Latin American and Caribbean Studies May be elected as an interdepartmental concentration program Prerequisites to Concentration. None. Concentration Program. 30 credits above the 200-level, beyond the language requirement, are required to complete the concentration program. Among the thirty credits, students must choose at least one course from each of the disciplines of Anthropology, History, Literature, and Political Science, as well as the thesis. The thesis is written during the senior year while enrolled in LACS 399, the Thesis-Writers' Seminar, for three credits. (Permission of the instructor is required for enrollment in 399.) Language Requirement. Competency in Spanish or Portuguese (equivalent to SPANISH 275 or the intensive Spanish program at the Residential College, or PORTUG 232) should be achieved as early as possible in the program. Students are encouraged to go beyond this, either with further work in the language chosen, or by achieving competency in the other major language. Required Courses. In choosing the 30 credits of upper-level courses, students must include at least one course from each of the following areas: Anthropology: ANTHRCUL 319 (Introduction to Latin American Society and Culture), 414 (Introduction to Caribbean Societies and Cultures), or another upper-level Anthropology course on Latin America. History: HISTORY 347 (Latin America: The Colonial Period), or 348 (Latin America: The National Period), or another upper-level HISTORY course on Latin America. Literature: SPANISH 381, 382 (Introduction to Latin American Literature, I and II), or another upper-level course in Latin American literature. Political Science: POLSCI 347 (Government and Politics of Latin America), or another upper-level course in Latin American politics. Elective Courses. The remainder of the 30 credits may be drawn from upper-level courses, from any department, that deal with Latin America and the Caribbean. These change from year to year. The Program will normally make available during pre-registration a list of courses relating to Latin America and the Caribbean offered the following term. Accredited courses taken during Study Abroad programs in Latin America [administered by the Office of International Programs, (734) 764-4311] can in many cases count toward the concentration. Students should consult with their individual faculty advisor and with the undergraduate advisor concerning appropriate courses for their program. It is particularly important for students to enroll during their sophomore and junior years in courses that will provide the necessary background for their subsequent thesis research. Senior Thesis. The senior thesis is a project intended to deepen the student's understanding of a specific issue or problem in the field, while drawing together his or her work in separate disciplines. It provides an opportunity to work closely with an individual faculty member, and to explore further issues that may have arisen in the student's earlier course work and research. It represents a significant amount of work, and a major commitment. Students interested in Latin American and Caribbean Studies who do not wish to devote a considerable amount of energy in their senior year to a major research and writing project should choose a departmental or an individual concentration program, rather than this interdepartmental concentration program. LACS concentrators should begin planning the thesis during the junior year, and should approach a faculty member at that time about directing the thesis. A prospectus and preliminary bibliography should be submitted to the faculty advisor during the Fall Term of the senior year, and the thesis itself is due toward the end of the Winter Term. More detailed guidelines for the thesis may be obtained from the undergraduate advisor. Advising. Prospective concentrators should consult the Director or the undergraduate advisor for guidance on courses. Appointments are scheduled in the LACS office, (734) 763-0553 or lacs@umich.edu. Normally, a concentration plan should reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the program and the themes that a student wishes to develop. Students should file a tentative concentration plan with the Program in their junior year, and update it prior to graduation. University of Michigan | College of LS&A | Student Academic Affairs | LS&A Bulletin Index This page maintained by LS&A Academic Information and Publications, 1228 Angell Hall Copyright © 2002 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA +1 734 764-1817 Trademarks of the University of Michigan may not be electronically or otherwise altered or separated from this document or used for any non-University purpose.