Language Programs: Latin American Studies

Spanish majors and minors can take a supporting minor in Latin American Area Studies. Besides studies in language, literature, and culture, courses are available in the geography, history, government, and economics of the Americas.

The Latin American Studies minor requires a minimum of 21 credit hours.

All students must take Introduction to Latin America, LAS 200 (offered as GEOG 200, SPAN 200, HIST 200, or PS200) as the foundation course before enrolling in advanced classes. LAS 200 is an interdisciplinary, team-taught course offered every semester, with contributing faculty from Geography, History, and Political Science. It offers a broad, interdisciplinary introduction to Latin America, emphasizing its regions, peoples, and cultures.

At least three departments (GEOG, PS, SPAN, ANTH/FLK, and HIST) must be represented among the remaining 18 hours of course work. Students must also complete one year of university Spanish (SPAN 101 and 102) or Portuguese or the equivalent for the minor.

Approved courses for the Latin American Studies minor are: ANTH/FLK 340, ANTH/FLK 342; GEOG 454, 462; PS 362; HIST 364, 365, 464, 465; SPAN 201, 202, 370, 371, 375, 376, 377, 471, 477, 478, and 490. (See list below.) Study abroad courses with a Latin American focus can also be applied to the LAS Minor, and other appropriate courses can be substituted with the approval of the program advisor. For example, SPAN 306 (Experiencing Spanish Abroad) will usually qualify, and SPAN 455 (Special Topics) will often be accepted as long as it is relevant to Latin America.

For more information, contact melissa.stewart@wku.edu.