Latin American Studies Concentration

Department Home Page

Latin American Studies

Chair(s):

In this concentration, students examine Latin American cultures and societies, with work in at least two disciplines: humanities and social sciences. Participation in a study program in Latin America is encouraged (see Off-Campus Study ). A student choosing the senior research project will be expected to integrate the various components of his or her program in the analysis of a topic of special interest.

Concentration requirements: 24 credits as follows:

1. Gateway course: 4 credits

LAS 111 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 4 credits

2. Latin American core courses - 8 credits chosen from:

HIS 100 - Introduction to Historical Inquiry 4 credits (only on a Latin American topic)
HIS 201 - Colonial Latin America 4 credits
HIS 202 - Modern Latin America 4 credits
HIS 30x - Advanced Studies in Latin America History 4 credits
LAS 221 - Introduction to U.S. Latinx Studies 4 credits
SPN 311 - Constructing Identities in Independent Latin America 4 credits
SPN 315 - Creativity and Dissidence in Modern Latin America 4 credits
SPN 317 - Readings in U.S. Latinx Literature and Culture 4 credits
SPN 320 - Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking World 4 credits (only on a Latin American or U.S. Latinx topic)
SPN 377 - Modernization and Innovation in Contemporary Latin America 4 credits
SPN 379 - U.S. Latinx Identities and Sexualities 4 credits
SPN 383 - The Latin American Colonial World 4 credits
SPN 384 - Spanish Dialectology 4 credits (only on a Latin American or U.S. Latinx topic)

3. Elective courses - 8 credits chosen from:

a. Courses listed under number 2 above

b. Courses with Latin American content:

ANT 238 - Environmental Anthropology 4 credits
ANT 285 - Anthropology, Violence, and Human Rights 4 credits
ARH 233 - American Art 4 credits
ARH 270 - Modern Architecture and Globalization 4 credits
ECN 230 - Economic Development 4 credits
ECN 233 - International Economics 4 credits
ECN 372 - Seminar in Economic Development 4 credits
ECN 374 - Seminar in International Trade 4 credits
ENV 495 - Senior Seminar 4 credits (only on a Latin American topic)
POL 258 - Democratization and the Politics of Regime Change 4 credits
POL 354 - Political Economy of Development 4 credits
POL 355 - Courts and Politics in Comparative Perspective 4 credits
SOC 220 - Sociology of Global Development 4 credits

c. Off-campus study

Up to 8 approved credits taken in LAS-designated off-campus programs: Argentina (CIEE-Buenos Aires), Chile (CIEE Santiago de Chile and Valparaiso; IES Santiago de Chile), Costa Rica (ICADS), Ecuador (IES-Quito; Minnesota Studies in International Development), or Mexico (Rutgers U-Mérida).

d. With the approval of the concentration, courses not included above that deal significantly with Latin America.

4. Research project - 4 credits

Students may choose one of the following two options for the fulfillment of this requirement:

a. Senior Research

Declaration of the intention to complete a senior research project will occur no later than the second semester of the third year. The project should integrate previous coursework in the concentration and should rely significantly on sources in Spanish if the topic pertains to a Spanish-speaking country. A proposal stating the research questions and describing a methodology must be submitted to and approved by the concentration in the fall semester of the fourth year. Fall semester enrollment is allowed if the proposal is approved in the second semester of the third year.

b. Senior Paper

Students may choose to complete a research paper while enrolled as a senior in an approved 300- or 400-level course from the following:

ECN 372 - Seminar in Economic Development 4 credits
ECN 374 - Seminar in International Trade 4 credits
ENV 495 - Senior Seminar 4 credits (only on a Latin American topic)
HIS 30x - Advanced Studies in Latin America History 4 credits
POL 354 - Political Economy of Development 4 credits
POL 355 - Courts and Politics in Comparative Perspective 4 credits
SPN 377 - Modernization and Innovation in Contemporary Latin America 4 credits
SPN 379 - U.S. Latinx Identities and Sexualities 4 credits
SPN 383 - The Latin American Colonial World 4 credits
SPN 384 - Spanish Dialectology 4 credits

Additional Information

With the approval of the concentration and the course instructor, any other 300- or 400-level courses not included above that deal significantly with Latin America.

Declaration of the intention to choose this option should occur no later than the second semester of the junior year.

5. Other requirements:

Language requirement: demonstrated proficiency in Spanish through the completion of at least one course at the 200 level or above OR the equivalent.
No more than 12 credits in the same department may count toward the concentration.
A course cannot fulfill more than one requirement within the concentration.

Latin American Studies Courses

Click here to list Latin American Studies courses.