Latin American Area Studies

The Latin American and Latino Studies program offers a major and a minor concentration in Latin American area studies, and a minor in Puerto Rican and Latino studies. The program gives students the opportunity to study a full range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to understanding Latin America and the Caribbean, and the movements and settlement of the peoples and cultures of these regions in the United States. It is a program that combines Latin American studies, Puerto Rican, and Latino ethnic studies. This major in Latin American area studies is designed to provide a detailed knowledge of the development, institutions, language, and customs of Latin America. It is intended for two categories of students. Those who intend after graduation to go into careers such as inter-American relations, commerce, banking, or journalism will ordinarily take the Latin American area studies concentration. Students with majors in other disciplines such as Hispanic languages and literatures, history, anthropology, sociology, or political science and who intend to pursue graduate work can also choose this major or the minor. 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 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. All courses are conducted in English, except those dealing with languages and literatures. Visiting professors make it possible to offer other courses not listed here. Subjects in Special Problems, offered by different departments, and courses in Special Studies and tutorials for 1, 2, or 3 credits under the Honors Program, allow additional flexibility in arranging a varied program suitable to the needs and interests of the student.