Latin American and Latino Studies Minor

A Latin American and Latino Studies minor (LALS) is available to provide students interested in Latin American and Latino history and language with valuable interdisciplinary skills. Because this is an interdisciplinary program, students will enroll in courses in History & Philosophy and Modern Languages & Literatures. Courses in Sociology & Anthropology, as well as other departments with relevant course content, will also be allowed for credit subject to approval by the program coordinator. This minor will complement majors for students pursuing graduate school and professional programs in agriculture, engineering, history, literature, political science, sociology, international business, and more. The minor will also strengthen the skill-sets of students who wish to become more competitive in the Spanish speaking job market, either abroad or in the United States. A minor in LALS will prepare students for the close relationship developing between Latin American and the United States in trade agreements, the growing immigrant laborers, and the expansion of Latin American and Latino communities in the United States with significant political and economic power. This program is not designed for teacher certification.

Those wishing to declare a minor in Latin American and Latino Studies must submit an "Application for a Non-teaching Minor" to the Registrar's Office by the end of the semester one year prior to the semester of completion.

The equivalent of four semesters of Spanish language is required. Students with prior experience in Spanish language may have some requirements waived. Students interested in the LALS minor should consult with the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures immediately upon their decision to fulfill the minor so that they can ascertain the language requirements that are appropriate for them.

Required Courses

Required courses
SPNS 101Elementary Spanish I3
SPNS 102DElementary Spanish II3
SPNS 201DIntermediate Spanish I3
SPNS 202DIntermediate Spanish II3
HSTR 130DLatin American History3
Note: Coursework in another language spoken in Latin America (excluding English) will also be accepted.
Elective Courses
Select 4 courses from at least two different disciplines (SPNS, SOCI, HSTR, etc):12
Ancient Art Mesoamerica
The U.S.-Mexican Border: History, Politics and Culture
Latin Amer Social History
Race in Latin America
Colonial Latin America
Latin American Perspectives
Gender in Latin America
Latin America: Human Rights
Armed Conflict in Modern Latin America
Latin American Nature in History and Culture
Politics of Development
Sociology of Globalization
Political Sociology
Spanish for Healthcare Professionals
Early Cultures of Latin America
Modern Cultures Latin America
Contemp Latin Amer Literature
To Infinity and Beyond: Jorge Luis Borges
Travel in Latin Am Lit & Film
US Latino Cultures
US Latino Literature
Afro-Latinx Narratives: Text & Cinema
Latin American Text and Cinema
Latin America in Focus
Latin America: Culture and Revolution
Latin Amer Perspectives
Hispanic Caribbean: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic
Total Credits27

Not all elective courses may be taken in the same department. A total of 9 credits must be at the 300 or 400 level. This list may expand as other disciplines develop courses that contain a substantial Latin American or Latino component.  Upcoming SPNS courses include "Chicanos and the Southwest," "Indigenismo," "Borges," and "Service Learning: Experience Latin American Today."