Program Overview

Latin American Studies Major, BA

The Latin American Studies (LAS) major is an interdisciplinary program that offers courses from eight liberal arts and social science departments. Its purpose is to develop versatile bilingual professionals and area specialists who can meet the challenges of globalization, including a complex economy that requires more than specialization in a single technical field.

Overview

To complete this 36-credit major, students select courses from various subject areas, including Language Proficiency, History, Literature, Culture, Economy, and Society.

Major Requirements

• University Core Requirements: 44 credits
• Major Requirements: 36 credits
  • Required Major Course: LAS 101 - The Other "America": Introduction to Latin American Studies (6 credits)
  • Major Electives:
    • Language Proficiency: Select two of the following (6 credits)
      • SPA 263 - Spanish for Native Speakers
      • SPA 280 - Intensive Review of Spanish
      • SPA 283 - Intermediate Spanish Conversation
      • SPA 284 - Intermediate Spanish Composition
    • History: Select two 3-credit courses or one 6-credit course (6 credits)
      • HIS 133 - Latin America: The Colonial Era
      • HIS 134 - Modern Latin America
      • HIS 231 - Latin America: Century of Social Change and Revolution
      • HIS 234 - South American Colossus: The History of Modern Brazil
      • HIS 243 - Service and Study in Latin America
      • LAS 201 - Latin America: The Caribbean and the World
      • LAS 210 - Luz, Camara, Accion!: Film as Mirror of Social Change in Latin American History and Culture
      • LAS 230 - "So Far from God; So Close to Uncle Sam:" Modern Mexico in History and Literature
      • LAS 250 - Environmental Policy and History: South American Rain Forest
    • Literature: Select two 3-credit courses or one 6-credit course (6 credits)
      • LAS 150 - Modern Latin American Divas: Female Political, Social and Cultural Leadership in the Republican Era
      • LAS 220 - Caribbean Transnational Cultures: The History, Literature and Film of the Spanish Caribbean
      • LIT 211J - American Voices
      • POR 154A - Topic: Contemporary Brazilian Literature and Culture
      • SPA 154R - Topic: Borders of Latino/a Identity: An Introduction to Latino/a Literature and Culture of the US
      • SPA 154S - Perspectives on America: The Experience of Latina Writers
      • SPA 319 - Masterpieces of Spanish American Literature I
      • SPA 320 - Masterpieces of Spanish American Literature II: Dictatorships
      • SPA 321 - Literature and Culture of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean
      • SPA 323 - Modern Latin American Prose
      • SPA 344 - The Short Story and Essay in Spanish America
      • SPA 346 - Hispanic Literature and Culture in the United States
      • SPA 480C - Seminar: Love and Repression in Modern Latin American and Caribbean Literature and Film
      • SPA 480F - Topic: Latin American Literature and Film of the 21st Century: The Andean World
    • Culture: Select one of the following (3 credits)
      • ANT 296H - Traditional and Modern Cultures of Latin America and Caribbean
      • ART 214 - Art History: Modern Art
      • SPA 154N - Topic: Hispanic Cultural Experiences in New York City
      • SPA 154Q - Topic: Negotiating Border Lines - Latino Films of the United States
      • SPA 154V - Latin American Cinema
      • SPA 311 - Introduction to Latin American Culture
      • SPA 345 - Latin American Theatre
      • SPA 347 - The Culture of Mexico
    • Society, the Economy, and Civic Engagement: Select two 3-credit courses or one 6-credit course (6 credits)
      • ECO 359 - Political Economy of Developing Nations
      • HIS 243 - Service and Study in Latin America
      • LAS 201 - Latin America: The Caribbean and the World
      • LAS 250 - Environmental Policy and History: South American Rain Forest
      • LAS 296A - Latin Immigration to the USA: Perspectives on the United States' Largest Ethnic Minority
    • Additional Elective: Select any 3-credit course not already taken from above groups (3 credits)
• Open Electives: 40 credits
  • May include one or two highly recommended Political Science courses: POL 101 - Politics: Comparative Introduction and/or POL 102 - Public Myth and Ideologies.
  • In addition to the courses listed, students are required to complete two courses with the Anti-Racism Education attribute attached. These courses may be taken during any semester of their education.

Plan of Study Grid

The plan of study grid outlines the recommended course sequence for each year of the program.

First Year

• Fall:
  • ENG 110 - Composition (3 credits)
  • UNV 101 - First-Year Seminar: Introduction to University Community (1 credit)
  • CIS 101 - Introduction to Computing (3 credits)
  • LAS 101 - The Other "America": Introduction to Latin American Studies (6 credits)
  • HIS 104 - History of Western Civilization 1815 to Present (3 credits)
• Spring:
  • ENG 120 - Critical Writing (4 credits)
  • MAT 134 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3 credits)
  • HIS 113U - The American Experience: The United States and the World (3 credits)
  • HIS 133 - Latin America: The Colonial Era (3 credits)
  • Open Elective Course (3 credits)

Second Year

• Fall:
  • ENG 201 - Writing in the Disciplines (3 credits)
  • COM 200 - Public Speaking (3 credits)
  • SPA 101 - Elementary College Spanish I (3 credits)
  • HIS 134 - Modern Latin America (3 credits)
  • Open Elective Course (3 credits)
• Spring:
  • SCI 230 - Environmental Science (4 credits)
  • SPA 102 - Elementary College Spanish II (3 credits)
  • ART 217 - Art History: Latin American Art (3 credits)
  • SPA 311 - Introduction to Latin American Culture (3 credits)
  • ECO 359 - Political Economy of Developing Nations (3 credits)

Third Year

• Fall:
  • LAS 201 - Latin America: The Caribbean and the World (6 credits)
  • ANT 214 - Latino Families in Cross-Cultural Perspective (3 credits)
  • SPA 283 or SPA 263 - Intermediate Spanish Conversation or Spanish for Native Speakers (3 credits)
  • ANT 225 - Black Women in Cross Cultural Perspectives (3 credits)
• Spring:
  • LAS 211S (3 credits)
  • SOC 226 - Community Service in New York City (3 credits)
  • ECO 105 - Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics (3 credits)
  • PHI 116 - Modern Philosophy (3 credits)
  • SPA 284 or SPA 280 - Intermediate Spanish Composition or Intensive Review of Spanish (3 credits)

Fourth Year

• Fall:
  • SOC 102 - Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
  • Open Elective Course (3 credits)
  • Open Elective Course (3 credits)
  • Open Elective Course (3 credits)
• Spring:
  • LAS 210 - Luz, Camara, Accion!: Film as Mirror of Social Change in Latin American History and Culture (6 credits)
  • INT 298M - On the Road: Great Migrations in American History and Literature (6 credits)
  • Open Elective Course (3 credits)

Total Credits

The total credits required for the Latin American Studies Major, BA, are 120 credits.