Latino/Latin American Studies Major
The major in Latino/Latin American Studies (LLS) prepares students with a comprehensive understanding of Latino and Latin American critical issues, peoples, societies and cultures. Students learn about critical issues such as: urban segregation; education; health and socioeconomic disparities; environmental justice; political mobilization; human rights; migration; language shifts; and cultural creations. Employers and post-graduate programs today seek to recruit students with the kind of integral knowledge an LLS degree provides. Students can easily double major in Spanish, social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and more.
Although OLLAS does not yet offer a graduate degree, it does offer a number of graduate courses. Students pursuing graduate programs in other colleges and departments are encouraged to concentrate on Latinos or Latin America and take advantage of Latino/Latin American Studies course offerings.
The major requires a total of 30 credit hours. Not included in the 30 credit hours: at least 16 credit hours of Spanish or Portuguese (also fulfill Arts & Sciences language requirement). Students whose primary major is in a college other than Arts & Sciences must complete at least two semesters in Spanish or Portuguese. **Native/heritage speakers of Spanish may be exempt from this requirement. Such students should contact the Foreign Language Department for correct placement to determine if additional coursework is necessary.
Courses required for major (core curriculum)
A total of 30 credit hours* to include:
| LLS 1000 | Latin America: An Introduction | 3 credits |
| | And Either | |
| LLS 1010 | Intro to Chicano-Latino Studies:Social Sciences | 3 credits |
| | Or | |
| LLS 1020 | Introduction to Chicano-Latino Studies:Humanities | 3 credits |
One research methods course approved by the OLLAS director/academic advisor. Approved courses include, but are not limited to:
| SOC 2130 | Social Statistics | 3 credits |
| SOC 2510 | Research Methods | 3 credits |
| CRCJ 3000 | Applied Statistics and Data Processing in the Public Sector | 3 credits |
| PSCI 3000/PSCI 8005 | Quantitative Analysis in Political Science | 3 credits |
| PSYC 3130 | Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences | 3 credits |
Senior Project
An additional 18 hours of LLS-approved elective courses, from the list below. A maximum of 9 of the 18 elective hours may be taken from a single department. At least 18 of the 30 credit hours must be taken at the 3000 or 4000 level.
Latino/Latin American Studies Electives:
Anthropology:
| ANTH 4230 | Ethnomedicines of the Americas | 3 credits |
Art & Art History:
English:
** ENGL 2000 Topics in Language and Literature - Language in the Minority (1 credit)
** ENGL 3300 Junior Topics in American Literature - Chicano/a Short Fiction
** ENGL 4160 Topics in American Regionalism - Southwest Literature
** ENGL 4960/WGST 4960 Topics in Language and Literature - New World Conquest Literature
Geography:
| GEOG 3060 | Geography of Middle America | 3 credits |
| GEOG 3070 | Geography of Latin America | 3 credits |
History:
** HIST 4910 - Topics in History to include
Political Science:
** PSCI 3920 Special Topics in Political Science - International Development
** PSCI 4920 Advanced Topics: Cuba at the Crossroads
Religion
**RELI 3500 Special Topics in Religion--Roots of Cuban Spirituality
Sociology:
** SOC 2800 - Major Social Issues Special Topics to include
** SOC 4800 - Contemporary Topics to include
- Immigration, Race & Globalization
- Latino Migration and Integration
- Urban Latin America
- Migration, Development, Citizenship
- Latinos & Gender
Social Work:
** SOWK 4890 - Special Studies in Social Work: Nicaragua
Spanish:
** SPAN 4960 - Pro Seminar options to include:
-
Central American & Caribbean Lit. & Culture
-
Latin American Indigenous Contemporary Lit.
-
Human Rights Literature in Latin America
-
El Bilingüismo
-
Introduction to Sociolinguistics
-
Latin American Theater through Performance
Teacher Education: