Casa Magdalena Mora (Casa): a familia exploring Mexicano/Chicano and Latino culture
The Casa Magdalena Mora Theme Program provides a network for students interested in Mexicano/Chicano and Latino culture, community, and social change. A live-in Theme Program Assistant provides resources and support for residents' social and academic needs. Casa is about a sense of familia. Our academic seminar has an interdisciplinary focus that integrates language, history, politics, economics, art, music, and literature. Casa connects students and faculty with the community through social and academic activities. Casistas gain leadership skills, form friendships that can last a lifetime, and have fun.

Program requirements
Casa residents are expected to spend 2-4 hours a week engaged in Theme Program activities including:

• Enrollment and attendance in the fall and spring seminar class, Chicano/Latino Studies 98/198
• Participation at Casa weekly meetings
• Participation in community projects

Seminar and events
The seminar is a 1- to 2-unit pass/no pass class that meets once a week in the residence hall. You can review a sample course syllabus to get an idea about the coursework and expectations. If you’re admitted to Casa, you will be given more information about how to enroll in the class.

Events include a wide variety of interaction with faculty and staff, as well as community activities. Casa celebrates Dia de Los Muertos, offers mentoring and tutoring, participates in Raza Day, Fiestas Patrias and Semana de la Mujer, hosts prospective students, and much more.

The living space
Casa residents live together in Unit 3’s Beverly Cleary Hall (named after the children’s author and Cal Alum). It’s a midrise building situated two blocks from the South edge of campus amidst the bustle of Telegraph Avenue.

You can take a virtual tour of sample furnished rooms in Unit 3. Each room has in-room network connections and basic cable, and Cleary has laundry facilities, vending machines, and live-in staff. Most students have a roommate and eat meals at the Unit 3 Dining Commons, Cafe 3. Across the street in Unit 3, residents also have access to a great Academic Services Center, which offers tutoring, peer advising, and copy and fax services, and computers and printers.

How to apply
Students of any ethnicity who are interested in Chicano/Latino cultural studies are encouraged to apply. You must complete the UC Berkeley housing application by the deadline. On the online application Theme Program page, select Casa from the drop-down menu; at a prompt, you'll also be asked to write a short essay. The housing contract you receive will indicate if you have been selected to the Theme Program.

If you have additional questions that are not answered here, you can call 510/642-3213.