Latin American Studies, Program in

College of Natural and Social Sciences

PROGRAM OFFICE

King Hall C4073A

Phone:       (323) 343-2290 or 343-2182

Website:      http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/las/

E-mail:      las@calstatela.edu

The Program and Its Mission

Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary program that combines subject matter from several academic disciplines to give the student a broad background encompassing the historical, social, cultural, and geographic realities of the region as well as training in the Spanish language.  It offers students interested in Latin America the opportunity to pursue a major in this field of study leading to the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees. The program also offers the minor in Latin American Studies and a minor in Central American Studies. The undergraduate program is described below, followed by the Graduate program section.

The Faculty

Program Director:       Enrique C. Ochoa.

Associate Director:      Beth Baker-Cristales.

Instruction for the Latin American Studies program is provided by members of the faculty who are experts on Latin America from cooperating disciplines in the colleges of Natural and Social Sciences, Arts and Letters, Business and Economics, and the Charter College of Education as well as instructors in Latin American Studies.

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Arts Degree

The Bachelor of Arts degree program in Latin American Studies affords the student a wide range of career opportunities in the U.S. and abroad.  The growth of the Latina/Latino population in the U.S. has produced an increasing need for trained persons with a knowledge of the region to work in government, teaching, not-for-profit organizations, business, and other fields.

The total number of units required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies Program is 180 units, of which 64-80 units are in the major. Consult with an advisor for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree including GE and free electives.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree  (64-80 units)

Select 20 units from the following:

Select 8 units in History:

*when topic is Latin America

Minor in Central American Studies(also listed in Chicano Studies)

The minor in Central American Studies provides students with an in-depth and cross-disciplinary exploration of Central America, its past and present, and its connections to the United States through globalization and international migration.

A total of 24 units are required. A total of 12 units are constituted by core requirements and the remainder of the units is drawn from elective courses.

Requirements for the Minor (24 Units)

Choose one course from each area listed below

Minor in Latin American Studies

The minor in Latin American Studies is designed to provide students not majoring in Latin American Studies with a concentration of courses that will impart a knowledge of the field and enhance their career opportunities and general knowledge in a focused manner.  The minor requires a total of 36 units, 16 in required courses and 20 in electives.

Requirements for the Minor  (36 units)

**Requirement may be met by examination and unit requirement met with courses selected from elective list.

Electives  (20 units)

Select 20 units from the following, with courses from at least three fields including 4 units in Latin American Studies:

AAAS/CHS/LAS/PAS 408 

ANTH 404, 408, 428, 429 *454L

ART 446 , 447H, *454L, 457H

CHS 311, 400, 406, 420, 430, 444, 446, 468

CHS/HIST 466A,B,C, 467

CHS/LAS 404

CHS/LAS/RELS  423

ECON 460, 465

GEOG 427, 428, 333#, 496*, 497*

HIST 360#, 450*, 451*, 459, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 469

LAS 335, 424, 425, 430, 450, 470, 499

LAS/PAS 342#,

LAS/PAS/POLS 360#

TVF/LAS 434

MUS 358, 458

PAS 423

PAS/POLS 456

PHIL 433

POLS 451, *454

SOC 442

SPAN 300AB, 315, 401, 411, 413, 417, 419, 421, 429, 431 *454, *459, 471, 475, 483, 485

*when topic is Latin America

#no more than two of these courses 

Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Programs

Master of Arts Degree

A master's degree in Latin American Studies affords students a wide range of career opportunities in the U.S. and abroad.  Students are able to tailor their programs to fit career interests and goals.  The program provides training and research as well as opportunity to work with community groups.  A master’s degree prepares students to work in policy-making management-level positions, to teach in community colleges, or to pursue Ph.D. study.  Opportunities abroad are available to graduates with a master's degree who are qualified to teach at the university level in Latin American educational institutions.

Admission to the MA Program

Admission is governed by University requirements for admission to graduate study.  New graduate students must consult with the Latin American Studies graduate adviser before registration to evaluate their program prerequisites and for assistance in planning their program.

Master of Arts Program Requirements

A minimum of 20 units in upper division Latin American content courses is prerequisite to the program; LAS 497A and 497B are corequisites.  Students who have not met these requirements through courses taken as an undergraduate must take courses in two or more departments in postbaccalaureate standing.  In exceptional cases, the Latin American Studies graduate studies committee may waive a portion of these prerequisites.

Before they may be advanced to candidacy, students must demonstrate written and oral competence in Spanish or Portuguese by passing a foreign language reading examination (ML 901) in the language selected, as offered by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures and with approval of that department.

A total of 45 units is required, with at least 23 in 500-level courses.  The program involves study in seminars and lecture courses.  It offers considerable flexibility for students to pursue individual interests and particular career goals.  Students must have a minimum of 5 graduate level courses, distributed in at least 3 fields, chosen from:  anthropology, art, business, economics, education, geography, history, political science, sociology, and Spanish.  Other fields may be included in consultation with the adviser.  The necessary language proficiency is established by examination.  Students have the option of passing a comprehensive examination or writing a thesis as the final phase of the degree program.  Those who elect the thesis track work with three members of the faculty in choosing a thesis topic, developing a research plan and writing the thesis.  To prepare for the comprehensive examination those who select that option will be given assigned readings to supplement class work by the examining faculty in each of the three fields selected.  An oral defense of the thesis or examination completes the degree.

Select      500-level courses from the following 

(include seminars in at least three disciplines): 

*when emphasis is on Latin America 

**Area of emphasis should be applied to Latin America

Additional units from among Latin American content courses, including appropriate departmental 499 and 598 courses, selected in consultation with the Latin American Studies graduate adviser.

400-level Courses

All 400-level courses listed in the undergraduate major, general option, may be applied toward master's degree requirements except the following, subject to limits established by the department and approval of the graduate adviser: LAS 497AB

Students must successfully complete either comprehensive examinations or a thesis.

Immediately following completion of the comprehensive examinations or thesis, students must pass an oral examination conducted by a three-member faculty committee.

Comprehensive written examinations about Latin America must be passed successfully in three of the following academic fields:  anthropology, art, comparative education, economics, geography, history, marketing, political science, or other fields approved by the graduate committee in Latin American Studies. 

Students should expect to take the comprehensive examinations (LAS 596) the quarter they complete all course work on their program and must comply with college and program requirements.  Students must notify the Coordinator of Latin American Studies in writing of their intention to take the examinations.

Instead of the comprehensive examinations, students may choose to write an interdisciplinary thesis under the guidance of a three-member faculty committee selected in consultation with an adviser.  Students making this choice must enroll in LAS 599, in which a maximum of 9 units may be taken.

List of Courses (LAS) - Undergraduate Level

Lower Division Courses

LAS 102 The African Diaspora in the United States (4) (also listed as PAS 102)

Diversity among the varied people of African descent in the United States and their relation to the dominant society.     GE D

LAS 108 Comparative Ethnic Studies (4) (also listed as CHS, AAAS, PAS 108)

This survey course examines comparatively the notions of "race" and ethnicity, the exploitation based on these statuses, and the resulting resistance and multi-ethnic social movements in the U.S. and elsewhere.

LAS 150 Introduction to Latin American Studies (4)

A multidisciplinary introduction to the history, peoples, social structure, and geography of Latin America with emphasis on the formation of its diverse societies.

LAS 255  Diverse Latin American Populations in Southern California (4)  (also listed as CHS 255)

The formation of and differences among the varied Latin American people in the Southern California region and their participation in contemporary society.     GE D

Upper Division Courses

LAS 335 Race and Culture in the Americas (4) (also listed as CHS 335)

Prerequisites: Completion of Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block C.  Comparative study of race and ethnicity as expressed in the arts and culture of Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States.     GE Theme H

LAS 342 Cultural Impact of Development  (4)  (also listed as PAS 342)

Prerequisites: Completion of Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block C.  Impact of colonialism, neocolonialism and globalization on art, literature, music and identity in developing countries.     GE Theme A

LAS 360 Dynamics of Change in the Developing World (4)  (also listed as PAS 360 and POLS 360)

Prerequisites: Completion of G.E. Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block D.  Case studies illustrating why the Third World came into being and how it is changing in the context of the globalized world economy.     GE Theme A

LAS 380 Education and Development in the Third Wold (4)  (also listed as PAS and EDFN 380)

Prerequisite: Completion of Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block D.  Comparative analysis of the systems of education in the Third World with particular emphasis on their educational problems and issues, and their relationship to economic development and social change.

LAS 395 Community Service in Latin American Studies  (1-4)

Prerequisites:  Approval by departmental faculty adviser, acceptance by a community agency.  Participation as a volunteer in work of a community agency or activity utilizing professional and/or vocational skills in service to community.  Graded CR/NC.  May be repeated to maximum of 9 units.

LAS 400-Level Courses

All 400-level courses listed in the undergraduate major, general option, may be applied toward master's degree requirements except the following, subject to limits established by the department and approval of the graduate adviser: LAS 497AB.

LAS 404 The Central American Experience in the US (4) (also listed as CHS 404)

Prerequisite: CHS 111 or CHS/LAS 255. Aspects of the Central American experience in the U. S. with emphasis on the transnational connections between the countries of origin and the communities of residence in the U. S.

LAS 408 Comparative Diaspora Studies (4) (also listed as AAAS 408, PAS, CHS 408)

Prerequisite: Any lower division course in AAAS, PAS, CHS or LAS.  The course is a comparative examination of diaspora among principally Africans, Asians and Latin Americans emphasizing the conditions of dispersal, the patterns of settlement, and the formations of global tribes.

LAS 424 The United States and Latin America  (4)

Examination and analysis of relations between the U.S. and Latin American nations; the inter-American system.

LAS 423 Migration, Identity, and Religion (4) (also listed as CHS 423 and RELS 423)

Examines the role of Theology of Liberation and Evangelical Christianity in the lives of Mexicans and Latin Americans in their home countries as well as immigrants in the US.

LAS 425 Latin American Responses to Imperialism and Globalization (4)

The impact upon Latin America of U.S. world hegemony and the process of globalization and Latin American response to these forces. Major international issues confronting Latin America.

LAS 430 Cuba and the World (4)

An overview of Cuban society, politics and popular culture as well as its situation in the world.

LAS 434 Latin American Radio Documentary Production  (4)  (also listed as TVF 434)

Recommended prerequisites: TVF 320 or two upper division Latin American content courses in history, political science, or Latin American studies.  Analysis of political, economic, and cultural issues in Latin America, utilizing primary sources;  production of research in the form of broadcasting tapes.

LAS 449 Anthropology of Race and Racism (4) (also listed as ANTH 449, AAAS 449, and CHS 449)

This course examines the anthropological ideas of race, its emergence, and its relationship to the constructions of racisms and racializations in comparative settings and in contemporary situations.

LAS 450 Special Studies in Latin American Studies  (1–4)

Prerequisites:  Upper division standing, others as needed for specific topic.  Selected topics in Latin American Studies differ each quarter;  examined in manner of undergraduate seminar;  individual readings, written/oral reports, discussion.  Repeatable to maximum of 12 units as subject matter changes.

LAS 460 Labor and Social Movements in the Americas (4)

A theoretical and historical overview of labor and social movements in the Americas with an emphasis on 1945 to the present.  Four hours of lecture/discussion; service learning option.

LAS 470 Labor and Social Movements in the Americas (4)

A theoretical and historical overview of labor and social movements in the Americas with an emphasis on 1945 to the present.  Four hours of lecture/discussion; service learning option.

LAS 482 Latin American Women's Movements (4) (also listed as CHS 482 and WOMN 482)

Examines Latin American women's movements and feminist organizing in the U.S., Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

LAS 497A Interdisciplinary Approaches to Latin American Studies (4)

Prerequisites: LAS 150, Satisfactory completion of the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). Reading ability in Spanish or Portuguese. Changing perspectives and varied methodological approaches to Latin America over the past five decades; selection of research topic; bibliography preparation.

LAS 497B Research and Writing on Selected Latin American Topics (4)

Prerequisite: LAS 497A. Senior course.  Development of research skills and paper in English on topic selected in LAS 497A.

LAS 499 Undergraduate Directed Study  (1-4)

Prerequisite:  Instructor consent to act as sponsor.  Project selected in conference with sponsor before registration, progress meetings held regularly, and final report submitted.  May be repeated for credit.

Graduate Level Courses (LAS)

All 400-level courses listed in the undergraduate major, general option, may be applied toward master's degree requirements except the following, subject to limits established by the department and approval of the graduate adviser: LAS 497AB.

Classified graduate standing is required for admission to all  500-level courses.

LAS 508 Seminar:  Latin American Social Systems  (4)

Recommended prerequisites: ANTH 404 or 408, reading competence in Spanish or Portuguese. Analysis of selected aspects of contemporary Latin American social systems. May be repeated for credit.

LAS 590 Interdisciplinary Seminar:  Latin American Studies  (4)

Prerequisite:  LAS 497AB.  Interdisciplinary investigation and discussion of selected Latin American topics.  May be repeated for credit.

LAS 598 Graduate Directed Study  (1–4)

Prerequisite:  Instructor consent to act as sponsor.  Independent study of advanced topics in field; regular conferences with sponsor.  May be repeated for credit.

LAS 599 Thesis  (1–9)

Prerequisites: Instructor consent to act as sponsor, approval of topic prior to registration. Independent research resulting in a thesis. May be repeated to maximum of 9 units. Graded CR/NC.