Latin American Studies

Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary program that combines subject matter and modes of inquiry from several academic disciplines to give the student a broad background encompassing the historical, political, social, and cultural aspects of the region. Students are encouraged to develop the analytical and evaluative skills that will enable them to gain a systematic understanding of the region. Majors demonstrate language proficiency in Spanish and are strongly encouraged to participate in a Willamette-sponsored program in Latin America.

The degree program in Latin American Studies affords the student a wide range of career opportunities in the United States and abroad. The rapid growth of the Latino population in the United States produces an increasing need for trained persons with a knowledge of the Latin American region to work in teaching, government, the nonprofit sector, journalism, business, and other fields. The major is also well-suited to students who wish to pursue graduate work in Latin American studies or other disciplines in which a Latin American specialization is helpful.

Requirements for the Latin American Studies Major (11 Credits)

Eleven credits are required in the Latin American Studies major. These should be determined in consultation with a Latin American Studies academic advisor by the end of the sophomore year. A service learning component is also required for the major; it may be met by satisfactory completion of LAS 251 or (subject to prior faculty approval) by a service learning component in an approved study-abroad program. A minimum of six credits must be earned in residency at Willamette University. Credits that students earn in a Willamette-sponsored Latin American program may be substituted for course requirements listed below, subject to faculty approval. Credits to be earned abroad should be approved by the Latin American Studies faculty before the foreign study program begins.

Core course

• LAS 251 Latin American Cultures [Crosslisted with ANTH 251] (1)
  LAS 380 Latin American Cinema [Crosslisted with SPAN 380] (1)

Three credits from Group A

• HIST 256 Colonial Latin America (1)
• HIST 258 Latin America From Independence to Recent Times (1)
• POLI 362 Latin American Politics (1)
• HIST 376 Latin American Revolutions (1) [Crosslisted POLI 376]
• POLI 379 Latinos in US Politics (1) [Crosslisted LAS 379]

Two credits from Group B

• LAS 244 Latino/Latina Voices in the US (1) [Crosslisted RHET 244]
• REL 334 Liberation Theology and Social Change (1)
• LAS 380 Latin American Cinema [Crosslisted SPAN 380] (1)
• LAS 350 (IT; TH) Mesoamerican Civilizations (1)
• SPAN 333 (TH) Hispanic Civilization (1)

Two credits from Group C

• SPAN 355 (IT) Latin American Literature I: Conquest to Modernismo (1)
• SPAN 356 (IT) Latin American Literature II: Modernismo to the Present (1)
• SPAN 357 (IT) Indigenous Literatures of Latin America (1)
• SPAN 427 Topics in Latin American Literature (1)
• SPAN 428 Contemporary Mexican Literature (1)
• SPAN 430 History of Hispanic Thought (1)
• SPAN 431 Contemporary Novel and Short Story (1)
• SPAN 435 Contemporary Latin American Women Writers (1)

• Two additional courses to be chosen from Group A, B, or C
• LAS 497 (W) Senior Thesis in Latin American Studies (1)

Double majoring in Latin American Studies and International Studies (Latin American regional focus) is not permitted.

LAS Honors: Given to the graduating senior(s) with the highest GPA in the major (minimum: 3.7). No more than two students will receive LAS honors in a given year.

Requirements for the Latin American Studies Minor (5 Credits)

Core course

• LAS 251 Latin American Cultures [Crosslisted with ANTH 251] (1)
  LAS 380 Latin American Cinema [Crosslisted with SPAN 380] (1)

Groups A, B and C (4)

Students must take four credits in each of the three groups (A, B and C) but no more than two credits from any given group.

Minors will not take LAS 497 Senior Thesis in Latin American Studies.

Faculty

• Patricia Varas, Professor of Spanish, Chair
• Francisco Barbosa, Visiting Instructor of History and Latin American Studies
• Maria Blanco-Arnejo, Professor of Spanish
• Nathaniel Cordova, Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Media Studies
• Robert C. Dash, Professor of Politics
• Jennifer Jopp, Assistant Professor of History
• William Smaldone, Professor of History
• Kelley Strawn, Assistant Professor of Sociology
• John Uggen, Professor of Spanish
• Charles I. Wallace Jr., Associate Professor of Religious Studies and University Chaplain
• Peter Wogan, Associate Professor of Anthropology

Course Listings

Course Listings

Latin American Studies

LAS 244 (AR; IT) Latino/Latina Voices in the U.S. (1)

[Crosslisted with RHET 244 and AES 244]

This course is a historical-critical survey of the public discourse of Latino/Latinas in the United States from colonial times to the present. As such, we will focus significantly on such issues as language, establishment of identities, civil rights, immigration, the formation of communities, political participation, and cultural assimilation. In order to accomplish our task we will study the historical context of the discourse, prominent rhetors, and various pieces of discourse. Analyzing the environment out of which discourse springs, contributors to voice, and the arguments, styles, themes, and issues articulated is crucial for understanding Latino/Latina voices in the United States. This course will also count toward the Rhetoric and Media Studies major.

Mode of Inquiry: Analyzing Arguments, Reasons, and Values; Interpreting Texts

• Offering: Annually
• Instructor: Cordova

LAS 251 Latin American Cultures (1)

[Crosslisted with ANTH 251]

This course provides an introduction to major aspects of Latin American Cultures (especially indigenous cultures), including the following: conquest history, ethnicity, national identity, religion, healing, politics, gender, media representations, Latinos in the U.S., and language. A service-learning component involves work with a local community agency serving Latinos.

• Offering: Spring
• Instructor: Wogan

LAS 350 (IT; TH) Mesoamerican Civilizations (1)

This course presents the intellectual and material achievements of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, particularly the Olmec, Zapotec, Teotihuacan, Maya, Toltec and Aztec; examines the contributions of humanistic and scientific approaches to understanding pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations; and looks at the enduring influences of Mesoamerican cultures in contemporary Mexico and Central America.

Mode of Inquiry: Interpreting Texts; Thinking Historically; Indigenous Peoples and Cultures Cluster

Prerequisite: One of ANTH 250 or LAS/ANTH 251; or consent of instructor

• Offering: Alternate years in spring
• Instructor: Dash

LAS 379 Latinos in U.S. Politics (1)

[Crosslisted with POLI 379]

This course looks at the role of Latino national origin groups in shaping state and national politics in the United States. It examines the political history, voting behavior, and non-electoral political mobilization of the three largest Latino groups in the United States -- Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban, and questions the degree to which it is useful to conceive of a single Latino politics and Latino community. The course also focuses on specific public policies of concern to Latinos, and it pays particular attention to the transnational hemispheric processes that link U.S. Latinos to their countries of origin. Not open to freshmen.

Prerequisite: One POLI 100 or 200 level course, or one 200 level LAS course or consent of instructor

• Offering: Alternate falls
• Instructor: Dash

LAS 380 Latin American Cinema (1)

[Crosslisted with SPAN 380]

This course examines films, features and documentaries, by and about Latin Americans. It focuses on the political, economic, social, and aesthetic tensions that characterize the region and contextualize cinematic production. It explores the constitution of Latin American cultural identity through film. Readings, written and oral work will be carried out in English.

• Offering: Alternate years in fall
• Instructor: Dash, Varas

LAS 497 (W) Senior Thesis in Latin American Studies (1)

In the Senior Thesis, students are expected to integrate various components of the major program in the analysis of a topic of special interest. Topics must be proposed to and approved by the Latin American Studies faculty. The thesis will normally be written in English, but the incorporation of documentation and references in Spanish will be required. Also, a multi-page précis of the thesis in Spanish must accompany the thesis. The thesis is presented to a faculty examination committee upon its completion.

General Studies Requirement Fulfillment: Writing centered

Prerequisite: Senior standing in Latin American Studies

• Offering: Annually
• Instructor: Staff