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Introduction to Latino/a and Latin American Studies

The Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies at Wayne State University strives to promote equitable access to a quality university education to students interested in Latino/a and Latin American cultural studies, and to enhance diversity on the campus. The Center accomplishes its mission through a four-part program in:

• student services
• research in the field of Latino/a and Latin American Studies
• internal University advocacy on Latino/a perspectives
• outreach to the Latino/a and larger off-campus communities

Mission and Research Specializations

The research and teaching specializations of the faculty associated with the Center are:

• Mexican history
• Caribbean studies
• Latin American literature
• United States Latino/a studies
• student learning strategies in higher education

Student Success Programs

Latino/a Studies' comprehensive student services are based on a leadership development and an academic self-empowerment model. The Center hosts an annual Academia del Pueblo Research Conference and offers three distinct comprehensive student success programs:

• the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), currently funded by DTE Energy
• the Chicano-Boricua Studies (CBS) Scholars Program, a WSU learning community
• the College to Career (C2C) Program, a second WSU learning community, which is designed to prepare graduating students for post-baccalaureate/professional degrees and future careers

Participating Faculty

The participating faculty members are:

• CHINEA, JORGE L.: Ph.D., University of Minnesota; M.A., B.A., State University of New York at Binghamton; Director
• HERNANDEZ, CARLOS: Ph.D., Yale University; M.A., University of Florida; B.A., Texas A&M University
• TRUJILLO-PAGAN, NICOLE: Ph.D., University of Michigan; B.A., Emmanuel College; Participating Faculty

Programs

The Center offers the following programs:

• Latino/a and Latin American Studies (Co-Major)
• Latino/a and Latin American Studies Minor

Courses

The following courses are offered:

• LAS 1410 Latino/a Studies Seminar: First year seminar on Latino/a cultural studies topics. Offered Every Term.
• LAS 1420 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Latino/a Studies Research: Interdisciplinary introduction to the issues, concepts, and debates concerning the study of Latin American and Latino/as in the U.S. Offered Winter.
• LAS 1900 History of Colonial Latin America: The Spanish and Portuguese conquests in the Americas; the multi-racial and class social structures they established as colonies, and the movements for independence. Offered Yearly.
• LAS 1910 Latin America from Independence to the Present: Latin America from early nineteenth century to the 1980s. Major themes include: colonial pasts and political independence; state formation, and the construction of identities at local and national levels; elite and popular relations, including cases of rebellion, revolution, and state repression; forms of capitalist development and transformations in class relations, ideologies of economic development, and linkages to the United States. Offered Yearly.
• LAS 2100 Chicano/a Literature and Culture: Examination of Chicano/a literature. Themes and figures in a social and historical context. Offered Every Other Year.
• LAS 2110 Puerto Rican Literature and Culture: Examination of Puerto Rican literature. Themes and figures in a social and historical context. Offered Every Other Year.
• LAS 2250 AfroLatino/a History and Culture: Interdisciplinary introduction to the history and culture of AfroLatinos/as in the U.S. from the perspective of the African Diaspora in the Americas. Offered Winter.
• LAS 2410 History of Mexico: Historical development of Mexico and the Mexican people from the Spanish conquest to the present. Interaction of political, social, economic and cultural influences. Offered Yearly.
• LAS 2420 History of Puerto Rico and Cuba: Historical development of Puerto Rico and Cuba from the pre-Columbian period to the present. Interaction of political, social, economic and cultural influences. Offered Intermittently.
• LAS 2430 History of Latino/as in the United States: Historical development of people of Hispanic descent in the United States from the early nineteenth century to the present. Cultural conflict, and interaction of political, social, and economic forces. Offered Yearly.
• LAS 3000 Special Topics in Latino/a and Latin American Studies: Selected, specialized and/or topical studies in Latino/a and Latin American studies. Topics to be announced in Schedule of Classes. Offered Fall, Winter.
• LAS 3431 Revolutionary Movements in Latin America: This course examines revolutionary movements in twentieth-century Latin America with special emphasis on Central America, the Caribbean, and the Southern Cone. The course also explores the relationship between these movements, U.S. involvement in the region, and the Latin American diaspora. Offered Fall.
• LAS 3434 Labor in Latin America: The aim of this course is to introduce students to the history of labor and the working-class throughout Latin America from pre-Hispanic times to the present. Offered Every Other Year.
• LAS 3540 Cultures and Societies of Latin America: Latin American social structures and cultural variation, history, and relationship to the United States. Themes include class, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, globalization, and immigration to the United States. Offered Intermittently.
• LAS 3610 Seminar in Latino/a Urban Problems: Historical and current issues in economics, politics, and culture involving the multi-racial and multi-ethnic Latino/a population of the United States. Offered Intermittently.
• LAS 3710 Learning About Your Community Through Research: Blend of participatory, in-service, and classroom work to enhance undergraduate research skills by linking social science theories and concepts to hands-on community-based learning opportunities. Offered Fall.
• LAS 3800 Spanish for Heritage Learners: Review of grammar and composition for Spanish heritage learners. Conducted entirely in Spanish. Offered Intermittently.
• LAS 3990 Directed Study: Special topics are addressed by students and faculty. Offered Fall, Winter.
• LAS 5231 The Conquest in Latin America: Varying perspectives on European conquests in Latin America. Offered Intermittently.
• LAS 5560 Spanish American Cultures and their Traditions: Spanish America before and after the discovery of the New World. Art, music, customs, contemporary institutions, through films, records, newspapers, gallery visit to Detroit Institute of Art, and the text. Offered Every Other Year.