JANUARY 17, 2020 — Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine has listed UTSA as one of the nation’s top 10 Hispanic-serving schools for five different study area categories.

Using 2017 data from the Department of Education, the rankings account for both the total number of degrees issued to Hispanic students in relevant majors as well as the percentage of Hispanic students enrolled in each program’s graduating class.

UTSA ranked in the top 10 of the following categories:

3rd in architecture

3rd in bilingual, multilingual and multicultural education

4th in parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies

5th in communication and media studies

6th in computer/IT administration and management

“These opportunities for engagement play an integral role in the growth of our enrollment and make a positive impact on our students.”

—SEDEF DOGANER, Chair of the Department of Architecture



According to the data collected, 107 bachelor’s degrees were awarded to architecture students at UTSA in 2017 and 60 (56%) were awarded to Hispanic students. This No. 3 ranking is the latest of several accolades earned by the Department of Architecture in 2019. Last year Affordable Schools listed UTSA as the nation’s 10th most affordable architecture or environmental design program and the most affordable in Texas, and Design Intelligence slotted UTSA at 20th among the nation’s institutions whose architecture graduates were most hired.

The College of Architecture, Construction and Planning frequently collaborates with the AIA San Antonio Latinos in Architecture Network on many fronts to bolster interaction between students, design professionals and the community. In 2019 CACP participated in the NEXO Exhibition, which featured the works of industry professionals alongside that of students, and Family Design Day, an event organized by Latinos in Architecture, which brought businesses, service organizations and design professionals together for a design-centric community event in the heart of the predominantly Hispanic area of San Antonio’s West Side. Latinos in Architecture also generously awards a scholarship to a deserving architecture student at UTSA each year.

“These opportunities for engagement play an integral role in the growth of our enrollment and make a positive impact on our students—in particular our Latino students,” said Sedef Doganer, chair of the Department of Architecture.

⇒ Explore UTSA's College of Architecture, Construction and Planning; College of Business; College of Education and Human Development; and College of Liberal and Fine Arts.

The Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies is part of UTSA’s College of Education and Human Development, and was one of the university’s founding academic units in a definitive effort to serve Hispanic communities in South Texas. The department offers B.A. and M.A. degrees in bilingual education, bicultural studies, and English as a second language, and up until this past fall, Mexican American studies. The latter program is now in a different department. Awarding 32 degrees to Hispanic students (a 97% rate) in 2017, the program prepares its graduates to engage with the cultural and linguistic resources of multicultural communities—from schools and nonprofit organizations to universities and research tanks.

“We are honored to have earned this No. 3 ranking,” said Patricia Sánchez, chair of the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies. “I know that other bilingual and multilingual education colleagues nationwide have regularly sought our insight and input as they develop or enhance their programs. Our department knows that supporting Latinx students and seeing them succeed at UTSA creates an enormous ripple effect when they return to their hometown or local communities to teach other Latinxs.”

Here is a breakdown of the other study area categories in which Hispanic Outlook listed UTSA as a top 10 Hispanic-serving institution:

Parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies (including a B.A. in kinesiology): 174 of 333 degrees (52%) awarded to Hispanic students.

Communication and media studies (including a B.A. in communication): 137 of 242 degrees (57%) awarded to Hispanic students.

Computer/IT administration and management (including B.B.A. degrees in information systems and management science): 31 of 68 degrees (47%) awarded to Hispanic students.

As of the fall 2019 semester, 18,168 students at UTSA—about 56% of the student body—identified as Hispanic. The university has been previously recognized by Bloomberg Businessweek as the No. 1 Hispanic Serving Institution in the United States.