Latin American Studies (BA)

Investigate why Frida Kahlo’s paintings are so enduringly popular. Dive into the world of Latin American soccer. Separate fact from fiction in the biography of Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Sample popular dishes in countries across Latin America. The Latin American Studies Program offers an in-depth look at the richness and diversity of a vast area and its people. Whether pre–Columbian art, the striking wonder of the Amazon rainforest, or the history of colonialism tugs at your heartstrings, you’ll be forever changed by your newfound knowledge.

Take advantage of study abroad programs where you’ll travel to Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, or other exciting places to sharpen your language skills and become familiar with new cultures. In Eugene, you can volunteer for a variety of organizations such as Centro Latino Americano, a local bilingual multicultural agency dedicated to helping the Latino community. UO students have also worked with the local school districts to mentor youth. Others have volunteered at Siempre Amigos, which provides health services to survivors of torture and political violence.

You’ll delve into politics, literature, science, ecology, and other engaging topics in courses such as Caribbean Migrants in the Literary Imagination or The Cold War in Latin America. Learn from top-notch scholars who offer encouragement in a supportive atmosphere. “We cannot understand the United States without understanding its relationship to Latin America,” says Professor Carlos Aguirre. “Latin American people and culture have been misrepresented and there are preconceptions and stereotypes that we need to help overcome.”

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a broad knowledge and understanding of the region's geography, history, politics, gender and sexuality issues, cultures, environment, economics, and artistic and literary trends.
• Show Spanish or Portuguese reading and writing proficiency that allows them to clearly communicate and function in at least one of those languages.
• Analyze and offer interpretations of Latin America's many contributions to world cultures as well as the causes and effects of specific problems facing the region's peoples and nations within a comprehensive, interdisciplinary framework.
• Critically process different types of information about the region and its peoples and assess them using systematic forms of reasoning, such as contrasting data, consulting relevant bibliographies, databases, and sources, and constructing solid arguments.
• Carry out interdisciplinary research on a Latin American topic and present the results in a clear and coherent way.
• Effectively communicate in both spoken and written formats to a variety of audiences.

Latin American Studies Major Requirements

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Students may confer with a program advisor to determine other applicable courses not listed here. Check for courses with Latin American Studies (LAS) themes listed in the Schedule of Classes each term; courses listed under LAS count toward the major or minor. In addition, students may petition the director of the major or minor for the inclusion of other applicable LAS-related courses that have at least 50 percent Latin American Studies-related content.

Additional Requirements

Of the total 48 credits required for the Latin American studies major—

• 40 credits must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C- or better (8 credits may be taken pass/no pass)
• 36 credits must be upper-division (300 or 400-level)
• 28 credits must be taken at the University of Oregon's campus in Eugene, OR
• Limit on Multiple Department Credits: No more than 16 credits (or four courses) from any single department can count toward the major
• Limit on LAS Credits Focused on United States Topics: No more than 16 credits in courses related to United States Latino studies or US Hispanic culture or society can count toward the major.
• Social Science Credits Required: 8 of the 48 credits must be from the following Social Science units: ANTH, EC, ENVS, ES, EURO, GEOG, GLBL, PS, SOC, WGS.
• Limit on Individualized Study Credits: 8 credits maximum may be independent study or internship credit.
• Allowances for Study Abroad and Study Away (i.e.,Escuela Helvetia) Credits: 8 credits may be earned through successful completion of pre-approved courses in a study abroad program at an accredited Latin American college or university, a faculty-led field school; transfer credits from universities outside Latin America are considered individually, following existing procedures in appropriate departments for determining their equivalence to UO courses.

Language Requirements

In addition to the minimum of 48 credits in required and elective courses, all majors are required to demonstrate a third-year level of proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, or an Indigenous language from our area of study. This will entail completing (with a grade of C– or better or P) the basic two years of college-level language courses and taking at least four 300-level courses taught in the respective foreign language—such as Cultura y Lengua: Identidades Hispanas (SPAN 301), Cultura y lengua: expresiones artisticas (SPAN 303), Cultura y lengua Cambio Social (SPAN 305), Hispanic Cultures through Literature III (SPAN 343), or Hispanic Cultures through Literature IV (SPAN 344).

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Its purpose is to provide an example of one possible route through the Latin American studies major.

This degree plan is for general planning purposes only and, due to the interdisciplinary nature of the major, it is imperative that students speak with advisors to determine which courses would best match their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies