Kimberly Eison Simmons, Ph.D., Director

Overview

The Latin American Studies Program is an interdisciplinary, broadly based undergraduate degree program that offers courses in Latin American history, politics, anthropology, geography, and literature. Students can select from an array of courses that enable them to explore Latin America from a variety of perspectives while also having the opportunity to focus their studies on a particular field. LASP majors are encouraged to undertake a study abroad program and are eligible for financial support for such educational endeavors in Latin America.  Students earn the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Latin American Studies.

The major requires 24 hours of course work in Latin American studies. Students majoring in Latin American studies must also complete a cognate (preferably with all courses from a single discipline), a minor, or a double major but are encouraged to pursue a double major. The minor in Latin American studies requires 18 hours of course work, including at least one course from two of four disciplinary groups.

Students pursuing either the major or minor are required to choose Spanish or Portuguese as their language of study. Minors must complete one three-hour course at the 200 level; majors must complete at least one 3-hour course at the 300 level. This course can be applied to the general education requirements. It is encouraged also that students will pursue study or supervised fieldwork in Latin America as part of the degree program.

Programs and Courses

Programs

• Latin American Studies Minor
• Latin American Studies, B.A.

Courses

• CHIN 550 - Advanced Special Topics in Chinese Studies

• LASP 201 - Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino/a Cultures through Film
• LASP 301 - Interdisciplinary Study of Latin America
• LASP 305 - Working with Hispanic Clients
• LASP 311 - Latin American Cultures
• LASP 315 - South American Indian Cultures
• LASP 322 - Mesoamerican Prehistory
• LASP 325 - Prehistoric Civilizations of the New World
• LASP 331 - Geography of Latin America
• LASP 341 - Colonial Latin America
• LASP 342 - Modern Latin America
• LASP 351 - Politics and Governments of Latin America
• LASP 361 - Spanish American Civilization
• LASP 371 - Literary Tendencies and Masterpieces of Spanish America
• LASP 398 - Special Topics in Latin American Studies
• LASP 399 - Independent Study
• LASP 425 - Prehistoric Archaeology of South America
• LASP 441 - Social and Economic History of Latin America
• LASP 442 - History of Mexico
• LASP 447 - History of Brazil
• LASP 451 - International Relations of Latin America
• LASP 471 - Contemporary Spanish-American Literature
• LASP 496 - Senior Seminar
• LASP 501 - Contemporary Spanish America
• LASP 541 - Colonial Spanish-American Literature to Neoclassicism