Latin American & Latino Studies Program // Major and Minor

Major and Minor

description

Our program allows students to approach Latin American and Latino cultures in all their diversity of expression - not only "high culture" but also folk and other forms, from pre-Columbian times to the present , from Rio de Janeiro to New york and beyond. Ibero-America is a focal point from which undergraduates may reach out toward scholarly research on the pre-Columbian societies of the Americas, Spain and Portugal, the non-Hispanic Caribbean, and Latino communities in the United States. The Latin American and Latino Studies Major is an interdisciplinary major, in which a student's credits are spread across three course clusters: social science, cultural criticism and history.

Courses appropriate for first-year students: LALS 240, LALS 254, LALS 213, LALS 307

Students in both the Major and Minor are encouraged to participate in a study-abroad program in Latin America (see the Office of International Programs for descriptions of such programs), and to have other travel, volunteer, or work experiences in Latin America as well. With a letter of permission from the College of Arts and Sciences, students also have access to Latin American courses at nearby Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, and Swarthmore College.

Students are encouraged to participate in scholarly extracurricular events and activities offered by organizations such as the Latin American and Latino Studies Program, the International House, the Casa Hispanica in the Modern Languages College House, the University Museum, and the many Latino student organizations of the Greenfield Intercultural Center. These organizations sponsor or co-sponsor speakers, symposia, and cultural events that enrich the course-work of Latin American Studies students.

For more information about the Latin American Studies Major or Minor, see the Latin American Studies Advisor, Dr Ann Farnsworth-Alvear, Department of History, College Hall Room 306C, or vistit the Latin American and Latino Studies Office at 3624 Market Street Suite 1E Room 164

Major Requirements

Twelve courses with Latin American/Latino content.
At least one credit each from the following three course clusters: social science, cultural criticism, and history. Pre-approved courses for each cluster are listed below, but other courses may be approved as cluster courses upon review by the LALS advisor.

Social Science Cluster: LALS 213, 251, 411, 513 (crosslisted with Political Science); LALS 130, 431, 530, 677 (crosslisted with Sociology)** LALS 661 (Cross-listed with Education), LALS 029, 200, 256, 270, 523 (cross-listed with Anthropoloy)

History Cluster: LALS, 010, 070-071, 136, 178-179; 202, 204, 312, 303; 497, 409; 587, 630 (crosslisted with History); LALS 133, 250, 254, 433, 468 (crosslisted with Archeology).

Criticism Cluster: LALS 060, 093, 260, 276, 286, 293 (crosslisted with English); LALS 390, 590 crosslisted with French Studies); LALS 158, 258 (crosslisted with Music); LALS 222, 223-224, 251, 380, 386, 391, 392, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398 (crosslisted with Hispanic Studies)

At least two courses addressing the regional experience prior to 1820. These courses almost always will overlap with the cluster courses described above. Possibilities include: LALS 010, 070, 133, 178-179, 250, 254, 392, 433, 468.
At least one course focused on the experiences of communities in the Latino diaspora. Appropriate courses include LALS 060, 136, 204, 276, 677.
Students must meet the University's language requirement in ither Portuguese or Spanish. Literature courses taken in Romance Languages will count amount the twelve content courses or the Major.
Courses of Latin American content taken in study-abroad programs will count toward the twelve Latin American Studies Major content courses, but approval from the LALS major advisor is required. Prospective majors studying abroad are advised to save syllabi and all of their own written work for courses they hope to count toward the major. Basic language classes cannot be counted (see above).
All LALS majors must complete a research requirement. Most often, this requirement will be completed by a student’s successful completion of the LALS majors seminar, LTAM xxx, in their senior year.
Courses to be counted toward the Major must be taken for a letter grade.

Major/Minor Declaration Form - Please note, all Majors and Minors must fill out this form and contact our Undergraduate Advisor Raquel Albarrán at albarran@sas.upenn.edu for an appointment.

Minor Requirements

Six courses with Latin American content are required, only two courses counted toward a student's mayor may be doubly-counted toward the Latin American Studies Minor.
Language competence equivalent to two semesters of college study in Spanish or Portuguese is required. Only advanced composition courses (such as Spanish 214) and literature courses may count among the six content courses for the Minor.
All courses of Latin American content taken in study-abroad programs will count toward the six Latin American Studies Minor content courses (subject to the approval of a Minor Advisor), except for basic language classes (see above).
Courses to be counted toward the Minor must be taken for a letter grade.

Major/Minor Declaration Form - Please note, all Majors and Minors must fill out this form and contact our Undergraduate Advisor Raquel Albarrán at albarran@sas.upenn.edu for an appointment.