Program Overview

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Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies, BS

The Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program is one of the major U.S. centers for research about Latin America. This major is for those who seek a multidisciplinary education on Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, and Portugal. It offers a wide range of courses in fields such as anthropology, business, economics, geography, history, journalism, music, political science, sociology, Spanish and Portuguese, and indigenous languages such as Yucatec Maya or Quechua.

How to Get in

• No application required.
• All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare.
• For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers.
• Courses required to get in: None
• GPA requirements to get in: None
• Credits required to get in: None
• Other: None

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below.

University General Education Requirements

• BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
• BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
• BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
• Communication Part A & Part B
• Ethnic Studies
• Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B

College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree requirements.

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

• Mathematics: Complete two courses of 3+ credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level in MATH, COMP SCI, or STAT subjects. A maximum of one course in each of COMP SCI and STAT subjects counts toward this requirement.
• Language: Complete the third unit of a language other than English.
• L&S Breadth: Complete:
  • 12 credits of Humanities, which must include at least 6 credits of Literature; and
  • 12 credits of Social Science; and
  • 12 credits of Natural Science, which must include 6 credits of Biological Science and 6 credits of Physical Science.
• Liberal Arts and Science Coursework: Complete at least 108 credits.
• Depth of Intermediate/Advanced Coursework: Complete at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level.
• Major: Declare and complete at least one major.
• Total Credits: Complete at least 120 credits.
• UW-Madison Experience: Complete both:
  • 30 credits in residence, overall, and
  • 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit.
• Quality of Work:
  • 2.000 in all coursework at UWMadison
  • 2.000 in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UWMadison

Requirements for the Major

Introduction to Latin America

Complete one course:

• LACIS/HISTORY/INTL ST 242: Modern Latin America
• LACIS/HISTORY 243: Colonial Latin America: Invasion to Independence
• LACIS/AFROAMER/ANTHRO/C&E SOC/GEOG/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SOC/SPANISH 260: Latin America: An Introduction
• LACIS/CHICLA/HISTORY/POLI SCI 268: The U.S. & Latin America from the Colonial Era to the Present: A Critical Survey

Breadth/Interdisciplinary Requirement

Complete one course from each of the following two sequences:

Humanities/Education/Politics (Human-Centered)

• AFROAMER/DANCE/MUSIC 318: Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas
• AFROAMER/HISTORY 347: The Caribbean and its Diasporas
• ANTHRO 237: Cut 'n' Mix: Music, Race, and Culture in the Caribbean
• CHICLA/POLI SCI 302: Mexican-American Politics
• CHICLA/GEN&WS 332: Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change
• CHICLA/COM ARTS 347: Race, Ethnicity, and Media
• CHICLA/SPANISH 364: Survey of Latinx/e Popular Culture
• CURRIC 292: Globalizing Education
• ED POL 260: Introduction to International Education Development
• ED POL/INTL ST 335: Globalization and Education
• GEOG 307: International Migration, Health, and Human Rights
• GEOG/CHICLA/GEN&WS 308: Latinx Feminisms: Women's Lives, Work, and Activism
• INTL ST 101: Introduction to International Studies
• INTL ST/POLI SCI 325: Social Movements and Revolutions in Latin America
• LACIS/SPANISH 285: Race and Culture in the Americas
• LACIS/CHICLA/ED POL 342: Education across the Americas: Empire, Capitalism, and Resistance
• LITTRANS 252: Spanish Literary Masterpieces in Translation
• MUSIC/AFROAMER/DANCE 318: Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas
• POLI SCI/CHICLA 302: Mexican-American Politics
• POLI SCI/INTL ST 325: Social Movements and Revolutions in Latin America
• POLI SCI/CHICLA/HISTORY/LACIS 355: Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective
• POLI SCI/CHICLA/HISTORY 422: Latino History and Politics
• SPANISH/LACIS 285: Race and Culture in the Americas
• SPANISH/CHICLA 478: Border and Race Studies in Latin America
• SPANISH 480: Topics in Latin American Performance/Visual Studies

Environment/Economy/Health/Agriculture (Environment and Economy)

• A A E 319: The International Agricultural Economy
• A A E/NUTR SCI 350: World Hunger and Malnutrition
• A A E/INTL ST 373: Globalization, Poverty and Development
• A A E/INTL ST 374: The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy
• BOTANY 265: Rainforests and Coral Reefs
• C&E SOC/SOC 222: Food, Culture, and Society
• ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL 100: Forests of the World
• GEOG/ENVIR ST 339: Environmental Conservation
• GEOG 340: World Regions in Global Context
• GEOG/C&E SOC/ENVIR ST 434: People, Wildlife and Landscapes
• LACIS/CHICLA/HISTORY/POLI SCI 355: Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective
• LACIS 440: Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies 1
• PLANTSCI 370: World Vegetable Crops
• PLANTSCI 376: Tropical Horticultural Systems
• PLANTSCI 378: Tropical Horticultural Systems International Field Study
• POP HLTH/C&E SOC 370: Introduction to Public Health
• SOC/C&E SOC 222: Food, Culture, and Society

Depth/Interdisciplinary Requirement

Complete three courses:

• AFROAMER/AFRICAN 413: Contemporary African and Caribbean Drama
• A A E/ECON 474: Economic Problems of Developing Areas
• ANTHRO 340: Music, Race, And Culture in Brazil
• ANTHRO/LACIS 361: Elementary Quechua 2
• ANTHRO/LACIS 362: Elementary Quechua 2
• ANTHRO/LACIS 363: Intermediate Quechua 2
• ANTHRO/LACIS 364: Advanced Quechua 2
• ANTHRO/LACIS 376: First Semester Yucatec Maya 2
• ANTHRO/LACIS 377: Second Semester Yucatec Maya 2
• ANTHRO 458: Primate Behavioral Ecology
• ANTHRO 668: Primate Conservation
• BOTANY/AMER IND/ANTHRO 474: Ethnobotany
• CHICLA/SPANISH 215: Border and Migration Studies of Latinx America
• CHICLA 301: Chicana/o and Latina/o History
• CHICLA/GEN&WS 334: Feminist Social Movements Across the Americas
• CHICLA/COM ARTS 419: Latino/as and Media
• CHICLA/HISTORY 435: Colony, Nation, and Minority: The Puerto Ricans' World
• CHICLA/LEGAL ST/SOC 440: Ethnicity, Race, and Justice
• CHICLA/HISTORY/POLI SCI 422: Latino History and Politics
• CHICLA/LEGAL ST/SOC 443: Immigration, Crime, and Enforcement
• CHICLA/SOC 470: Sociodemographic Analysis of Mexican Migration
• CHICLA/SPANISH 478: Border and Race Studies in Latin America
• CHICLA 520: Latinx Digital Publics
• CHICLA/COUN PSY 525: Dimensions of Latin@ Mental Health Services
• CHICLA/COUN PSY 590: Esperanza Community-Engaged Research with Latines
• CURRIC 366: Internationalizing Educational Knowledge
• ECON/A A E/INTL BUS 462: Latin American Economic Development
• ENGL/CHICLA 368: Chicana/o and Latina/o Literatures
• ENGL/THEATRE 577: Postcolonial Theatre: Drama, Theory and Performance in the Global South
• ENVIR ST/C&E SOC/GEOG 434: People, Wildlife and Landscapes
• ENVIR ST/BOTANY/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 516: Conservation Biology
• GEOG 538: The Humid Tropics: Ecology, Subsistence, and Development
• HISTORY/LACIS 243: Colonial Latin America: Invasion to Independence
• HISTORY/AFROAMER 347: The Caribbean and its Diasporas
• HISTORY/CHICLA/LACIS/POLI SCI 355: Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective
• HISTORY/CHICLA/POLI SCI 422: Latino History and Politics
• HISTORY 434: American Foreign Relations, 1901 to the Present
• HISTORY/CHICLA 435: Colony, Nation, and Minority: The Puerto Ricans' World
• HISTORY/HIST SCI/MED HIST 564: Disease, Medicine and Public Health in the History of Latin America and the Caribbean
• LACIS/ILS 367: The Literature of Migration and the Migrant Experience in the Americas
• LACIS 440: Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies 1
• LACIS 698: Directed Study
• LACIS 699: Directed Study
• POLI SCI/INTL ST 431: Contentious Politics
• SOC/C&E SOC 630: Sociology of Developing Societies/Third World

Language & Cultural Studies

Complete three courses:

• LACIS/ANTHRO 361: Elementary Quechua 3
• LACIS/ANTHRO 362: Elementary Quechua 3
• LACIS/ANTHRO 363: Intermediate Quechua 3
• LACIS/ANTHRO 364: Advanced Quechua 3
• LACIS/ANTHRO 376: First Semester Yucatec Maya 3
• LACIS/ANTHRO 377: Second Semester Yucatec Maya 3
• PORTUG 201: Third Semester Portuguese
• PORTUG 202: Fourth Semester Portuguese
• PORTUG 221: Introduction to Luso-Brazilian Literatures
• PORTUG 225: Third Year Conversation and Composition
• PORTUG 226: Third Year Conversation and Composition
• PORTUG 301: Intensive Portuguese
• PORTUG 302: Intensive Portuguese
• PORTUG 311: Fourth Year Composition and Conversation
• PORTUG 312: Fourth Year Composition and Conversation
• PORTUG 361: Portuguese Civilization
• PORTUG 362: Brazilian Civilization
• PORTUG 411: Survey of Portuguese Literature before 1825
• PORTUG/AFRICAN 451: Lusophone African Literature
• PORTUG 467: Survey of Portuguese Literature since 1825
• PORTUG 468: Survey of Brazilian Literature since 1890
• PORTUG 573: Topics in Portuguese: Study Abroad
• SPANISH/CHICLA 215: Border and Migration Studies of Latinx America
• SPANISH 223: Introduction to Hispanic Cultures
• SPANISH 224: Introduction to Hispanic Literatures
• SPANISH 225: Lying, Swearing, and Breaking the Rules: An Introduction to the Linguistic Study of Spanish
• SPANISH 226: Intermediate Language Practice with Emphasis on Writing and Grammar
• SPANISH 228: From Bad Bunny to Bad Hombres: The (Mis)representation and (In)visibility of Spanish in the US
• SPANISH 230: The Beautiful Game: Cultural Politics of Soccer
• SPANISH 245:
• SPANISH 320: Spanish Phonetics
• SPANISH 321: The Structure of Modern Spanish
• SPANISH 328: Advanced Medical Spanish
• SPANISH 331: Spanish Applied Linguistics
• SPANISH 311: Advanced Language Practice
• SPANISH 317: Spanish for Nursing
• SPANISH 319: Topics in Spanish Language Practice
• SPANISH 322: Survey of Early Hispanic Literature
• SPANISH 324: Survey of Modern Spanish Literature
• SPANISH 325: Advanced Conversation
• SPANISH 326: Survey of Spanish American Literature
• SPANISH/INTL BUS 329: Spanish for Business
• SPANISH 359: Spanish Business Area Studies
• SPANISH 361: Spanish Civilization
• SPANISH 363: Spanish American Civilization
• SPANISH/CHICLA 364: Survey of Latinx/e Popular Culture
• SPANISH/MEDIEVAL 414: Literature of the Castilian Middle Age (XII-XV centuries)
• SPANISH 420: Advanced Spanish Phonetics
• SPANISH/FRENCH/ITALIAN/PORTUG 429: Introduction to the Romance Languages
• SPANISH 430: Spanish in the United States
• SPANISH 435: Cervantes
• SPANISH/ENVIR ST 445: Culture and the Environment in the Luso-Hispanic World
• SPANISH 451: Literature of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
• SPANISH 453: Literature of the Twentieth Century
• SPANISH 460: Spanish American Literature
• SPANISH 461: The Spanish American Short Story
• SPANISH 464: Spanish American Poetry and Essay
• SPANISH/CHICLA 467: US Latinx/e Literature
• SPANISH 468: Topics in Hispanic Culture (The Beautiful Game, Human Rights: Argentina/Chile)
• SPANISH/CHICLA 469: Topics in Latinx Culture
• SPANISH 470: Undergraduate Seminars in Hispanic Literature/Culture/Linguistics
• SPANISH 472: Hispanic Screen Studies
• SPANISH 473: Study Abroad in Spanish Language Practice
• SPANISH 474: Study Abroad in Spanish Linguistics
• SPANISH 475: Study Abroad in Hispanic Literatures
• SPANISH 476: Study Abroad in Hispanic Cultures
• SPANISH 477: Latin American Rock Cultures
• SPANISH 479: Latin American Literature and Human Rights
• SPANISH 490: Race, Religion and Ethnicity in the Age of Empire

LACIS Seminar

Complete one course:

• LACIS 440: Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies (Only topics offered for at least 3 credits may meet this requirement.) 1
• LACIS 681: Senior Honors Thesis
• LACIS 682: Senior Honors Thesis
• POLI SCI 402: Wisconsin in Washington Internship Course

Residence and Quality of Work

• 2.000 GPA in all LACIS and major courses
• 2.000 GPA on at least 15 credits of upper-level work (courses with intermediate or advanced designation) in the major, in residence
• 15 credits in LACIS, taken on the UWMadison campus

Honors in the Major

Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with the LACIS undergraduate advisor.

Honors in the Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Major Requirements

To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:

• Earn a 3.300 University GPA
• Earn a 3.400 GPA for all major courses
• Complete 18 credits, taken for Honors, with individual grades of B or better, to include:
  • LACIS Introductory Course, taken for Honors (Complete one course)
  • LACIS/HISTORY/INTL ST 242: Modern Latin America
  • LACIS/HISTORY 243: Colonial Latin America: Invasion to Independence
  • LACIS/AFROAMER/ANTHRO/C&E SOC/GEOG/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SOC/SPANISH 260: Latin America: An Introduction
  • LACIS/CHICLA/HISTORY/POLI SCI 268: The U.S. & Latin America from the Colonial Era to the Present: A Critical Survey
  • LACIS Seminar, taken for Honors (Complete one course)
  • LACIS 440: Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies (Only courses that count for at least 3 credits will meet this requirement.) 1
  • POLI SCI 402: Wisconsin in Washington Internship Course
  • A two-semester Senior Honors Thesis, taken for Honors (Complete both courses)
  • LACIS 681: Senior Honors Thesis
  • LACIS 682: Senior Honors Thesis
  • Additional LACIS courses taken for Honors to achieve 18 credits

Footnotes

1. Can only meet requirements in multiple sections if the topic title is different
2. Only one Quechua or Yucatec Maya course may be used to meet this requirement (and may not meet both Depth/Interdisciplinary and Language & Cultural Studies requirement)
3. May meet either the Depth/Interdisciplinary or Language & Cultural Studies requirement, but not both.

University Degree Requirements

• Total Degree: To receive a bachelor's degree from UWMadison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements.
• Residency: Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UWMadison. "In residence" means on the UWMadison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. In residence credit also includes UWMadison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UWMadison Study Abroad/Study Away programs.
• Quality of Work: Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation.

Learning Outcomes

1. (Interdisciplinarity) analyzing contemporary political, economic, and cultural realities in the LACIS regions from multi-disciplinary perspectives, ideally including humanities, social sciences and sometimes natural science approaches.
2. (Depth of knowledge) mastering at the undergraduate expert level a particular disciplinary (e.g. history, anthropology etc.) or topical (e.g. poverty, gender, social justice etc.) theme in the LACIS regions by taking five courses in an area of concentration.
3. (Historical and cultural grounding) understanding the historical, political, and cultural forces and conditions that have given rise to the unity and diversity in LACIS regions today.
4. (Language knowledge) mastering at the undergraduate generalist level a particular facet of life in one or more LACIS regions by studying a foreign language to the advanced (3rd year) level and beyond.
5. (Analytical skills) demonstrating the ability to think critically and analytically, the capacity to write clearly and effectively, and the ability to identify and evaluate research methods and outcomes.

Four-Year Plan

This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.

Freshman

• Fall:
  • Introductory Course for the Major (4 credits)
  • Communication A (4 credits)
  • Quantitative Reasoning A (3 credits)
  • SPANISH 101 (4 credits)
• Spring:
  • Breadth/Interdisciplinary Course (4 credits)
  • Ethnic Studies (3 credits)
  • Biological Science Breadth (4 credits)
  • SPANISH 102 (4 credits)

Sophomore

• Fall:
  • Breadth/Interdisciplinary Course ( credits)
  • Elective (3 credits)
  • INTER-LS 210 (1 credit)
  • Quantitative Reasoning B (4 credits)
  • Science Breadth (4 credits)
  • SPANISH 203 (4 credits)
• Spring:
  • Communication B (4 credits)
  • Depth/Interdisciplinary Course (3 credits)
  • Physical Science Breadth (4 credits)
  • SPANISH 204 (4 credits)

Junior

• Fall:
  • Recommend Study Abroad
  • Depth/Interdisciplinary Course (3 credits)
  • Elective (3 credits)
  • Science Breadth (4 credits)
  • Spanish, Portuguese, Yucatec Maya, or Quechua language course (4 credits)
• Spring:
  • Recommend Study Abroad and Apply for Summer Internship
  • Depth/Interdisciplinary Course (3 credits)
  • Spanish, Portuguese, Yucatec Maya, or Quechua language course (4 credits)
  • Electives (6 credits)

Senior

• Fall:
  • Spanish, Portuguese, Yucatec Maya, or Quechua language course (4 credits)
  • I/A Level Comp Sci, Math, or Stat (if BS) (4 credits)
  • Electives (6 credits)
• Spring:
  • Electives (12 credits)
  • LACIS Seminar Course (3 credits)

Advising and Careers

Declare or Cancel The Major

Please follow the process described on the LACIS website.

SuccessWorks

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.

Resources and Scholarships

Undergraduate students (from any major or discipline) can apply to receive one-time funds for internships or volunteer programs in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Iberian Peninsula. Domestic programs will be considered if the work is related to the LACIS field of study. The internships and volunteer programs will be carried out in public institutions or well-established NGOs. Students from any nationality and citizenship are eligible to apply. Please note that preference is given to students declared in the Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies major. Read post-internship reports from former grant recipients. We also encourage our students to explore funding options available through the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) Awards Office.