Latin American Studies
Director: Alberto Ribas-Casasayas
The interdisciplinary minor in Latin American Studies (LAS) provides students with an understanding of the culture, society, and history of the nations of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking peoples in Latin America. The minor provides breadth and depth in the study of Latin America. It requires two foundational courses that offer an overall view of the major historical periods in Latin America, and offers specialized courses dealing with specific countries or themes. The minor prepares students to understand the connections between Latin America and Latin American immigrant communities in the United States and other parts of the world, and helps students gain an understanding of discipline specific or interdisciplinary research methods and analytical tools to investigate and analyze issues in Latin America. The minor serves as a foundation for graduate studies in Latin America Studies and other disciplines including anthropology, history, political science, and sociology. It provides an innovative opportunity for students seeking careers in business, government, international marketing, law, and nonprofit organizations.
Requirements for the Minor
Students must complete the following requirements for a minor in Latin American studies: seven courses, with at least four upper-division courses from at least three departments. No more than two elective courses can be from the department in which a student majors. Two of the required courses are foundational courses that provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Latin America as a world region. Each of the foundation courses covers a major historical period.
Foundational Course I
Serves as an introduction to Latin American culture and civilization from the Native American experiences, through the Spanish Conquest, to the independence of Latin American nations. Note: The director may add new courses that fulfill this requirement.
Students must select one of the following courses:
ANTH 185. Peoples of Latin America
ANTH 186. Mesoamerican Prehistory
HIST 166. Latin America: Empires
SPAN 130. Survey of Latin American Literature I
Foundational Course II
Serves as an introduction to Latin American culture and civilization by focusing on the formation in the 19th century of nation states and the forces shaping 20th and 21st century experiences. Note: The director may add new courses that fulfill this requirement.
Students must select one of the following courses:
HIST 95. Modern Latin America
POLI 137. Politics in South America
SPAN 131. Survey of Latin American Literature II
SPAN 137. Latin American Cultures and Civilizations
Language Requirement
Successful completion of SPAN 100 or 101, or equivalent Spanish or Portuguese language proficiency demonstrated by passing an examination given by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, or successful completion of one upper-division course in Latin American literature and culture taught in Spanish. Note: SPAN 100 and 101 do not count towards the seven required courses for the LAS minor.
Electives
Four electives (at least three of which must be upper-division) selected from three different departments. Only two electives can be from a student's major. In lieu of one of the electives, juniors and seniors can design an independent study with the approval of the director of Latin American Studies and an affiliated faculty member. The courses that may be used to fulfill this requirement are:
Anthropology Courses
ANTH 184. Religion and Culture in Latin America
ANTH 185. Peoples of Latin America
ANTH 186. Mesoamerican Prehistory
Art History Courses
ARTH 152. Arts of Ancient Mexico: From Olmec to Aztec
English Courses
ENGL 56. Global Literatures
ENGL 156. Global Literatures
Environmental Studies Courses
ENVS 141. Environmental Biology in the Tropics
ENVS 144. Natural History of Baja
ENVS 146. Agriculture, Environment, and Development: Latin America
History Courses
HIST 64. Central America
HIST 95. Introduction to the History of Modern Latin America
HIST 161. Modern Mexico
HIST 162. Argentina
HIST 163. Cuba and the Caribbean
HIST 164S. Seminar: The Catholic Church in Latin America
HIST 166. Latin America: Empires
HIST 169. Special Topics in Latin American History
HIST 196S. Seminar in Latin American History
Modern Languages and Literatures Courses
SPAN 112. Mexican Culture
SPAN 113. The Revolution in Mexican Culture
SPAN 114. Culture and Society of the U.S.-Mexico Border
SPAN 130. Survey of Latin American Literature I
SPAN 131. Survey of Latin American Literature II
SPAN 132 - Hispanic Voices for Social Change
SPAN 135. Colloquium: Latin American Literature and Culture
SPAN 136. Contemporary Latin American Short Story
SPAN 137. Latin American Cultures and Civilizations
SPAN 139. Haunted Literature: Ghosts and the Talking Dead in Latin American Narrative
SPAN 140. Modern Latin American Literature I
SPAN 141. Modern Latin American Literature II
SPAN 145. Mid-20th-Century Latin American Literature
SPAN 147. Cinema, Politics, and Society in Latin America
SPAN 148. 20th-Century Latin American Women Writers
Political Sciences Courses
POLI 136. Politics in Central America and the Caribbean
POLI 137. Politics in South America
POLI 147. Politics of Mexico
Public Health Course
PHSC 170. Public Health in El Salvador
Religious Studies Courses
RSOC 33. Maya Spirituality
RSOC 91. Native Spiritual Traditions
RSOC 136. Religion in Latin America
RSOC 139. Mexican Popular Catholicism and Gender
TESP 60. Hispanic Popular Religion
TESP 65. U.S. Hispanic Theology
TESP 109. Hispanic Spirituality: Guadalupe
TESP 165. Romero and the Salvadoran Martyrs
Sociology Course
SOCI 135. Women and Social Change in Latin America
Latinas/os Living Outside of Latin America Requirement
Students are required to complete one of the following courses.
Note: This requirement can also be fulfilled with a seminar/senior thesis course or an independent study course. The director may add new courses that fulfill this requirement.
ENGL 36. Introduction to Latino/a Literature
ENGL 136. Latino/a Literature and Cultural Studies
ENGL 137. Native American Literature
ETHN 20. Introduction to Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies
ETHN 112. Native Peoples of the United States and Mexico
ETHN 120. Mexican Immigration to the United States
ETHN 121. Chicana/Chicano Families and Gender Roles
ETHN 122. Chicana/Chicano Communities
ETHN 125. Latinas/os in the United States
ETHN 126. Latina/o Immigrant Detention and Incorporation in the Age of Terrorism
ETHN 165. Community-Based Research Methods
RSOC 12. Latinos and Lived Religion in the United States
RSOC 139. Mexican Popular Catholicism and Gender
SOCI 150. Immigrant Businesses in the United States
SOCI 180. Immigrant Communities
SPAN 133. Mexican American Literature
SPAN 176. Spanish in the U.S.
TESP 60. Hispanic Popular Religion
TESP 65. U.S. Hispanic Theology
TESP 109. Hispanic Spirituality: Guadalupe
THTR 14. Chicana/o and Native American Theatre
Students are strongly encouraged to focus on Latin American/Latino peoples and cultures for the experiential learning requirement in the new Core Curriculum. Students are encouraged to participate in a study abroad program in Latin America. Courses taken in these programs may be accepted as requirements for the minor. Students must meet with the director of the Latin American Studies program before enrolling in Latin American study abroad programs.