Latin-American Studies, B.A.

Location(s): Main Campus

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The Latin American Studies Program offers interdisciplinary degrees with a focus on the history, economies, politics, cultures, art and literature, and social movements of Latin America and the transnational experiences of Latin American populations in diaspora. 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, including 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 120 units, of which 39 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.

Admission Criteria Learning Outcomes Roadmap (2022)

Requirements for the Major (39 units)

Core Requirement (15 units)

Lower Division Core Courses (6 units)

LAS 1500 - Introduction to Latin American Studies [3]
And select one course from the list below (3 units)
LAS 2550 - Diverse Latin American Populations in Southern California (also listed as CLS 2550) [3]
CLS 2050 - Chicanx/Latinx in Film and Media [3]
CLS 2100 - Introduction to Chicanx & Latinx Political and Social Movements [3]
CLS 2200 - Chicanas & Latinas in Contemporary US Society (also listed as WGSS 2200) [3]

Upper Division Core and Capstone Courses (9 units)

Select one (3 units):
LAS 3000 - Immigrant Experiences and Social Justice in the Americas (also listed as ANTH 3000) [3]
LAS 3500 - Movements for Social Justice in the Americas, Soc Justice Americas [3]
Capstone Courses (6 units):
LAS 4970 - Interdisciplinary Approaches to Latin American Studies [3]
LAS 4971 - Interdisciplinary Research and Writing in Latin American Studies [3]

Upper Division Latin American Studies Electives (6 units)

Complete 6 units from this list:

Language Requirement (3 units)

All Latin American Studies students must demonstrate familiarity with Spanish, Portuguese, or an indigenous language from Latin America by completing 3 units of coursework in one of said languages.

Lower-Division courses that meet the language requirement include:
SPAN 1001 - Elementary Spanish for Non-Heritage Speakers 1 [4]
SPAN 1002 - Elementary Spanish for Non-Heritage Speakers 2 [4]
SPAN 1050 - Elementary Spanish for Heritage Speakers [4]
SPAN 1100 - Spanish Conversation for Professions [3]
SPAN 2001 - Intermediate Spanish for Non-Heritage Speakers 1 [4]
SPAN 2002 - Intermediate Spanish for Non-Heritage Speakers 2 [4]
SPAN 2050 - Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers [4]
Upper-Division language courses relevant to Latin American Studies include:
SPAN 3150 - Spanish-American Civilization [3]
SPAN 3400 - Hispanic Film [3]
SPAN 4110 - Spanish-American Literature I [3]
SPAN 4130 - Spanish-American Literature II [3]
SPAN 4170 - Spanish-American Short Story [3]
SPAN 4210 - Mexican Literature of Twentieth Century [3]
SPAN 4310 - Spanish-American Testimony [3]
SPAN 4441 - Masterworks of Spanish American Literature [3]
SPAN 4541 - Special Topics - Latin America [1-3]
SPAN 4750 - Spanish American Theater [3]
SPAN 4830 - Intellectuals and Ideas in Latin America [3]
SPAN 4850 - Southern Cone Fiction [3]

General Electives (15 units)

Complete 15 units from the list below. The selection must include at least 12 units of 4000-level courses, of which, at least 6 units are HIST courses. With advisor approval students may also complete additional courses in Anthropology, Economics, English, Spanish, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies as part of their program. LAS and SPAN and their cross-listing courses taken to satisfy the Core, Upper-Division Latin American Studies Electives, or the Language Requirement areas cannot be repeated and be double-counted for general elective credits.

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