Latin American and Latino Studies Minor

Program Director and Associate Professor: A. Reid (PhD), (501) 450-5096, areid@uca.edu, Irby 207D, Department of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures

[1] Advisory Committee

Dr. Alana Reid, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator
Dr. Taine Duncan, Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Dr. John Passé-Smith, Professor of Political Science
Dr. Conrad Shumaker, Professor of English
Dr. Michael Yoder, Associate Professor of Geography

[2] Purpose

Latin American and Latino Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with an understanding of the diverse cultures and regions of Latin America and the impact of Latinos in the United States. The program offers a range of courses allowing students to study broad aspects of Latin America and more targeted classes that focus on specific histories, geographies, politics, economies, cultures, and physical environments of countries comprising the Americas. Students can also gain a better understanding of the multicultural character of U.S. society through classes that examine race, ethnicity, gender, and other aspects of diversity, and focus on the contributions and impacts of Latinos in U.S. society. Regardless of one’s major, a minor in Latin American and Latino Studies will allow the student to better understand and work within a global context and appreciate the diversity found within the hemisphere.

The objectives of the Latin American and Latino Studies minor are

• To provide students with interdisciplinary experiences in Latin American and Latino studies as well as assist in developing reading, writing, and critical thinking skills;
• To promote cultural understanding and appreciation of the differences and similarities between various peoples of our hemisphere;
• To provide students with the necessary knowledge, experiences, and language skills to pursue independent study, field work, or employment opportunities anywhere in Latin America or the Caribbean, or to work with Latino populations in the United States; and
• To better understand Latino cultures and values within evolving U.S. society.

[3] Requirements

The Latin American and Latino Studies Minor consists of 18 hours. Students must take the two required courses (LALS 2300 and LALS 2310), and choose four more elective courses when Latinos or Latin America are an essential aspect of the course. LALS 2300 meets the UCA Core lower-division requirement for Diversity in World Cultures. LALS 2310 meets the UCA Core lower-division humanities requirement for Critical Inquiry. The four elective courses must represent at least three separate disciplines. Elective courses may meet UCA Core requirements. All credits for the minor must be unique and may not count toward a major.

Required Core Courses (6 hours)

Elective Courses (choose four applicable courses, representing at least 3 separate disciplines; 12 hours)

Note: Courses must be pre-approved by the Director or the student must present proof that coursework included a focus on Latinos or Latin America.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT: Three (3) semester hours of Spanish at the 2000-level or above; this will not necessarily count towards the 18 hours of electives. Please contact the Director for specific course prerequisites.