Program Director
Associate Professor Adriana Zavala, Art and Art History

Latino Studies, like Latinos themselves, resides at the intersection of what is Latin American and what is “American.” The minor in Latino Studies allows students to emphasize either Latinos' connections with Latin America or their location within the U.S. racial and sociopolitical context. The minor thus serves as a “bridge” that encourages students to connect the theories, methodologies and content of the two supporting programs in new, intellectually exciting and productive ways.

The minor has been designed to serve the general population of Tufts students, Latino and non-Latino alike, who are interested in learning about cultural difference in general, and within the U.S. in particular. While a minor in Latino Studies will be attractive to social science and humanities majors, it will also be useful to those students intending to enter professions in which knowledge of the various Latino communities will be a valuable resource, such as medicine, community health, dentistry, education, child development, urban and environmental planning, business, and international relations.

Requirements for the Latin American Studies major consist of 6 courses as follows: (updated, November, 2011)

One Latino Survey Course: if a student takes more than one of these courses, they can count towards the 50%+ category

• ANTH16:  Introduction to Latino Cultures
• ANTH17:  Latino Migration, Music and Identity
• ANTH163: Latinos in the Cinematic Imagination
• DR93-02:  Special Topics:  Latino Theatre & Film
• FAH86/186: The Latino Presence in Art and Visual Culture

One Latin American Survey Course

• FAH7:  Introduction to Latin American Art
• SPN34:  Survey of Latin American Literature
• SPN35:  Survey of Latin American Literature II

One survey course in comparative race relations in the U.S. context

• AMER12:  Race in America
• AMER0194-06:  Junior Seminar on Researching Race:  Family, Nation, Place
• CH55: Race, Ethnicity & Health
• ED162:  Class, Race and Gender in the History of US Educatio
• PS13:  Race and Class in American Politics
• SOC10: American Society
• SOC110: Racial & Ethnic Minorities

One course consisting of at least 50% Latino content

• CIS135:  Latino Studies Independent Study
• DNC65:  Art of Salsa
• DN66: Intermediate Salsa
• PS119:  Politics of US Immigration
• SOC70: Immigration and American Society
• SPN29: Latino Writing Experience

One elective course relevant to Latino studies with substantial and/or relevant Latino content

• AMER141/ELS141: Innovative Social Enterprises
• CD182/CH190: Social Policies for Children and Families
• EC62: Economics of International Migration
• EC91:  Economics of Public Health
• EC127: Urban Economics
• ENG155: American Women Writers
• FAH280:  Latin American Art in Exhibition
• MUS78:  Jazz Improvisation Ensemble
• PJS99:  Internship-Social Change
• POR1-3: Portuguese
• SPN23: Advanced Composition for Heritage Learners
• SPN126: Spanish in the Community

One community-based Capstone Experience - A project, thesis, performance, or an oral presentation that must follow the guidelines of the Interdisciplinary Minor Program, integrating the knowledge and methodologies of the disciplines involved.  In addition, humanities majors may fulfill this requirement by interning at an approved arts agency that works with Latino artists and/or serves Latino communities and then producing a project analyzing the experience.

• ANTH183: Urban Borderlands
• CH180: Community Health Internship**can only be counted towards the Latino Studies minor if project focuses on Latinos
• CIS99-LST:  Latin Studies Internship
• CIS135:  Latino Studies Independent Study

NOTE: All courses taken for the Latino Studies minor program must be taken for a letter grade and may not be used toward the fulfillment of the foundation requirements. A maximum of two credits from the minor may be counted toward a major or majors; up to two credits may be used for distribution requirements. Please see department websites or the Latino Studies course booklet for detailed course descriptions.

Students interested in pursuing a Latino Studies Minor should register with: Associate Professor Adriana Zavala
Art and Art History
11 Talbot Avenue, Medford Campus
Phone 617.627.2423

Research Resources
Students thinking about conducting a research project, such as a senior thesis, should be aware of the numerous support programs and publication opportunities on Tufts campus. For details about this program visit the Academic Resource Center website.