BA in Latin American Studies

In addition to providing insight into the culture, economy, history, and politics of our hemispheric neighbors, Latin American Studies offers students planning to pursue careers in diplomacy, international business, and law or graduate study in the humanities and social sciences a solid grounding in the region that will help link theory with Latin American reality and culture with history and politics.

Students may contact any of the LAS faculty for advising.

Program Requirements and Policies

• Ten courses are required for the BA in Latin American Studies. 
• At least one of the requirements must focus on pre-20th century Latin America and at least one of the requirements must focus on indigenous cultures/societies.
• The list below is a sample of courses but is NOT a complete list. Before you register, consult the listings in the course's home department.

Course Requirements

1. Three courses in the Social Sciences or History:
   • ANTH 128: Mesoamerican Archaeology
   • ANTH 16: Intr. Latinx Cultures*
   • HST 18: Colonial Latin America
   • HST 19: Modern Latin America
   • HST 115: Revolution in Latin America: Mexico and Cuba
   • HST 116: Revolution in Central & South America
   • HST 192: Research Seminar in Latin American History
   • PS 127: Latin American Politics
   • PS 138: Political Violence in State and Society
   • PS 170: Seminar: International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
   • SOC 188: Comparative Social Inequality
   • SOC 050: Globalization and Social Change
   • SOC 072: Sociology of Latinxs**
   • SOC 148: Latin American Society
      
2. Three courses in Art History, Literature or Culture (at least one course must have an advanced Language pre-requisite):
   • DR 51: Latino Theatre and Film**
   • DR 70: Latin American Theatre and Film
   • FAH 7: Introduction to Latin American Art
   • FAH 81/181: Twentieth-Century Mexican Art
   • FAH 83/183: Gender in Latin American Art
   • FAH 84/184: Latin American Cinema
   • FAH 92-01 Colonial Mexican Art & Architecture
   • FAH 280: Decolonial Aesthetics**
   • SPN 31: Survey of Latin American Literature from Nation Building to the 21st Century
   • SPN 33: Survey of Latin American Literature from Colonial Times to Nation Building
   • SPN 50/150: Latin American Civilization
   • SPN 104: Poetry in Spanish America
   • SPN 107: Testimonial and Chronicle Writing of Latin America
   • SPN 108: Latin American Women Writers
   • SPN 148: Health in the Spanish Speaking-World
   • SPN 151: New Latin American Film
   • SPN 153: Borges and the Encyclopedic World
   • SPN 154: Experiments with Reality in Latin American Fiction
   • SPN 155: Film and Representation in Latin America
   • SPN 159: Mapping the Latin American Metropolis
   • SPN 180/VISC 192: Icons of Latin America
   • SPN 184: Mexican Cinema & Identity
   • SPN 191/SPN192: Special Topics: Latin American literature or civilization
   • VMS 80 A view of Ancient Middle and South American Art
   • VMS 155: Reimagining the Americas, Colonialism, and Visual Culture
   • VMS 190: The Art of Building Empire
   • VMS 182: Art of the Maya: Ancient Cultures and Modern Survivors
   • VISC 192/SPN 180: Icons of Latin America
      
3. Three electives from any of the approved courses listed. One of these electives may be a Latino Studies course or a Natural Science course (if specific to Latin America) upon approval of the LAS program director. An internship may also be considered with the approval of the director. If a student decides to write a Senior Thesis, one of these electives will be the first semester of the Senior Thesis.
    
4. One Senior Seminar or a one-semester Independent Research Project LAS 197/198 (in consultation with the Major adviser), or the second semester of a Senior Thesis.

Important Notes

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are not exclusively concerned with Latin American material. Students who wish to count these courses for LAS must first consult with the course instructor, they must focus their course work on appropriate LAS topics, and they must complete a Course Content Certification Form. Students may count no more than one asterisked course for the minor.

Courses marked with a double asterisk (**) are Latino Studies courses. Students may credit no more than one Latino Studies course for the major or minor. Students may credit no more than one Latino Studies course for the major or minor.