Undergraduate Program

Major or Minor?

The Major in Latin American Studies allows undergraduate students to pursue an in-depth study of Latin America across diverse disciplines, theoretical approaches and historical periods. Through regular courses, seminars and additional activities such as Film Series, programs abroad, lectures, and the like, students will explore the processes that resulted in the integration of the so-called New World and Western civilizations, from the discovery of America to the present. An essential aspect of this major is the focus on economic, social, and political dynamics corresponding to intercultural relations developed between indigenous cultures, Creole societies, European and North American nations.

The Minor in Latin American Studies allows undergraduate students pursuing other major programs to complement their existing curriculum with a study of Latin America across diverse disciplines, and the way in which the region engages with the Western World, to which it belongs, at large. The minor in Latin American Studies is conceived as an option for students across a variety of disciplines in the social sciences, the humanities, the sciences, the pre-medical program, business and engineering to add knowledge about Latin America to their professional portfolio. The vast relations that the United States has with Latin America in all fields make the minor in Latin American Studies the source of valuable skills for our existing population. It also allows students in other major programs to access discussions on socioeconomic and ethnic diversity in one of the regions central to those debates in the world.

Study Abroad Requirement

Study abroad is required for majors and strongly encouraged for minors in Latin American Studies Program.

Learn More About Study Abroad Opportunities

Major Requirements

The major in Latin American Studies requires students to complete 30 credits. At least 24 units must be at the 300-level or higher and at least 9 units must be at the 400-level. All credits must be exclusive to the major and may not be double counted, unless the College of Arts and Sciences regulations state otherwise. Credits must be fulfilled as follows:

3 units for the successful completion of L45 165D, “Latin America: Nation, Ethnicity and Social Conflict,” offered yearly. L45 165C can also fulfill this requirement.
3 units for the successful completion of an elective introductory class at the 100, 200 or 300 levels. Classes that fulfill this requirement must meet the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. This requirement may also be fulfilled with an approved course abroad or with a 300-level elective approved by the DUS.
3 units in history or politics at the 300-level of higher. Courses may come from relevant offerings in the departments of history or political science, the international and area studies program, or study abroad. Courses must be crosslisted with L45 or approved by the DUS. Existing examples of courses include but are not limited to:
Political Science: Latin American Politics (L45 326B, offered yearly), Presidents, Legislators and Economic Policy in Latin America (L32 4231, every two years).
History: Introduction to Colonial Latin America (L22 321C, yearly), Modern Latin America (L22 322C, yearly), Modern Mexico (L22 3220, every 2 to 3 years).
IAS: Andean Culture (L97 356, yearly), International Relations of Latin America (L97 4201, yearly), Populism and Neopopulism in Latin America (L97 4661, yearly), Geographies of Development in Latin America (L97 4660, yearly).
3 units in literary or cultural studies at the 300-level or higher. These may include course offered by the departments of Romance Languages and Literatures, Art History and Archeology, LASP home-based courses and study-abroad. Courses include but are not limited to: Latin American Literature and Culture (L38 343, every semester), Topics in Hispanic Cultures (L38 380) and Seminar on Hispanic Cultures (L38 450), Mexican Visual Culture (L45 381), and Film and Revolution in Latin America (L45 3824).
3 units in Anthropology or Pre-Columbian Cultures at the 300-level or higher. These courses may come from offerings in the Anthropology department or Study abroad. These include: The Ancient Maya (L48 3351, yearly), Indigenous Peoples and Cultures of Latin America (L48 3092, yearly), Anthropology of Latin America (L48 3093) and Anthropology and Development (L48 3093).
9 units of elective credit at the 300-level or higher. At least 3 of these units must be fulfilled at the 400-level. 3 units of elective credit may be fulfilled through an honors thesis (L45 486) or a Latin American Studies Special Project (L45 425).
6 units of a Latin American Seminar. Seminar courses are 400-level classes designed as such, taught by core LASP faculty on theoretical issues related to the region. These include Latin American Cultural Studies (L45 461), Gender and Modernity in Latin America (L45 457), Seminar in Urban Cultures in Latin America (L45 463), Nation and Desire in Latin America (L45 464), and Bodily Injuries: The Discourse of Violence in Latin America (L45 483).

Capstone

Prime majors in Latin American Studies must fulfill their capstone requirement by writing an honors thesis (if the student meets the College of Arts and Sciences requirements to do so), writing a Latin American research paper (L45 425) or completing the two LAS seminar classes with a grade of B+ or better.

Language requirement

LASP requires all majors to complete a language requirement in Spanish or Portuguese. The Spanish requirement may be fulfilled by:

Successful completion of Spanish Grammar and Composition (L38 307D) with a grade of B- or higher.
Placing in Spanish 308 through the Spanish program’s placement test as a freshman.
Native or heritage speaker status, as determined by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in LASP or in Spanish.
Successful completion of a program abroad, conducted in Spanish, with a minimum of 3 credit units in the target language.

The Portuguese Requirement may be fulfilled by:

Successful completion of Portuguese Reading and Conversation II: Intermediate Portuguese (L37 220) with a grade of B- or higher.
Native or heritage speaker status, as determined by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in LASP or in Spanish.
Successful completion of a program abroad, conducted in Portuguese, with a minimum of 3 credit units in the target language.

Study abroad requirement

All majors in Latin American Studies must complete at least a study abroad experience in Latin America. This requirement may be fulfilled by any Focus program in the region, or by completion of a summer or semester program in the region approved by the Office of Overseas Programs.

Students who attend study-abroad programs may request credit for appropriate courses at the 300-level, approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. A maximum of 9 credits for one semester or equivalent of study abroad, or 12 credits for more than one semester, is allowed. L45 165D and 400-level credit must be completed in residence at Washington University.

Students unable to attend a study abroad program may complete an additional three units of 300-level elective credit instead.

Minor Requirements

The minor in Latin American Studies requires students to complete 18 credits. At least 15 units must be at the 300-level or higher and at least 3 units must be at the 400-level. All credits must be exclusive to the minor and may not be double counted, unless the College of Arts and Sciences regulations state otherwise. The requirements for the minor mirror some requirements for the major as specified above. Credits must be fulfilled as follows:

3 units for the successful completion of L45 165D, Latin America: Nation, Ethnicity and Social Conflict. L45 165C can also fulfill this requirement.
3 units in history or politics at the 300-level of higher. Courses may come from relevant offerings in the departments of history or political science, the international and area studies program, or study abroad.
3 units in literary or cultural studies at the 300-level or higher. These may include courses offered by the departments of Romance Languages and Literatures, Art History and Archeology, LASP home-based courses and study-abroad.
3 units in Anthropology or Pre-Columbian Cultures at the 300-level or higher. These courses may come from offerings in the Anthropology department or study abroad.
3 units of elective credit at the 300-level or higher.
3 units of a Latin American Seminar. Seminar courses are 400-level classes designed as such, taught by core LASP faculty on theoretical issues related to the region.

Language requirement

LASP requires all minors to complete a language requirement in Spanish or Portuguese. The Spanish requirement may be fulfilled by:

Successful completion of Intermediate Spanish II (L38 202) with a grade of B- or higher.
Placing in Spanish 307 through the Spanish program’s placement test as a freshman.
Native or heritage speaker status, as determined by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in LASP or in Spanish.
Successful completion of a program abroad, conducted in Spanish, with a minimum of 3 credit units in the target language.

The Portuguese Requirement may be fulfilled by:

Successful completion of Portuguese Reading and Conversation I (L37 215) with a grade of B- or higher.
Native or heritage speaker status, as determined by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in LASP or in Spanish.
Successful completion of a program abroad, conducted in Portuguese, with a minimum of 3 credit units in the target language.

Study abroad

All minors in LASP are strongly encouraged, but not required, to pursue a study-abroad program in the region. Students who attend study-abroad programs may request credit for appropriate courses at the 300-level, approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. A maximum of 6 credits is allowed. L45 165D and the Seminar requirement must be completed in residence at Washington University.