Latin American Studies
Director: Alberto Ribas-Casasayas, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Through the study of cultures, societies, and history of the Latin American region and Latin diaspora, the interdisciplinary minor in Latin American Studies (LAS) helps students develop:
global competence
cross-cultural awareness and communication
appreciation of social diversity and inclusion
understanding of the connections between Latin America and Latin American immigrant communities in the United States and other parts of the world.
These skills will help with careers in business, government and public service, international marketing, law, and nonprofit organizations. It also serves as a substantial foundation for graduate studies in disciplines such as Anthropology, History, Political Science, and Sociology, as well as any cultural or interdisciplinary studies with a focus on Latin America and other regional studies.
The minor requires demonstrated competence in one language spoken in Latin America, two foundational courses that offer an overall view of the region, and completion of more focused optional courses dealing with specific countries or themes.
Requirements for the Minor
To qualify for the minor, students must meet a language requirement and complete seven courses in the field of Latin American Studies. At least four of those must be upper-division courses. Courses must be chosen from at least three different departments.
Substantial credit from study abroad will be considered for course credit by the LAS director. An immersion experience relevant to Latin America, when complemented with significant written work upon the student's return, may also be considered for credit.
Language Requirement
Successful completion of an upper-division SPAN course, level 100 or above; 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: Any upper-division SPAN course taught in Spanish may be used to meet the language requirement, but only courses dealing with Latin America count towards the 7-course requirement.
Foundational Course I
The first group of foundational courses serves as an introduction to the Latin American region before the contemporary period. To meet this requirement, students must take one course dealing with Latin America as a region, focusing on any defined period or topic between the Precolumbian Era and late 19th century.
Some recent offerings include:
ANTH 185. Peoples of Latin America
ANTH 186. Mesoamerican Prehistory
ARTH 11. Arts of Contact: New Worlds.
ARTH 25. Indigenous Visions.
HIST 166. Latin America: Empires
SPAN 140: Narratives of Money
Foundational Course II
The second foundational requirement serves as an introduction to Latin American culture and civilization focusing on the formation of Latin American nation-states in the 19th century and the forces shaping Latin American nations in the 20th and 21st centuries. A course dealing with Latin America as a region, in a period from the wars of independence to present, will meet this requirement.
Some recent offerings include:
HIST 95. Modern Latin America
SPAN 137. Latin American Cultures and Civilizations
SPAN 146. Latin America through the Documentary Lens
SPAN 147. Cinema, Politics, and Society in Latin America
Students may take more than one Foundational I or II course. These shall go towards fulfilling the elective requirement.
In very specific circumstances, a course may be approved for either F-I or F-II, but under no circumstance may it be used to fulfill both requirements.
Latin American Electives. Four elective courses. Below is a partial list of courses recently taught at SCU that may be used to fulfill this requirement. Note the list may not be complete. Any course of instruction dealing in its entirety or substantially with a Latin American country or the region as a whole may count towards fulfilling a Latin American elective requirement. A course that has been used to fulfill a foundational requirement cannot be used to meet an elective requirement.
Anthropology Courses
ANTH 146: Anthropological Perspectives on Colonial California
ANTH 184. Religion and Culture in Latin America
ANTH 185. Peoples of Latin America
ANTH 186. Mesoamerican Prehistory
Art History Courses
ARTH 11. Art of Contact: New Worlds.
ARTH 25. Indigenous Visions.
ARTH 152. Arts of Ancient Mexico: From Olmec to Aztec
English Courses
ENGL 56. Global Literatures* (*when focusing on Latin America)
ENGL 156H. Global Literatures* (*when focusing on Latin America)
Environmental Studies Courses
ENVS 141. Environmental Biology in the Tropics
ENVS 144. Natural History of Baja California
ENVS 146. Agriculture, Environment, and Development: Latin America
History Courses
HIST 95. Introduction to the History of Modern Latin America .
HIST 112 The Haitian Revolution in a Global Context.HIST 161. Modern Mexico
HIST 162. Argentina
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 / SPAN 112EN. Mexican Culture
SPAN 113. The Revolution in Mexican Culture
SPAN 114. Culture and Society of the U.S.-Mexico Border
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 142. Narconarratives
SPAN 143. The Detective Short Story
SPAN 146. Latin America through the Documentary Lens
SPAN 147. Cinema, Politics, and Society in Latin America
Political Science Courses
POLI 136. Politics in Central America and the Caribbean
POLI 137. Politics in South America
POLI 147. Politics of Mexico Japan
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 Courses
SOCI 134 Globalization and Inequality
SOCI 135. Women and Social Change in Latin America
SOCI 137 Global Development and Social Change* (*when focusing on Latin America)
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 the supervision of an affiliated faculty member.
Latin American Diaspora Elective
Students are required to complete one course focusing on Latin communities outside of Latin America. Below is a list of recently offered courses at Santa Clara. This requirement can also be fulfilled with a seminar/senior thesis course or an independent study course, with the approval of the program director and the supervision of affiliated Faculty.
ENGL 36. Introduction to Latino/a Literature
ENGL 136. LatinX Literature and Cultural Studies
ENGL 137. Native American Literature
ETHN 20. Introduction to Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x Studies
ETHN 112. Indigenous/Native Peoples of the United States and Mexico
ETHN 120. Immigration to the United States
ETHN 121. Chicana/o/x Families and Gender Roles
ETHN 122. Chicana/o/x Communities in the United States
ETHN 125. Latinas/os/xs in the United States
ETHN 126. Latina/o/x Immigrant Detention and Incorporation in the Age of Terrorism
ETHN 165. Community-Based Research Methods
ETHN 186: Seminar - Contemporary Latina/o/x Immigration Issues
RSOC 12. Latinos and Lived Religion in the United States
RSOC 139. Mexican Popular Catholicism and Gender
SOCI 150. Immigrant Entrepreneurship in the United States
SOCI 180. Immigrant Communities
SPAN 176. Spanish in the U.S.
TESP 59 / WGST 44 / ETHN 25: Sex and Spirit in LatinX Theology
TESP 60. Hispanic Popular Religion
TESP 65. U.S. Hispanic Theology
TESP 114: LatinX Pentecostal Christianity
THTR 14. Chicana/o and Native American Theatre
Final notes
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, as courses abroad may be credited towards minor requirements. Students should meet with the director of the Latin American Studies program before enrolling in Latin American study abroad programs.