Latin American Area Studies Major

Latin American Area Studies Major

The major in Latin American area studies is designed to provide detailed knowledge of the development, institutions, language, and customs of Latin America. This major is ideal for students who intend after graduation to go into careers in education, government, international relations, commerce, banking, media, law and health care. It is also a great complement to other majors such as Hispanic languages and literatures, history, anthropology, sociology, political science and urban studies. The Latin American Area Studies major provides a strong academic background for students interested in pursuing graduate level studies.

The Latin American area studies major is accepted as an academic major in partial fulfillment for the certificate to teach social studies (Grades 7–12). Prospective majors should consult with the LALS director. The area courses listed below are offered as a means of acquainting the student with the physical environment of the area, its people, their languages and literatures, contributions to civilization, educational and scientific institutions, arts and music, economic and political problems, history, and relations with one another and with other states.

Major: Latin American Area Studies (30 Credits)
Major: Latin American Area Studies and Secondary Education (30+27(SEYS) Credits)

 

Major in Latin American Area Studies (State Education Code 26462)

The major consists of 30 credits, which include the following required and elective courses:

Required (18 credits):

  • ANTH 205: Peoples of Mexico & Central America or ANTH 206: Peoples of South America
  • HIST 105: Latin America to 1825 or HIST 106: Latin America 1825 to present
  • LALS 203: Introduction to Latinx Ethnic Identity
  • PSCI 239: Politics of Latin America or PSCI 259: Latin America in World Politics
  • SPAN 312: Culture and Civilization of Latin America or SPAN 377: Hispanic Caribbean Literature and Culture or SPAN 378: Culture and Identity in U.S. Latino/Latina Literature
  • LALS 381W: Latin American Studies Seminar

Electives (12 Credits):

Africana Studies:

  • AFST 201W Introduction to Black Cultures
  • AFST 232W Caribbean Literature
  • AFST 300W Seminar in Africana Studies

Anthropology:

  • ANTH 205 Peoples of Mexico and Central America
  • ANTH 206 Peoples of South America
  • ANTH 215 Peoples of the Caribbean
  • ANTH 239 Topics in Cultural Anthropology
  • ANTH 241 The Aztecs, Maya, and Olmecs
  • ANTH 243 Archaeology of North America
  • ANTH 245 Archaeology of South America
  • ANTH 282 Linguistic Subjectivities in Latin America
    ANTH** 397 Directed Research in Anthropology

Art History:

  • ARTH 280 Art and Architecture of Ancient Mesoamerica
  • ARTH 282 Art & Architecture of the Andes
  • ARTH 284 Post-Conquest Art of Latin America

Dance:

  • DANCE 163 Dance Techniques of the Caribbean

Economics:

  • ECON 212 Economics of Latin America

English:

  • ENGL 360 VT: Latino/Latina Literature in English

History:

  • HIST105 History of Latin America to 1825
  • HIST 106 History of Latin America, 1825 to present
  • HIST 121 History of Brazil
  • HIST 200 Selected Studies in History
  • HIST 355 The History of Puerto Rico
  • HIST 356 History of the Spanish Caribbean: Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic
  • HIST **392W Colloquium
  • HIST **393 Tutorial

Latin American & Latino Studies:

  • LALS 201 Contemporary Society and Film in Latin America
  • LALS 202 Field Experience in a Bilingual Hispanic Setting
  • LALS 204 Caribbean Religions
  • LALS 205 Latinx and the Media
  • LALS 208 The Puerto Rican and the Latin American Woman
  • LALS 220 Development of Puerto Rican Literature in the United States
  • LALS 294 Art of Puerto Rico and the Hispanic Caribbean
  • LALS 380 Tutorial in Puerto Rican and Latino Studies

Linguistics & Communication Disorders:

  • LCD **191.3 Special Problems

Political Science:

  • PSCI **209 Special Topics in Political Science
  • PSCI 227 Latino Politics and Immigration 
  • PSCI 230 Politics of Development
  • PSCI 233 Transitions to Democracy
  • PSCI 239 Politics of Latin America
  • PSCI 244 Comparative Analysis of Revolutions
  • PSCI **246 Social Movements and Political Power
  • PSCI **249 Colloquium in Comparative Politics
  • PSCI 259 Latin America in World Politics
  • PSCI **292 Internship in Urban Politics
  • PSCI **293 Fieldwork in Political Science

Hispanic Languages & Literature:

  • PORT 41 Global Portuguese Literature in Translation
  • SPAN 41. Masterpieces of Hispanic Literature in Translation
  • SPAN 45. Hispanic Civilization (In English)
  • SPAN 47 Hispanic Cinema (in English)
  • SPAN 51 Latin American Jewish Literature (In English)
  • SPAN 60 Hispanic Literature and Culture in the US
  • SPAN 240 Introduction to Hispanic Literary Studies
  • SPAN 280 Survey of Spanish American Literature I
  • SPAN 290 Survey of Spanish American Literature II
  • SPAN 291 Hispanic Cinema (In Spanish)
  • SPAN 312 The Culture and Civilization of Latin America
  • SPAN 314 Art and Revolution in Latin America
  • SPAN 370 Colonial Liter. & Emerging Criollo Voices in Spanish America
  • SPAN 371 Avant-Garde Movements in Latin America
  • SPAN 372 Contemporary and Post-Modern Lit. in Latin America
  • SPAN 373 Native Peoples, Slaves, and Campesinos in Latin America
  • SPAN 374 Theatre and Film in Latin America: From Text to Performance
  • SPAN 377 Hispanic Caribbean Literature and Culture
  • SPAN 379 Gender, Sexuality, and Feminism in Spanish-American Literature
  • SPAN 338 Foundations of Spanish Linguistics
  • SPAN 390 Hispanic Literature Seminar

Sociology:

  • SOC 211 Ethnic and Racial Relations
  • SOC 238 Social Change and Social Movements
  • SOC 239 Sociology of Developing Countries
  • SOC**240 Selected Topics in Sociology
  • SOC 274 Social Change in Latin America and the Caribbean
  • SOC** 392 Special Problems

** Permission from LALS Director Required