Requirements and Course Offerings

Course Offerings

105b. Introduction to Latin American and Latino/a Studies (1)

An introduction to the basic concepts, theories, and methodologies necessary for the multidisciplinary study of Latin American and Latino communities. The focus of the course varies from year to year according to the topic selected by the instructor.

Topic for 2009/10: What geographic and social spaces constitute Latin America? Who is a Latin American and/or a Latino/a? Addressing these questions, this course provides an introduction to the basic concepts, theories, and methodologies necessary for the multidisciplinary study of Latin American and Latina/o communities. The course introduces students to the multiple ways in which space, race, ethnicity, class and gendered identities are formed in Latin America and conversely affirmed and/or redefined in the United States. In addition, the course examines the ways in which U.S. Latina/o populations provide both economic and cultural remittances to their countries of origin that also help to challenge and rearticulate Latin American social and economic relationships. Mr. Alamo.

226b. Framing Poverty and Social Mobility: the Picaresque Novel in Spain and Latin America (1)

(Same as Hispanic Studies 226b) Mr. Vivalda.

230a. Latina and Latino Literature in the U.S. (1)

(Same as English 230a). Mr. Perez

240a. Andean Worlds (1)

(Same as Anthropology 240a). Mr. Tavárez.

242b. Brazil: Society, Culture, and Environment in Portuguese America (1)

(Same as Geography 242b, and Africana Studies 242b) Mr. Godfrey.

[ 251. Development and Social Change in Latin America ] (1)

(Same as Sociology 251) Ms. Carruyo.

Alternate years: not offered in 2009/10.

290a or b. Field Work (1/2 or 1)

By special permission.

Reading Courses

297.02. Indigenous Mexico (1/2)

297.03. Chronicles of the Conquest (1/2)

297.04. Latino Writings (1/2)

297.05. Socio-Political Thought in Latin America (1/2)

297.06. Latin American Cinema (1/2)

297.07. The Politics of Regional Integration (1/2)

297.08. Syncretic Religions of the Caribbean and Latin American (1/2)

297.09. The Legacy of the Plantation in Caribbean and Latin American (1/2)

297.10. Cultures of the Amazon (1/2)

297.11. Native Peoples of the Andes (1/2)

298a or b. Independent Research (1/2 or 1)

By special permission.

300-301. Senior Thesis (1/2)

[ 351. Indigenous Literatures of the Americas ] (1)

(Same as Anthropology 351) Mr. Tavárez.

Alternate years: not offered in 2009/10.

360a. Amerindian Religions and Resistance. (1)

(Same as Anthropology 360a). Mr. Tavárez

372b. Advanced Urban and Regional Studies (1)

(Same as Geography 372b and Urban Studies 340b)

Topic for 2009/10: Preserving Whose Cities? Heritage Sites, Historic Districts, and Public Space. Mr. Godfrey.

[ 381. Politics of Memory: Latin America in Comparative Perspective ] (1)

(Same as Political Science 381). Ms. Hite.

Alternate years: not offered in 2009/10.

383b. Senior Seminar: Nation, Race and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean (1)

With a focus on Latin America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean this course traces and analyzes the ways in which the project of nation building creates and draws upon narratives about race and gender. While our focus is on Latin America, our study considers racial and gender formations within the context of the world-system. We are interested in how a complicated history of colonization, independence, post-coloniality, and "globalization" has intersected with national economies, politics, communities, and identities. In order to get at these intersections we examine a range of texts dealing with policy, national literatures, common sense, and political struggle. Specific issues addressed include the relationship between socio-biological theories of race and Latin American notions of mestizage, discursive and material "whitening," the myth of racial democracy, sexuality and morality, and border politics. Ms. Carruyo.

385a. Women, Culture and Development (1)

(Same as Sociology 385a). Ms. Carruyo.

399a or b. Senior Independent Research (1/2 or 1)

By special permission.

Approved Courses

In addition to the Program and cross-listed courses listed above, there are approved courses given in other departments and programs that can count toward a Latin American Latino/a Studies (LALS) major or correlate. Look under the respective departments for course descriptions and semester or year offered. An updated list of approved courses is available in the LALS program office and on-line on the LALS Program web site before preregistration. Students are also urged to consult the additional course offerings of LALS Program faculty members listed under their home departments. While these courses may not focus specifically on Latin America and Latino/a America, they often include case studies or materials related to the regions. In addition, LALS faculty approaches and methodologies in such courses may be beneficial to the major and therefore LALS-approved.

Africana Studies 105 Issues In Africana Studies (1)

Africana Studies 211 Religions of the Oppressed and Third World Liberation Movements (1)

Africana Studies 230 Creole Religions of the Caribbean (1)

Africana Studies 256 Environment and Culture in the Caribbean (1)

Africana Studies 262 Literature/Caribbean Diaspora (1)

Africana Studies 275 Caribbean Discourse (1)

American Culture 250 America and the World (1)

Anthropology 241 The Caribbean (1)

Anthropology 245 The Ethnographer’s Craft (1)

Economics 248 International Trade and the World Financial System (1)

Economics 273 Development Economics (1)

Education 367 Urban Education Reform (1)

Education 388 Education and Immigration (1)

Geography 242 Brazil: Culture and Environment in Portuguese America (1)

Geography 248 The U.S.-Mexico Border: Region, Place, and Process (1)

Geography 250 Urban Geography: Built Environment, Social Space, and Sustainability (1)

Geography 266 Population, Environment, and Sustainable Development (1)

Geography 272 Geographies of Mass Violence (1)

Hispanic-Studies 105-106 Elementary Spanish Language (1)

Hispanic-Studies 205 Intermediate Spanish (1)

Hispanic Studies 206 Reading and Writing about Hispanic Culture (1)

Hispanic Studies 216 Methods in Interdisciplinary Analysis (1)

Hispanic Studies 227 Colonial Latin America (1)

Hispanic Studies 229 Postcolonial Latin America (1)

Hispanic Studies 387 Latin America Seminar (1)

History 162 Latin America: The Aftermath of Encounter (1)

History 251 A History of American Foreign Relations (1)

History 262 Early Latin America to 1750 (1)

History 263 From Colony to Nation: Latin America in the Nineteenth Century (1)

History 264 The Revolutionary Option? Latin America in the Twentieth Century (1)

History 361 Varieties of the Latin American Indian Experience (1)

History 362 The Cuban Revolution (1)

History 363 Revolution and Conflict in Twentieth-Century Latin America (1)

International Studies 286 Global Political Economy (1)

International Studies 380 Global Interdependency (1)

Music 136 Introduction to World Music (1)

Music 212 Advanced Topics in World Musics (1)

Political Science 207 Political Analysis (1)

Political Science 252 Politics of Modern Social Movements (1)

Political Science 258 Latin American Politics (1)

Political Science 259 Human Rights and Politics (1)

Political Science 268 Politics of Globalization (1)

Political Science 273 Interpreting Politics (1)

Political Science 352 Seminar on Multiculturalism in Comparative Perspective (1)

Political Science 355 Seminar on Violence (1)

Political Science 358 Comparative Political Economy (1)

Political Science 363 Decolonizing and International Relations (1)

Portuguese a and b First, Second and Third Year of Spoken Language (Self-Instructional Language Program) (1)

Religion 211 Religions of the Oppressed and Third-World Liberation Movements (1)

Sociology 321 Feminism/Praxis Knowledge (1)

Sociology 254 Research Methods (1)

Sociology 269 Constructing School and Street Kids (1)

Sociology 381 Race and Popular Culture (1)

Sociology 388 Preparing Citizens/Producing Workers (1)

Women’s Studies 282 Women of Color in the U.S. (1)

Women’s Studies 388 Latina Feminisms (1)