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Undergraduate Programs

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies administers programs of study leading to the BA , the BA with Honors and the Minor in Latin American Studies (LAMS). The majors and minor in Latin American Studies respond to a need in the New England region and nationally for a deeper understanding of the peoples and cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean, their histories and contemporary economic, social, and political problems, and their relations with the United States.

Undergraduate Student Forms

Study Abroad
All students majoring or minoring in Latin American Studies are urged to participate in a study abroad program in Latin America or the Caribbean for a summer, a semester, or a year. The University of Connecticut sponsors programs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

LAMS 1190 (Perspectives on Latin America, CA 2. CA 4-INT) is recommended as background preparation for the 3000-level courses taken to satisfy requirements for the minor and major. LAMS 1190 does not count toward the minor or major
 

Latin American Studies Major
The interdisciplinary major in Latin American Studies offers an understanding of the peoples and cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean, their histories and contemporary economic, social, and political problems, and their relations with the United States. Completion of the B.A. in Latin American Studies prepares the student for work in government, international organizations, business, journalism and communications, or for graduate studies that lead to careers in research and teaching.

The major in Latin American Studies consists of a minimum of 36 credit hours of course work, including five required course selections as specified below (15 credit hours) and additional courses (21 credits) as described below. In addition, intermediate proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese, though not a prerequisite for major study, must be demonstrated for completion of the major; language courses undertaken to satisfy this requirement do not count toward the major’s total credit hours.

(LAMS Major Plan of Study)

Required Courses (15 credits)
Anthropology/Art History: Select one course from: ANTH 3021, 3022, 3029, 3042, 3150; ARTH 3610, 3620, 3630, 3640 or 3645 or appropriate LAMS 3000-level course
History: Select one course from: HIST 3607, 3608W, 3609, 3660W
Political Science: Select one course from: POLS 3235, 3237
Spanish: Select one course from: SPAN 3201, 3205, 3233, 3234, 3251, 3265 or 3266
Latin American Studies: Select: LAMS 4994W Research Seminar

Additional Courses (21 credits)
Students select a minimum of 21 credit hours of related 3000 or 4000-level course work in consultation with an advisor, who will assure that the student’s program is coherent and comprehensive.  Some or all may be courses not already chosen from the list of required courses above. 

Language Requirement (credits do not apply to major’s 36 credit minimum)
Intermediate proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese may be demonstrated in one of the following ways (consult Spanish Department for course equivalents for Portuguese):

  • Select two courses from: SPAN 3178, 3179, 3240W, or 3241
  • Pass equivalent language exam in Spanish or Portuguese administered by the Spanish Department
  • Requirement waived for native speakers

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Minor in Latin American Studies
The interdisciplinary minor in Latin American Studies offers a basic understanding of the peoples and cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean, their histories and contemporary economic, social, and political problems, and their relations with the United States.
(LAMS Minor Plan of Study)

The interdisciplinary minor in Latin American Studies consists of a minimum of 15 credit hours of course work selected from at least three disciplines distributed in groups A, B, and C as follows:

Group A (6 credits)
Select two courses from different disciplines from the following: ANTH 3021, 3022, 3029, 3042, 3150; ARTH 3610, 3620, 3630, 3640 or 3645; HIST 3607, 3608W, 3609, 3660W; LAMS 3660W; POLS 3235, 3237; PRLS 3660W; SPAN 3201, 3205, 3233, 3234, 3251, 3265 or 3266

Group B  (6 additional credits) In consultation with advisor, may be taken from Group A and must include at least a third  discipline)

Group C (3 credits): LAMS 4994W Research Seminar

Language Requirement (credits do not apply to minor’s 15 credit minimum)
Elementary proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese may be demonstrated in one of the following ways (consult Spanish Department for course equivalents for Portuguese):

  • One 2000-level or above language course in Spanish or Portuguese
  • Pass equivalent language exam in Spanish or Portuguese administered by the Spanish Department
  • Requirement waived for native speakers

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Latin American Studies Major with Honors
Through enhanced course work and focused research, the major with honors in Latin American Studies prepares the student to work effectively and knowledgeably in government, international organizations, business, journalism, and communications, or to pursue graduate studies which lead to careers in research and/or teaching in the social sciences and humanities.

The interdisciplinary major with honors in Latin American Studies consists of a minimum of 36 credit hours of course work, including seven required course selections as specified below (21 credit hours) and additional courses (15 credits) as described below.   In addition, intermediate proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese, though not a prerequisite for major with honors study, must be demonstrated for completion of the major with honors; language courses undertaken to satisfy this requirement do not count toward the major with honor’s total credit hours.

(LAMS Major with Honors Plan of Study)

Required Courses Credits (21 credits)
Select at least one from each of the following plus one additional for a total of five courses:
Anthropology/Art History: ANTH 3021, 3022, 3029, 3042, 3150; ARTH 3610, 3620, 3630, 3640 or 3645 or appropriate LAMS 3000-level course
History: HIST 3607, 3608W, 3609, 3660W
Political Science: POLS 3235, 3237
Spanish: SPAN 3201, 3205, 3233, 3234, 3251, 3265 or 3266

Latin American Studies: Select both: LAMS 4994W Research Seminar and LAMS 3999 Independent Study (with honors conversion)

Additional Courses (15 credits)
Students select a minimum of 15 credit hours of 3000 or 4000-level course work in consultation with an advisor, who will assure that the student’s program is coherent and comprehensive. Some or all may be courses not already chosen from the list of required courses above. 

Language Requirement (credits do not apply to major with honor’s 36 credit minimum)
Intermediate proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese may be demonstrated in one of the following ways (consult Spanish Department for course equivalents for Portuguese):

  • Select two courses from: SPAN 3178, 3179, 3240W, or 3241
  • Pass equivalent language exam in Spanish or Portuguese administered by the Spanish Department
  • Requirement waived for native speakers

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