Latin American Studies

 

Director of Latin American Studies : Richard Warren, Ph.D. The Latin American Studies Program provides students with two options for acquiring a multi-disciplinary background in the Latin American region by completing either a Minor or a Certificate. Students prepare themselves for graduate study or professional work by focusing on the language, history, literature and culture of the region. Additional theoretical work in political science, economics, anthropology, and theology personalizes the program.

Latin American Studies prepares students for careers either in Latin America itself with government, non-profit, volunteer or missionary organizations or within the United States in the broadening arena of inter-American affairs, including commerce, education and governmental work.

Students are required to register and consult regularly with the Chair of the Latin American Studies Committee. Students may choose to complete a Minor concentration or a Certificate. The Minor appears on the official transcript; the Certificate is conferred at Commencement.

The Minor

Students completing the Minor in Latin American Studies fulfill a six course requirement. To ensure the interdisciplinary focus of the minor, courses from at least three participating departments must be represented among the six courses completed. Departments with offerings in Latin American Studies currently include Economics, Foreign Languages and Literatures, History, Honors, Political Science, Sociology, and Theology. Current course offerings are listed below. Students may petition the Committee on Latin American Studies to receive credit for appropriate courses not listed below. Language competence is one key component of the minor. Among the six courses required for the minor, students must complete two relevant courses in language and literature study beyond the second year (1200 level) or the equivalent. Students may count a maximum of two of the following language courses towards the Minor in Latin American Studies: Spanish 1311-41.

The Certificate

Students completing the Certificate in Latin American Studies fulfill a nine course requirement. Language study is emphasized;
students must complete four courses in Spanish above the second year level. Credits in French and Portuguese may be substituted by permission of the chairperson.

Both Minor and Certificate Programs

In those courses without a Latin American focus, students are required to complete a final project on a Latin American topic in consultation with the professor and the chair of the Latin American Studies Program, both of whom receive a copy. Exceptional final papers or projects in Latin American Studies may be nominated by the professor for the Ellacuría Award, granted annually for a project that demonstrates the values of academic rigor, social commitment and concern for the Latin American reality for which Fr. Ignacio Ellacuría was renowned.

Participation in study abroad and study tours is encouraged; students choose courses in advance in consultation with the chairperson. No more than three courses for the minor and four for the certificate may be taken at other institutions.