Latin American Studies Minor
Coordinator: Assistant Professor Ugalde
The Latin American Studies minor offers an opportunity to study one of the most diverse and fascinating regions of the world. It enables students to supplement their major with coursework in two or more disciplines that explore the ways in which Latin Americans have expressed their culture and identity through language, literature and the arts. Courses in the minor investigate the collective aspirations of Latin Americans through their social and political behavior, cultural priorities and responses to community, national and international issues as well as the physical environment. With an area 2 1/2 times larger than the United States and a population nearly twice that of the United States, Latin America is a region of growing significance. Hemispheric relationships are expanding in terms of trade, immigration and cultural expression. The minor addresses Latin America as an important region of intrinsic interest, allowing students pursuing any major to expand their understanding of the history, social dynamics and cultural diversity of the area. The minor is beneficial to students interested in careers in teaching, law, health care, business, communications, the arts, nonprofits, government and other fields, and for students wishing to pursue graduate degrees with emphasis on area studies or world language.
Minor Requirements
A minor in Latin American Studies requires 20 semester hours selected from the following list of courses and others approved by the program coordinator.
No more than 12 hours may be chosen from any one discipline. Up to 12 hours of study abroad courses that emphasize Latin American subject matter may count for the minor as approved by the program coordinator.
Language Proficiency
Elementary proficiency in the Spanish language is a concurrent requirement for the minor. This requires students to either pass the Spanish placement exam at the SPN 1020 level, pass SPN 1020 for an additional four hours, or pass SPN 1010 and SPN 1020 for an additional eight hours beyond the 20 hours required for the minor. In other words, students must complete the Elon language proficiency requirement in Spanish. Students using these courses to meet the concurrent requirement are advised to take them as early as possible.
Select twenty semester hours from the following: 20 sh
| ENG 2340 | Caribbean Literature | 4 sh |
| ENG 3810 | Latin American Literature and Culture | 4 sh |
| HST 1400 | THEMES IN CARIBBEAN HISTORY | 4 sh |
| HST 3510 | HISTORY OF MODERN MEXICO | 4 sh |
| HST 3530 | COLONIAL LATIN AMERICA | 4 sh |
| HST 3540 | MODERN LATIN AMERICA | 4 sh |
| POL 3610 | POLITICS OF THE CARIBBEAN | 4 sh |
| POL 3680 | Latin American Politics | 4 sh |
| SPN 3140 | US-SPANISH-AMERICAN RELATIONS | 4 sh |
| SPN 3340 | DEFINING MOMENTS OF SPANISH-AMERICAN CIVILIZATION | 4 sh |
| SPN 3350 | LATINOS IN THE U.S.: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE | 4 sh |
| SPN 4530 | REALISMO MAGICO OR REAL MARAVILLOSO | 4 sh |
Additional courses, not listed here, may be approved as LAS electives each semester. Interested students should check OnTrack for current offerings that apply to the minor. Relevant GBL or COR courses could count as LAS electives with approval by the Program Coordinator.
Other courses, such as LAS 4985, LAS 4991, and LAS 4999 may also be submitted for approval by the Program Coordinator.
Program Outcomes
Students would have a basic understanding of the lasting effects of colonialism and imperialism in the region.
Students would be able to explain the region’s multifaceted identities, relationships and roles within the global community
Students would be able to use multidisciplinary perspectives to analyze social and political behavior, physical environment, cultural priorities and responses to local, regional, an international issues within Latin America
Students would be able to demonstrate knowledge about the region, its language and its people
Students would be able to reflect upon and implement their understanding of civic engagement with regard to the Latin American region and take this knowledge to actively engage with their local and global communities
Total Credit Hours: 20