Latin American Studies

Latin American cultures encompass music, dance, food, the arts, religion, and strong familial traditions. Against this vibrant cultural backdrop, Latin America is trying to live down a history of underdevelopment, dependency, and inequality. Fledgling democracies across the region are pursuing various ways to address these deeply rooted problems, ranging from neo-liberal capitalism to socialism and populism.

Latin American Studies offers a major and a minor that provide an interdisciplinary perspective on this vibrant and diverse region of the world, with a special focus on Mexico and Central America. A major or minor in Latin American Studies is a valuable complement to a major in such related fields as anthropology, foreign language, geography, history, international relations, and political science.

The Latin American Studies program allows you to study with experts in the region from departments across the campus. It can help prepare you for a variety of careers in our rapidly globalizing world, including business, education, journalism, sustainable development, recreation, and travel. In addition, it can enhance your job opportunities with both government and non-governmental agencies.

Students are highly encouraged to take advantage of study-abroad opportunities in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

For more information, contact: Dr. Steven Lewis

Fall 2023 Course Offerings

ANTH 437: International Development and Globalization

ECON 375: The Developing Countries

HIST/CHLX 235: Mexican American History

HIST/LAST 382W: Modern Mexico

LAST 110: Introduction to Latin American Studies

LAST 120: Latin American Film and Culture

LAST 357: GEOG 357: Lands and Peoples of Latin America

SPAN 101, 102, 201, 201C (Spanish for the Professions), 202, 202N (Spanish for Spanish Speakers)

SPAN 341: Literary Explorations of the Hispanic World

SPAN 481: Film and Literature in the Hispanic World