The Hispanic American Experience Today Syllabus

The contemporary issues shaping Hispanic American life — immigration policy and the undocumented experience, economic realities from labor to entrepreneurship, education from K-12 to college, healthcare disparities, political power and representation, criminal justice, discrimination, and the future. Twenty courses. Two hundred forty chapters. University-level content, open to everyone.

20Courses
240Chapters
1,500+Topics

Immigration and the Undocumented

The 11 million, the Dreamers, asylum seekers, and families torn between status and belonging.

1 The Undocumented: 11 Million Lives in the Shadows 12 ch.
  1. Who Are the Undocumented?
  2. How People Become Undocumented
  3. Daily Life Without Status
  4. Work in the Shadow Economy
  5. Family Life and Relationships
  6. Children Growing Up Undocumented
  7. Healthcare and Education Access
  8. Living with Fear: Enforcement
  9. Detention and Deportation
  10. Community and Resistance
  11. Paths to Status
  12. The Future of the Undocumented
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2 DACA and the Dreamers: A Generation in Limbo 12 ch.
  1. Who Are the Dreamers?
  2. Growing Up Undocumented
  3. The DREAM Act: A Legislative History
  4. DACA: Obama's Executive Action
  5. Living with DACA
  6. Legal Battles Over DACA
  7. DACA and Education
  8. DACA in the Workplace
  9. The Dreamer Movement
  10. Political Football
  11. State-Level Policies
  12. The Future for Dreamers
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3 The Asylum System: Refugees at the Border 12 ch.
  1. What Is Asylum?
  2. Who Seeks Asylum at the Southern Border?
  3. The Journey North
  4. Arriving at the Border
  5. The Credible Fear Process
  6. Immigration Courts and the Backlog
  7. Detention of Asylum Seekers
  8. Remain in Mexico and Other Policies
  9. Family Separation
  10. Winning and Losing Asylum Cases
  11. Asylum Advocacy and Legal Aid
  12. Reforming the Asylum System
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4 Mixed-Status Families: Citizen Children, Undocumented Parents 12 ch.
  1. What Are Mixed-Status Families?
  2. Daily Life in a Mixed-Status Home
  3. The Deportation Threat
  4. Children Left Behind
  5. Economic Impacts
  6. Health and Healthcare Access
  7. Education and Schools
  8. Psychological Toll on Children
  9. Community and Support Networks
  10. Policy Impacts
  11. Pathways to Legal Status
  12. The Future of Mixed-Status Families
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Economics and Labor

Hispanic workers, entrepreneurs, remittances, and the path to the middle class.

5 Hispanic Workers in America: Labor, Industry, and Economic Contribution 12 ch.
  1. The Hispanic Workforce Today
  2. Industries Where Hispanics Work
  3. Essential Workers
  4. Farm Workers
  5. Day Laborers and Informal Work
  6. Wages and the Pay Gap
  7. Workplace Safety and Exploitation
  8. Unions and Labor Organizing
  9. The Professional Class
  10. Government and Military Employment
  11. Economic Contributions
  12. The Future of Hispanic Work
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6 Hispanic Entrepreneurs: Building Businesses, Building Wealth 12 ch.
  1. The Hispanic Business Boom
  2. Who Are Hispanic Entrepreneurs?
  3. Types of Hispanic-Owned Businesses
  4. Starting a Business
  5. Access to Capital
  6. Latina Entrepreneurs
  7. Regional Business Hubs
  8. Family Businesses
  9. Growing and Scaling
  10. Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
  11. Success Stories and Role Models
  12. The Future of Hispanic Business
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7 The Remittance Economy: Dollars Sent Home 12 ch.
  1. What Are Remittances?
  2. Who Sends Money Home?
  3. Top Receiving Countries
  4. How Money Gets Home
  5. Costs and Fees
  6. Impact on Receiving Families
  7. Community and National Impact
  8. The Cost to Senders
  9. Remittances and U.S. Policy
  10. Financial Inclusion
  11. Generational Changes
  12. The Future of Remittances
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8 Poverty, Inequality, and the Hispanic Middle Class 12 ch.
  1. Hispanic Poverty in America
  2. Child Poverty
  3. Working Poor
  4. The Wealth Gap
  5. Homeownership and Housing
  6. The Growing Hispanic Middle Class
  7. Economic Mobility
  8. The Safety Net
  9. Debt and Credit
  10. Retirement Security
  11. Building Wealth
  12. The Future of Hispanic Economic Progress
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Education

From K-12 to higher education to the unique experience of first-generation college students.

9 Hispanic Students in American Schools: K-12 Education 12 ch.
  1. The Largest Minority in Schools
  2. Early Childhood Education
  3. English Language Learners
  4. Bilingual Education Debates
  5. School Segregation
  6. School Funding Inequities
  7. The Achievement Gap
  8. Hispanic Teachers and School Staff
  9. Discipline and the School-to-Prison Pipeline
  10. Parent and Family Engagement
  11. High School Graduation and Dropout
  12. Preparing for College and Career
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10 Hispanic Americans in Higher Education: Access, Success, and Barriers 12 ch.
  1. Hispanic College Enrollment
  2. Community Colleges
  3. Hispanic-Serving Institutions
  4. Selective Colleges and Universities
  5. Paying for College
  6. Student Debt
  7. Persistence and Completion
  8. Campus Climate and Belonging
  9. Fields of Study
  10. Graduate and Professional Education
  11. Support Programs and Interventions
  12. The Future of Hispanic Higher Education
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11 First-Generation College Students: The Hispanic Experience 12 ch.
  1. What Does First-Generation Mean?
  2. The Decision to Go to College
  3. Cultural Capital and Hidden Curriculum
  4. Family Dynamics and Obligations
  5. Navigating the Institution
  6. Belonging and Impostor Syndrome
  7. Academic Adjustment
  8. Working While in College
  9. Mentorship and Role Models
  10. Summer and High-Impact Experiences
  11. Graduation and Beyond
  12. Supporting First-Generation Success
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Health and Healthcare

The Hispanic health paradox, mental health stigma, and the COVID-19 toll.

12 Hispanic Health in America: Paradoxes, Disparities, and Care 12 ch.
  1. The Hispanic Health Paradox
  2. Health Insurance Coverage
  3. Access to Healthcare
  4. Diabetes and Hispanic Communities
  5. Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Health
  6. Cancer Disparities
  7. Maternal and Infant Health
  8. Occupational Health Hazards
  9. Hispanic Healthcare Providers
  10. Cultural Competence in Healthcare
  11. Traditional and Alternative Medicine
  12. The Future of Hispanic Health
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13 Mental Health in Hispanic Communities: Stigma, Access, and Healing 12 ch.
  1. Mental Health in Hispanic Communities
  2. Stigma and Cultural Barriers
  3. Depression and Anxiety
  4. Immigration and Trauma
  5. The Fear of Living Undocumented
  6. Youth Mental Health
  7. Substance Abuse
  8. Access to Mental Health Services
  9. Culturally Competent Care
  10. Family and Community Support
  11. Traditional and Alternative Approaches
  12. Building Mental Wellness
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14 Hispanic Americans and COVID-19: Disproportionate Impact and Response 12 ch.
  1. Disproportionate Impact
  2. Essential Workers on the Front Line
  3. Living Conditions and Risk
  4. Healthcare Access During the Pandemic
  5. Economic Devastation
  6. School Disruption
  7. Vaccination and Hesitancy
  8. Community Response
  9. Immigration Enforcement During COVID
  10. Mental Health Impact
  11. Long-Term Consequences
  12. Lessons for the Future
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Politics and Representation

The Hispanic vote, political leaders, and the competition between parties.

15 The Hispanic Vote: Power, Patterns, and the Path Forward 12 ch.
  1. The Hispanic Electorate
  2. Voter Registration and Turnout
  3. Voting Patterns by Party
  4. Diversity Within the Hispanic Vote
  5. Issues That Matter to Hispanic Voters
  6. Battleground States and Hispanic Power
  7. Voter Outreach and Mobilization
  8. Voter Suppression and Access
  9. Hispanic Political Organizations
  10. The 2020 and 2024 Elections
  11. Hispanic Representation in Office
  12. The Future of Hispanic Political Power
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16 Hispanic Political Leaders: From Local Office to National Stage 12 ch.
  1. The State of Hispanic Political Representation
  2. Pioneers and Trailblazers
  3. Hispanics in Congress
  4. Hispanic Governors and State Leaders
  5. Mayors and Local Leadership
  6. Cabinet and Executive Branch
  7. Hispanic Judges
  8. Hispanic Republicans
  9. Hispanic Democrats
  10. Pathways to Office
  11. Policy Influence and Priorities
  12. The Next Generation of Hispanic Leaders
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17 Hispanic Americans and the Two Parties: Competition for the Latino Vote 12 ch.
  1. A Contested Electorate
  2. The Democratic Coalition
  3. Republican Outreach
  4. Immigration as a Wedge Issue
  5. Economic Appeals
  6. Religion and Social Conservatism
  7. The Hispanic Independent
  8. Subgroup Political Differences
  9. Generational Shifts
  10. Campaign Strategies
  11. The 2020s Realignment
  12. The Future of Hispanic Partisanship
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Justice and Civil Rights

Criminal justice disparities, discrimination, and the fight for equality.

18 Hispanic Americans and Criminal Justice: Policing, Courts, and Incarceration 12 ch.
  1. Hispanics in the Criminal Justice System
  2. Policing in Hispanic Communities
  3. Racial Profiling and Discrimination
  4. Immigration Enforcement and Local Police
  5. Courts and Legal Representation
  6. Sentencing Disparities
  7. Incarceration
  8. Reentry and Collateral Consequences
  9. Hispanic Youth and Juvenile Justice
  10. Gangs and Hispanic Communities
  11. Hispanic Law Enforcement Officers
  12. Criminal Justice Reform
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19 Anti-Hispanic Discrimination: Prejudice, Stereotypes, and Hate 12 ch.
  1. The History of Anti-Hispanic Prejudice
  2. Common Stereotypes
  3. Media Representation and Misrepresentation
  4. Employment Discrimination
  5. Housing Discrimination
  6. Educational Discrimination
  7. Language Discrimination
  8. Healthcare Discrimination
  9. Hate Crimes Against Hispanics
  10. Anti-Immigrant Politics
  11. Legal Protections and Civil Rights
  12. Fighting Back and Moving Forward
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The Future

Demographics, economic power, political influence, and what comes next.

20 The Future of Hispanic America: Demographics, Power, and Promise 12 ch.
  1. Demographic Destiny
  2. The Economic Future
  3. Educational Advancement
  4. Political Power Rising
  5. Cultural Influence
  6. Generational Evolution
  7. Immigration's Future
  8. Health and Longevity
  9. Geographic Shifts
  10. Technology and Innovation
  11. Challenges Ahead
  12. A New American Story
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