Listed below are the requirements for the Latin American, Caribbean, & U.S. Latinx Studies major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all of the university general education requirements and the College of Letters & Science breadth and other degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when one you took your first college class. LACUSL scholars are strongly encouraged to consult both their LACUSL Advisor and their L&S Advisor to ensure they stay on track towards their degree. Read more about the L&S Degree Requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Major Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 33 credits in the major, at least 15 of which must be taken at the advanced level (300 and above) in residence at 51ÁÔÆæ. At least 9 of those credits must represent at least three curricular areas (i.e. one 3-credit course each in three different curricular areas) with no more than 18 credits of approved courses in a singular curricular area. Students are required to complete an e-portfolio for assessment purposes. Students will be assisted in the creation of an e-portfolio, and can ask the LACUSL advisor for direction to an appropriate faculty member.
Study of a language widely spoken in Latin America or the Caribbean is strongly encouraged, but not required. Students are strongly encouraged to pursue a combination of LAC area studies and U.S. Latinx-focused courses.
The College requires that all students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at 51ÁÔÆæ. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work.
With approval of program coordinator, a relevant course not currently listed below may be substituted.
The following are required:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Introductory courses | ||
| Introduction to Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 | |
| Introduction to Latino Studies | 3 | |
| Research Requirement | ||
| LACUSL Senior Research Project | 3 | |
or one course accepted for the LACUSL major and satisfying the L&S research requirement from table below 1 | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 24 credits from table of LACUSL-approved Electives below | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
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 is the recommended research requirement course. In semesters when  is not offered, the student may substitute an existing course from the table below, provided that the major research project undertaken as part of that course has a distinctly LACUSL topic. The student must inform the instructor they wish to fulfill the research requirement in the course.
If neither of these options is viable, students also may complete the research requirement by taking three credits of , with an appropriate faculty member from the LACUSL associated faculty. L&S guidelines require that students will:
- develop a research question, statement, or problem;
- evaluate research in the field of study and integrate it with their findings; and
- disseminate their findings orally or in writing.
 Courses accepted for the LACUSL major and the L&S research requirement
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Black Cultures in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 | |
| Global Black Social Movements | 3 | |
| The Black Woman in America, Africa, and the Caribbean | 3 | |
| Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 | |
| Latin American Politics | 3 | |
| Seminar in Latin-American Literature and Culture: | 3 |
Electives
Electives may be selected from the courses listed below. At least three different departmental curricular codes must be represented among the electives, with no more than 18 credits in any one curricular area. A maximum of 3 credits in an internship (, ,Ìý,Ìý, OR ) may count as an elective for the major.
With approval of program coordinator, a relevant course not listed below may be substituted.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Electives approved for the LACUSL major | ||
| The Poetry of African, African-American, and Caribbean Writers | 3 | |
| African Religious Thought and Social Organizations | 3 | |
| Black Cultures in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 | |
| Survey of Black American and Black Brazilian Societies | 3 | |
| Global Black Social Movements | 3 | |
| The Black Woman in America, Africa, and the Caribbean | 3 | |
| Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 | |
| 3 | ||
| Archaeology of Middle America | 3 | |
| The World of the Ancient Maya | 3 | |
| Ancient Civilizations of Latin America | 3 | |
| 3 | ||
| Archaeology of Central and South America | 3 | |
| Archaeology of Middle America | 3 | |
| The World of the Ancient Maya | 3 | |
| Study Abroad: 2 | 1-12 | |
| Issues in Bilingualism | 3 | |
| African, New World and Oceanic Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Latin America | 3 | |
| Pre-Columbian Art, Myth, and Legacy | 3 | |
| Art and Culture of Spain and Latin America, 1500-1750 | 3 | |
| Art of the Inca and their Ancestors | 3 | |
| Art of Ancient Mexico and Central America | 3 | |
| Art of the Aztec Empire | 3 | |
| Maya Art | 3 | |
| Study Abroad: 2 | 1-12 | |
| Study Abroad: 2 | 1-12 | |
| Study Abroad: 2 | 1-12 | |
| Study Abroad: 2 | 1-12 | |
| Intercultural Communication | 3 | |
| Cross-Cultural Communication | 3 | |
| International and Global Communication | 3 | |
| Literatures and Cultures of the Americas: | 3 | |
| History and Politics of Second Language Education | 3 | |
| Using Children's Literature to Explore Latin Am/Latino Cultural Heritage | 3 | |
| African Dance & Diaspora Technique I | 2-3 | |
| Dance Composition III | 2-3 | |
| Economic Development | 3 | |
| 3 | ||
| The Chicano Experience | 3 | |
| 3 | ||
| Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Literature: | 3 | |
| World Cinema: | 3 | |
| Survey of U.S. Latino/a Literature | 3 | |
| Theories of Digital Culture: | 3 | |
| Language, Power, and Identity | 3 | |
| Studies in U.S. Latino/a Literature: | 3 | |
| Transnational Migrations: People on the Move | 3 | |
| Racial Minorities in the United States | 3 | |
| Indians, Artists, and Conquistadores: The U.S. Southwest | 3 | |
| Migration and Gender: Starbucks, Sex Trafficking, and Nannies | 3 | |
| Queer Migrations | 3 | |
| Global Violence, Disease, and Death | 3 | |
| Conversation and Composition: Intermediate Level | 3 | |
| Intensive Grammar and Usage | 3 | |
| Phonetics | 3 | |
| French Immersion: Advanced | 1-2 | |
| Advanced Written Expression | 3 | |
| Latin American Society and Culture | 3 | |
| The History of Latinos in the United States | 3 | |
| Topics in Global History: | 3 | |
| Topics in Global History: | 3 | |
| History of Mexico | 3 | |
| Topics in Latin American and Caribbean History: | 3 | |
| Topics in American History: | 3 | |
| Immigrant America Since 1880 | 3 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in the Media | 3 | |
| Internship in Latin American/Caribbean Studies, Lower Division | 1-3 | |
| Internship in Latin American/Caribbean Studies, Upper Division | 1-3 | |
| Special Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx Studies: | 3 | |
| Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx Arts and Culture: | 3 | |
| Internship-Latin American, Caribbean, & U.S. Latinx Studies, Lower Divison | 1-3 | |
| Study Abroad: | 1-12 | |
| Advanced Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx Studies: | 3 | |
| Theatre in the Americas: Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Theatre | 3 | |
| Internship in Latin American, Caribbean, and US Latinx Studies, Upper Level | 1-3 | |
| Study Abroad: | 1-12 | |
| The History of Latinos in the United States | 3 | |
| Internship in Latino Studies, Lower Division | 1-6 | |
| Advanced Topics in U.S. Latino Studies: | 3 | |
| Perspectives on Latino Communities | 3 | |
| Internship in Latino Studies, Upper Division | 1-6 | |
| Studies in U.S. Latino/a Literature: | 3 | |
| Queer Migrations | 3 | |
| Introduction to Second Language Acquisition | 3 | |
| Issues in Bilingualism | 3 | |
| Ethnicity, Religion and Race in American Politics | 3 | |
| Latin American Politics | 3 | |
| Health, Wealth, and Democracy | 3 | |
| The Politics of Race, Ethnicity and Immigration | 3 | |
| Understanding Brazil: | 3 | |
| Advanced Composition and Conversation | 3 | |
| Advanced Speaking and Listening | 3 | |
| Luso-Brazilian Culture: | 3 | |
| Independent Reading | 1-3 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in the United States | 3 | |
| Perspectives on Latino Communities | 3 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in Global Contexts | 3 | |
| Advanced Writing and Reading | 3 | |
| Advanced Speaking and Listening | 3 | |
| Advanced Speaking and Listening for Heritage Speakers | 3 | |
| Using Spanish in the Business World | 3 | |
| Advanced Spanish Grammar | 3 | |
| Spanish for Health Professionals | 3 | |
| Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 | |
| Business and Legal Spanish | 3 | |
| Introduction to Translation: English to Spanish | 3 | |
| Understanding Literature and Culture | 3 | |
| Introduction to Latino Literature in English | 3 | |
| Health Issues in the Hispanic World | 3 | |
| From the Middle Ages to Modernity: The Rise of the Hispanic World | 3 | |
| Contemporary Literature and Culture of Latin America | 3 | |
| Seminar in Latin-American Literature and Culture: | 3 | |
| History of the Spanish Language | 3 | |
| Theatre in the Americas: Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Theatre | 3 | |
| Global Anti-Gender Movements | 3 | |
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Study abroad must be in a relevant context, for example, in a Latin American country.