math using hands-on tools like a 3D-printed Mayan/Aztec abacus and real-world applications in areas like social justice, economics and STEM representation, Molina said.
“The Mathematics for Liberal Arts – A Mexican American Perspective class is designed to help students see the relevance of mathematics in their own lives and communities,” said Molina. “The course will incorporate historical and contemporary figures in mathematics, including Indigenous and Mexican American scholars, to highlight diverse contributions to the field.”
Email Brooke.L.Thrift@LoneStar.edu, Raul.Munoz@LoneStar.edu and Luis.D.Molina@LoneStar.edu for more information on their respective courses. Fall enrollment is now underway. For information, go to LoneStar.edu/regcyfair.
Source: Lone Star College-CyFair
