Latin American and Caribbean Studies

351F Lorch Hall
763-0553

Professor Daniel Levine (Political Science), Director

May be elected as an interdepartmental concentration program

• Faculty Advisors
  
  Alexander (English Language and Literature), Aparicio (Romance Languages), Behar (Anthropology), Caulfield (History, Residential College), Colas (Romance Languages), Coronil (History/Anthropology), Frye (Anthropology), Goic (Romance Languages and Literatures), Gregg (English), Johnson (English Language and Literature), Kottak (Anthropology), Leon (English), Levine (Political Science), MacCormack (History), McIntosh (English), Mannheim (Anthropology), Marcus (Anthropology), Moya-Raggio (Residential College), Owusu (Anthropology), Paige (Sociology), Parsons (Anthropology), Pedraza (Sociology), Perez (Romance Languages), and Scott (History).
  
  
• The Interdepartmental Concentration Program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies is designed to provide students with a rigorous, multi-disciplinary approach to the study of Latin America and the Caribbean. A broad base of knowledge is established by the requirement of a core of upper-level work in languages, the social sciences, and the humanities. Analytical depth is demonstrated through the completion of a senior thesis under appropriate faculty supervision.
  
  
• Prerequisites to Concentration. None.
  
  
• Concentration Program. 30 credits above the 200-level, beyond the language requirement, are required to complete the concentration program. Thesis writers will enroll in Latin American and Caribbean Studies 399, the Thesis-Writers' Seminar, for 3 credits. (Permission of the instructors is required for enrollment in 399.)
  
  
• Language Requirement. Competency in Spanish or Portuguese (equivalent to Spanish 361 or the intensive Spanish program at the Residential College, or Portuguese 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: 319 (Introduction to Latin American Society and Culture), 414 (Introduction to Caribbean Societies and Cultures), 417 (Indians of Mexico and Guatemala), or 418 (Indians of South America).

History: 476 (Latin America: The Colonial Period), or History 477 (Latin America: The National Period).

Literature: Spanish 381, 382 (Introduction to Latin American Literature), Spanish 431, 432 (Spanish and Latin American Literature in Translation), Portuguese 473 (Introduction to Brazilian Literature), or other upper-level course in Latin American literature.

Political Science: 448 (Government and Politics of Latin America), or 449 (Selected Topics 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. Students should also consult with their individual faculty 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 represents a significant amount of work, and receives three credits toward the concentration through enrollment in Latin American and Caribbean Studies 399. Students 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 Director. The senior thesis constitutes 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. Students should enroll in Latin American and Caribbean Studies 399 for the term during which they intend to complete the senior thesis.
  
  
• Advising. Prospective concentrators should consult the Director for guidance on courses. 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.
• For further information, students should contact the Program Director.

Courses in Other Departments

The office of the Program makes available, during pre-registration, a list of many other upper-level courses related to Latin America and the Caribbean offered by several departments and professional schools of the University.


Courses in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
(Division 415)

399. Thesis-Writers' Seminar. (3). (Excl).

400/Hist. 578/CAAS 478. Ethnicity and Culture in Latin America. (3). (Excl). May be repeated for a total of six credits.

455. Topics in Latin American Studies. (3). (Excl).