Chicana/o studies was born of the civil rights and Chicano movements of the 1960s. From its beginnings there have been both an activist/community focus and an emphasis on scholarly studies that relate to the Chicano community. Like many other universities in California and the nation, Chicana/o studies at San Jose State University was formed through the efforts of student organizations, and a small group of faculty and staff.

In 1965 students Chicana/o students at San Jose State University formed the United Mexican American Students (UMAS), and petitioned to have classes about Chicanos taught in the speech and history departments. Chicano studies related classes were offered for the first time for the fall, 1966 semester as experimental courses. During the late 1960s the first Raza Day was held, which still brings high school students on campus each spring, and Chicana/o students, faculty, and staff continued to organize and fight for an academic program that focused on the Chicano community. While some courses were offered in the fall of 1968, Mexican American Studies officially opened its doors in 1969. The formal title of the department then was Mexican American Graduate Studies (MAGS). Initial faculty included Jose Carrasco and Randall Jimenez.

The minor in MAS was also created in 1969. Its main goals were: 1. To serve the educational and cultural needs of the Chicano community; and, 2. To create an “awareness” program for students from other ethnic groups. In the early 1970s MAGS coordinated the Neighborhood Youth core and Summer Bridge programs, and was a resource center for local school districts and the community. Initially, MAGS was an independent program in Graduate Studies, and then housed in Social Sciences. While the l970s were a time of growth, the 1980s was a time of retrenchment. The number of faculty and students declined throughout this decade. When Jose Carrasco returned to SJSU after a number of years absence in 1988, he was asked to resurrect the MAS program. In 1989 MAS moved to the College of Social Work and regained departmental status, including a graduate program.

At present, the MAS Department has a minor and a Master of Arts program. It continues to prepare Chicana/o students for careers in education, community and government agencies, plus positions in business and other careers. It also continues to serve SJSU and the community by educating students from other ethnic groups about Chicano culture, history, and the issues/problems facing the Chicana/o community, including immigration, bilingual education, police-community relations, political disenfranchisement, and economic discrimination.