Latino Studies minor
Office: E304 Thompson Hall
(716) 673-3274
Jennifer Hildebrand, Coordinator
Email: latino.studies@fredonia.edu
Website: http://www.fredonia.edu/department/interdisciplinary/
Latino Studies, an interdisciplinary minor, takes you de la clase a la calle - “from the classroom discussion to the realities in the streets of our diverse communities.” The program provides an overview of the historical, political, social, educational, economic and cultural developments that affect Latinos in the Americas. “Latino” has been defined broadly to include people of Latin American background who reside in the U.S., where they are the fastest growing ethnic population. At a time when “globalization” and “immigration” have become part of everyday political and social discourse, students gain an understanding of the complex dynamics of transnational communities and transculturation.
One of the strengths of Fredonia’s approach to the minor is our emphasis on the idea of “de la clase a la calle” — “from the classroom to the streets.” This program emphasizes taking the theoretical issues and discussions of the classroom and putting them into practical initiatives and strategies in our communities. This phrase also keeps us rooted in the origins of all Ethnic Studies programs, which emerged directly from the Civil Rights Movement and other social movements of the Sixties and Seventies. Diverse groups of students demanded a curriculum that addressed the different historical and cultural experiences of many groups in the United States. University administrators across the country, tired of the public demonstrations and sit-downs held in the middle of their campuses, allowed students and faculty to incorporate the discussions that had been taking place on the street into the curriculum.
Latino Studies is for everyone! No matter your major or your future plans, the program will provide intellectual skills and cultural knowledge that will benefit you. A minor in Latino Studies opens doors for careers in government, legislation, international organizations, international business and marketing, immigration laws, land management, urban planning, counseling and social work, the media, and many other fields.
Requirements for the Minor in Latino Studies (21 credit hours)
Students declaring a Latino Studies minor may use past courses retroactively with approval of the coordinator.
Core Courses (12 credit hours)
| AMST 202 | Introduction to American Studies | 3 |
| | or | |
| AMST 296 | American Identities | 3 |
| ETHN 225 | Introduction to Latino History and Culture | 3 |
One Spanish language course from the following:
| SPAN 313 | Spanish Conversation | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPAN 314 | Spanish Composition | 3 |
| | or | |
| | Demonstrated proficiency at this level | |
One History course from the following:
| ETHN 282 | Pre-Columbian and Colonial Latin America | 3 |
| ETHN 283 | Latin America: Revolution & Reform | 3 |
Electives (6 credit hours)
6 credit hours earned in two courses, each in a different discipline; must not include a course that has been used for core course credit; other courses not listed may be included with approval of coordinator.
| ANTH 324 | Anthropology of the Caribbean | 3 |
| ARTH 280 | Survey of Pre-Columbian Art: Mesoamerica | 3 |
| DANC 231 | African-Caribbean Dance | 2 |
| ETHN 241 | Introduction to Latino/a Literature | 3 |
| ETHN 304 | Latina Literature and Cultural Studies | 3 |
| ENGL 344 | Contemporary Multiethnic American Literature | 3 |
| ETHN 359 | Ethnicity and Race | 3 |
| INTL 303 | Globalization in Latin America | 3 |
| LANG 327 | Magic Realism in Latin American Literature | 3 |
| MUS 334 | Music of Latin America | 3 |
| POLI 343 | International Migration and Immigration Politics | 3 |
| POLI 351 | The Inter-American System | 3 |
| POLI 371 | Civil Rights and Liberties | 3 |
| SOC 303 | Social Class and Inequality | 3 |
| SOC 316 | Minority Groups | 3 |
| SPAN 325 | Survey of Spanish-American Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 340 | Cultural Issues in the Hispanic World | 3 |
| SPAN 425 | Spanish-American Fiction | 3 |
| WGST 203 | Chicana Writers/Visual Artists | 3 |
Capstone
Students are encouraged to explore relevant Study Abroad courses to meet the elective requirements. Study Abroad programs such as INED 399 J-Term in Puerto Rico, INED 399 Study Abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico and INED 399 Study Abroad in Puebla, Mexico are strongly recommended.
The Latino Studies minor falls under the umbrella of the Ethnic Studies program, which also offers minors in African American Studies, American Indian Studies, and Multi-Ethnic Studies.