Latin American Studies Minor

The Latin American studies minor is designed to internationalize a number of existing majors by introducing students to the history, culture, politics and economics of Latin America and the Caribbean from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students who pursue the Latin American Studies Minor must complete 24 credit hours of courses chosen from a list of approved electives. The Latin American studies minor will help students prepare for careers in government, business, academia and NGOs, as well as for graduate school in multiple disciplines.

Requirements for a minor in Latin American studies

24 credit hours, distributed as follows from lists (A) through (C)

Degree Requirements

A. Latin American history, politics and society requirement (8–16 credit hours)

Students must take at least two (and up to four) of the following courses:

GWA 342The Political Economy of Latin America

4

HIS 313Latin America

4

SPA 422Hispanic Culture and Civilization II

4

GWA 206/IST 206Contemporary Latin America

4

or

IST 206/GWA 206Contemporary Latin America

4

Total Credit Hours:8-16

B. Language requirement (8 or more credit hours)

Students must either 1) successfully complete at least 8 credit hours of the following courses, or 2) demonstrate proficiency in Spanish by attaining the intermediate level on the online Spanish proficiency exam (available through the Department of Languages and Linguistics), or 3) demonstrate intermediate proficiency in Portuguese, Quechua or Aymará as determined by an ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview. Students who demonstrate intermediate proficiency in Spanish should take at least two upper-division Spanish (SPA) courses centered on Latin America (and listed under Latin American Studies electives). The following language courses may count toward fulfilling the language requirement:

SPA 101Elementary Spanish I

4

SPA 102Elementary Spanish II

4

SPA 105Elementary Spanish Review

4

SPA 107Conversational Spanish I

1

SPA 201Intermediate Spanish I

4

SPA 207Conversational Spanish II

1

SPA 300Advanced Spanish I

4

SPA 301Advanced Spanish II

4

SPA 311Commercial Spanish

4

SPA 331Reading Literature

4

Total Credit Hours:8

C. Latin American studies electives (8–16 credit hours)

HIS 206Slavery and Racism in the Early Americas: A Comparative Perspective

4

DAN 143Latin Dance Forms

2

ART 271Pre-Columbian

4

SPT 251/ENG 251Latin American Literature in English Translation

4

SPA 320Hispanic Cinema

4

SPA 435Latin American Literature

4

SPA 436The Latin American Novel

4

SPA 341Hispanic Women Writers

4

or

WST 322Hispanic Women Writers

Total Credit Hours:8-16

The following Honors and/or Travel Courses are offered on a four-year rotation and may count toward the electives portion of the minor.

Students who are not in the Honors Program, but who wish to complete the Latin American Studies minor, may enroll for these classes with instructor consent:

Total Credit Hours: 24