Yvette Aparicio, Chair

In this concentration, students examine Spanish-American cultures and societies, with work in at least three areas: language and literature, history, and social sciences. Participation in a study program in Latin America is encouraged (see Off-Campus Study). A student choosing the senior research project and presentation will be expected to integrate the various components of his or her program in the analysis of a topic of special interest.

Required, 24 credits as follows:

1. Gateway courses, 8 credits:

• History 202 Modern Latin America
• Spanish 221 Studies in Latin American Cultures

2. Latin American core courses, 4 credits chosen from:

• Anthropology 257 Latin American Cultures
• Anthropology 267 Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas
• History 201 Colonial Latin America
• History 204 Radical Movements in 20th-Century Latin America
• History 32X Advanced Studies in Latin America and the United States (only on an LA topic)
• Political Science 261 State and Society in Latin America
• Spanish 311 Traditions of Independent Spanish America
• Spanish 315 Creativity and Dissidence in Modern Spanish America
• Spanish 377 Modernization and Innovation in Contemporary Spanish America
• Spanish 383 The Spanish American Colonial World

3. Elective courses, 8 credits chosen from:

a. Courses listed under number 2 above

b. Courses with Latin American content:

• Economics 230 Economic Development
• Economics 233 International Economics
• Economics 372 Seminar in Economic Development
• Economics 374 Seminar in International Trade
• Economics 375 Seminar in International Finance
• History 211 Colonial and Revolutionary America, 1450-1788
• Political Science 354 Political Economy of Developing Countries
• Sociology 220 Sociology of Global Development

c. Off-campus study, 4 credits taken in LAS approved off-campus programs: Argentina (FLACSO-Buenos Aires), Chile (CIEE-Santiago de Chile, and Valparaiso), Costa Rica (ACM-Studies in LA Culture and Society, Tropical Field Research; Duke University-Organization for Tropical Studies; ICADS), Ecuador (Minnesota Studies in International Development), or Mexico (Rutgers U-Mérida).

d. With the approval of the concentration, courses not included above that deal significantly with Latin America.

4. Research project, 4 credits. Students may choose one of the following two options for the fulfillment of this requirement:

a. Senior Research or Seminar
Declaration of the intention to complete a senior research project will occur no later than the second semester of the junior year. The project should integrate previous coursework in the concentration and should rely significantly on sources in Spanish if the topic pertains to a Spanish-speaking country. A proposal stating the research questions and describing a methodology must be submitted to and approved by the chair of the concentration in the fall semester of the senior year. Fall semester enrollment is allowed if the proposal is approved in the second semester of the junior year.

b. Senior Paper
Students may choose to complete a research paper while enrolled as a senior in an approved 300- or 400-level course from the following:

• Economics 372 Seminar in Economic Development
• Economics 374 Seminar in International Trade
• Economics 375 Seminar in International Finance
• Environmental Studies 495 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies (only on an LA topic)
• History 32x Advanced Studies in Latin America and the United States (only on an LA topic)
• Political Science 354 Political Economy of Developing Countries
• Spanish 377 Modernization and Innovation in Contemporary Spanish America
• Spanish 383 The Spanish American Colonial World

With the approval of the concentration and the course instructor, any other 300- or 400-level courses not included above that deal significantly with Latin America.

Declaration of the intention to choose this option should occur no later than the second semester of the junior year.

5. Other requirements:

a. Language requirement: demonstrated proficiency in Spanish through the completion of at least one course at the 200 level or above OR the equivalent.

b. No more than 12 credits in the same department may count toward the concentration (Spanish 221 exempted).

c. A course cannot fulfill more than one requirement within the concentration.

499 Senior Research or Seminar (Fall or Spring) 2 or 4 credits

An interdisciplinary senior seminar or senior research project for students completing the concentration in Latin American Studies. May be repeated in consecutive semesters by a student pursuing a single research project. Credits earned each semester must fulfill program requirements as specified in program description. Permission of the Concentration Committee required. STAFF.