Requirements for Majors & Minors

Major in Latin American Studies
The new major in Latin American Studies offers students the opportunity to combine the approaches of several academic disciplines in a focused study of the region. In recent decades, Latin America has become a field of rapid development in the arts, humanities and social sciences. The major's interdisciplinary approach integrates historical, social, political, economic and cultural perspectives at both national and regional levels. The program of study culminates in an original interdisciplinary project on a Latin American subject.

Requirements for the Latin American Studies major consist of 11 courses as follows:

1. SPN 50/LAS 50 Latin American Civilization
2. HIST 75 Americas


3. One of the following courses in Political Science:


• PS 21: Introduction to Comparative Politics
• PS 127: Latin American Politics
• PS 133: The Political Economy of Latin America
• PS170: Seminar: International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
• PS 177: America and Democracy Abroad since 1898
4. One of the following courses in Anthropology or Sociology:


• ANTH 15: Native Peoples of South America [formerly ANTH 115]
• ANTH 128: Mesoamerican Archaeology
• ANTH 132: Myth, Ritual, and Symbol
• ANTH 184: Festivals and Politics in Latin America
• SOC 188B: Cities of Global South
5. One of the following courses in Art History and/or Culture:
• 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 280: Seminar in Latin American Art
• FAHS 0101-01: A View to the Ancient Middle and South America
• FAHS 0035-01: A Critical Perspective of the Americas
• FAHS 0133-01: Maya Art and Architecture from Kings and the Courtly Elite to Modern Day Survivors
• FAHS-100 A: Art of Ancient Mexico
• FAHS 0131-01: The Art of Building Empire: An Examination of Hegemonic Strategies
• FAHS 0001-02: Space, Place, and Ritual: Theories and Approaches in Understanding Architecture in Ancient America
• FAHS 0142-01 : Imagining and Possessing America: The Complexities of Colonial Views
• FAHS 0170-01: Biting the Hand that Feeds?: A Reassessment of Collecting, Exhibiting, and Marketing Art and Culture
• FAHS 0036-01: Modernism and the Americas: A History of Modern Architecture 1900-2000
• FAHS 0037-01: Mexico City: From Floating Gardens to Elevated Highways
• FAHS 0038-01: Icons of Latin America
• SPN 91/SPN92: Latin American Topics (in English)
6. One of the following courses in Literature and/or Culture (all of these courses have an advanced language prerequisite):
• SPN 34: Survey of Latin American Literature from Pre-conquest through Independence
• SPN 35: Survey of Latin American Literature from Modernism t
• the Present
• SPN 101: Latin American Theatre
• SPN 102: Latin American Short Story
• SPN 103: Contemporary Latin American Novel
• SPN 104: Poetry in Spanish America
• SPN 105: The Dictator in the Latin American Novel
• SPN 106: Literature and Revolution: Mexico and Cuba
• SPN 107: Testimonial Literature of Latin America
• SPN 108: Latin American Women Writers
• SPN 150: Latin American Civilization
• SPN 156: Afro-Latin American Literature
• SPN 191/SPN192: Special Topics: Latin American literature or civilization
7. One of the following courses in History:
• HST 18: Colonial Latin America [formerly HST 77]
• HST 19: Modern Latin America [formerly HST 78]
• HST 115: Revolution in Latin America: Mexico and Cuba [formerly HST 160]
• HST 116: Revolution in Central & South America [formerly HST 161]
• HST 192: Research Seminar in Latin American History [formerly HST 186]
8. Two electives from any of the approved courses listed above. One of these electives may be a Latino Studies course upon approval of the LAS program director.
9. One field-related course from a different Department (as long as 50% of the course material and the student’s final paper focus on Latin America) or the first semester of a Senior Honors Thesis. Prior approval from the LAS director is required.
10. One Senior Seminar or a one-semester Research Project (in consultation with the Major adviser) or the second semester of a Senior Thesis (see requirement 10).

Important note: at least one of the requirements should be focused on pre-20th century Latin America and at least one of the requirements should be focused on indigenous cultures/societies.

Rationale:

The proposed major in Latin American Studies expands the current LAS minor (the six courses used for the minor may be applied to the major). Students may use up to five courses to overlap in double major of LAS and SPN (or other major). The faculty of the Latino minor and the Latin American Studies Program interact without reference to strict geographic borders. The LAS faculty includes:

From Department of Anthropology
Professor David Guss, Latin American Anthropology
Associate Professor Deborah Pacini Hernandez, Latin American/Latino Sociocultural Anthropology

From Department of Art & Art History
Associate Professor Adriana Zavala, Latin American Art History

From Department of History
Professor Peter Winn, Latin American History

From Department of Political Science
Associate Professor Consuelo Cruz, Latin American Politics

From Department of Romance Languages
Lecturer Celia Bianconi, Portuguese
Associate Professor Nina Gerassi-Navarro, Latin American Literature and Culture
Professor Jose Antonio Mazzotti, Latin American Literature and Culture
Assistant Professor Pablo Ruiz, Latin American Literature and Culture

From Department of Sociology
Assistant Professor Ryan Centner, Urban Sociology Globalization and Latin America

From Department of Department of Visual and Critical Studies
Lecturer Eulogio Guzman, Latin American Art

Students may contact any of these professors for advising.