Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Jonathan Ablard, Professor, Department of History
Camilo Malagon, Assistant Professor, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Latin America and the Caribbean are extraordinarily diverse areas, encompassing a wide variety of cultures, political units, economies, languages, and environments. The goals of the Latin American and Caribbean Studies minor are to foster greater knowledge about Latin America and the Caribbean and to explore the cultural, political, and economic contributions of that area to the global community. The minor aims to expand students’ views concerning the multicultural nature of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean and to emphasize the interactions between indigenous and introduced cultures in this region, both past and present. Students will also be introduced to an understanding of the interplay between "Latin America" and "the Caribbean," regions that overlap and intersect but also each hold distinct characteristics.The Latin American and Caribbean studies minor will be useful to students envisioning careers in government, business, journalism, community service, public health, education, or the environment. The minor will also prepare students interested in pursuing graduate work in any field related to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Minor Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CORE COURSES | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Modern Latin American Art | ||
| Modern Latin America | ||
| Latin American Politics | ||
| Latin American Civilization and Culture | ||
| Introduction to Latin American Literature | ||
| Global Context Course | 3 | |
Selected from courses designated as LAGC "3 credits of Global Context" | ||
| Electives | 12 | |
Selected from courses designated as LAEL "LAS 12 credits elective" 1 | ||
| Language Proficiency | 0-12 | |
Intermediate language or placement at the 300-level; only 3 credits of intermediate-level language may count towards the minor | ||
| Portfolio | 0 | |
The portfolio will be completed during the last semester of coursework in the minor, under the guidance of the program coordinator(s). | ||
| Total Credits | 18-30 | |
| 1 | A course taken to satisfy the Core or the Global Context requirements cannot also be used as electives. |
Additional requirements for the minor
- No more than 9 credits may be taken from a single department.
- No more than 3 credits of independent study may count toward the minor.
- 3 credits are allowed to overlap with each of the student's majors and minors.
- Students may transfer up to 6 credits towards the Latin American and Caribbean Studies minor (only 3 credits of which are from a grammar/conversation course).
Completing the Required Portfolio
Students will select at least two artifacts from their coursework and write a brief rationale addressing their minor coursework and experience (including internships, study abroad, and participation in program events, as relevant), especially how they gained a historical understanding of the idea of “Latin America and the Caribbean” and how their courses helped them understand Latin America and the Caribbean's relationship to other parts of the world. Additionally, students will craft a short (2-3 page) reflective essay addressing the following: How has pursuing an interdisciplinary study of Latin America and the Caribbean, taking courses from a range of disciplinary perspectives, together with any internships, study abroad, extracurricular activities and/or participation in LACS program events, shaped their understanding of contemporary issues in the region?