Specialization in Latin American studies at the graduate level is possible in a number of departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. Anthropology, economics, history, international studies, political science, sociology, and Spanish (in the Romance languages department) have faculty members who are competent and interested in the area. It is possible to arrange graduate degree programs in these departments with a concentration in Latin American studies.
Latin American Studies
Pedro García-Caro, Program Director
pgcaro@uoregon.edu
407 Friendly Hall
The University of Oregon offers a bachelor of arts degree in Latin American studies. A minor in Latin American studies is also available. An emphasis on Latin America is available for master of arts (MA) degrees with majors in anthropology, history, international studies, and Spanish. See the Anthropology, History, International Studies, and Romance Languages sections of this catalog.
Study Abroad
Students in University of Oregon overseas study programs enroll in courses with subject codes that are unique to individual programs. Special course numbers are reserved for overseas study. See the Study Abroad section in the Supplementary Academic Programming section of this catalog.
Participating Faculty
Michael B. Aguilera, sociology
Carlos Aguirre, history
Monique Balbuena, honors college
Erin Beck, political science
Mark Carey, honors college
Christopher Chavez, journalism and communication
Alexandre Dossin, music
Michael Dreiling, sociology
Cecilia Enjuto Rangel, Romance languages
Dennis Galvan, international studies
Pedro García-Caro, Romance languages
Spike Gildea, linguistics
Amalia Gladhart, Romance languages
Michael Hames-García, ethnic studies
James Harper, history of art and architecture
Robert S. Haskett, history
Derrick Hindery, international studies
Craig Kauffman, political science
Ana M. Lara, anthropology
Kathryn A. Lynch, environmental studies
Galen Martin, international studies
Gabriela Martinez, journalism and communication
Michelle McKinley, law
Lanie Millar, Romance languages
Juan-Carlos Molleda, journalism and communication
Edward Olivos, education studies
Priscilla P. Ovalle, English
Doris Payne, linguistics
Gerardo Sandoval, planning, public policy and management
Alaí Reyes-Santos, ethnic studies
Philip W. Scher, anthropology
Lynn Stephen, anthropology
Analisa Taylor, Romance languages
Alejandro Vallega, philosophy
Jessica Vasquez-Tokos, sociology
Julie Weise, history
Peter B. Wetherwax, biology
Juan Wolf, music
Stephanie Wood, College of Education
Kristin Yarris, international studies
Reuben Zahler, history
Emeriti
Juan A. Epple, Romance languages
Linda O. Fuller, women’s and gender studies
Leonardo García-Pabón, Romance languages
Linda Kintz, English
Undergraduate Studies
Preparation
High school students who have taken courses in economics, history, political science, or other approaches to international affairs, or who have participated in extracurricular activities (such as the Oregon High School International Relations League) may be interested in Latin American studies.
Community college students who have taken courses in international relations may be interested in specializing in Latin American studies.
Careers
Career opportunities for students completing Latin American studies are available through such avenues as the Peace Corps, the U.S. Foreign Service (including the Information Agency), the foreign-aid programs of the United States government, the United Nations and other international organizations, private foundations, international businesses, and international nongovernmental organizations (including church, human-rights, and environmental organizations).
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
LAS 200 | Introduction to Latin American Studies | 4 |
LAS 211 | Latin American Humanities: [Topic] | 4 |
or LAS 212 | Latin American Social Sciences: [Topic] | |
Two courses chosen from the following: | 8 | |
Hispanic Cultures through Literature II | ||
Hispanic Cultures through Literature III | ||
Hispanic Cultures through Literature IV | ||
Two courses chosen from the following: | 8 | |
Latin America | ||
Latin America | ||
Latin America | ||
LAS 407 | Seminar: [Topic] 1 | 4 |
Elective courses related to Latin America | 20 | |
Total Credits | 48 |
1 | In exceptional cases, Seminar: [Topic] (LAS 407) may be substituted with an equivalent seminar focusing on Latin America that is offered by another department or program. |
Additional Requirements
Of the total 48 credits required for the Latin American studies major—
- 28 credits must be taken on the Eugene campus
- 16 credits is the maximum allowed from any single department
- 16 credits may be from courses related to United States Latino studies or studies of US Hispanic culture or society
- 12 credits may be in lower-division courses
- 8 credits may be used in independent study or internships
- 8 credits must be taken in courses covering the pre-1800 period
- 8 credits may be taken pass/no pass (P/N)
- 8 credits must be taken in social sciences departments other than history (e.g., anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, geography, international studies, political science, or sociology)
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: cambios sociales (SPAN 305), Hispanic Cultures through Literature III (SPAN 343), or Hispanic Cultures through Literature IV (SPAN 344).
Minor Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
LAS 200 | Introduction to Latin American Studies | 4 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Latin American Humanities: [Topic] | ||
Latin American Social Sciences: [Topic] | ||
Seminar: [Topic] | ||
Elective courses | 20 | |
Total Credits | 28 |
Language Requirements
Students must satisfactorily complete, with grades of C– or better or P, two years of college-level Spanish- or Portuguese-language courses.
Language credits may be earned at the University of Oregon through an approved overseas program or transferred from another accredited college or university. As an alternative, students may satisfy the language requirement by examination, demonstrating a level of competence equivalent to two years of college-level Spanish or Portuguese. Students whose native language is either Spanish or Portuguese may substitute equivalent competence in English in lieu of this requirement.
Additional Requirements
Of the total 28 credits for the Latin American studies minor—
- 20 credits must be earned in University of Oregon courses
- 20 credits must be in upper-division (300- or 400-level) courses
- 20 credits must be taken for letter grades
- 12 credits from any one department may count toward the minor
- 8 credits may be earned through successful completion of preapproved courses in study-abroad program at an accredited Latin American college or university; transfer credits from universities outside Latin America are considered individually, following existing procedures in appropriate departments for determining their equivalence to UO courses
- 4 credits must be earned through completion of a course or courses whose focus is on pre-20th-century Latin America
- 4 credits may be in comparative, global, ethnic, and similar courses that are relevant to Latin American studies but lack a minimum of 50 percent content directly related to Latin America
- courses from no more than four departments, disciplines, or programs may count toward the minor
- Spanish, Portuguese, or Indigenous language courses must be upper-division literature and culture courses to count toward satisfaction of the 28-credit minor requirement
Advising
Students who want a major or a minor in Latin American studies should contact the program director, who serves as an advisor to determine which courses offered during any given academic year may be applied to requirements for the degree or minor.
Sampling of Courses from Other Departments That Satisfy Major and Minor Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Anthropology | ||
ANTH 434 | Native South Americans | 4 |
History | ||
HIST 380–382 | Latin America | 12 |
HIST 482 | Aztecs and Incas | 4 |
HIST 483 | Latin America: [Topic] | 4 |
Political Science | ||
PS 330 | Governments and Politics in Latin America | 4 |
Spanish | ||
SPAN 348 | United States Latino Literature and Culture | 4 |
SPAN 342 | Hispanic Cultures through Literature II | 4 |
SPAN 343 | Hispanic Cultures through Literature III | 4 |
SPAN 344 | Hispanic Cultures through Literature IV | 4 |
SPAN 450 | Colonial Latin American Literature: [Topic] | 4 |
SPAN 490 | 20th-Century Latin American Literature: [Topic] | 4 |
Any Department, Program with Latin America Focus | ||
Seminar (407) |
Periodically, other departments and programs such as ethnic studies, geography, history of art and architecture, international studies, sociology, and women’s and gender studies offer courses that may satisfy degree and minor requirements.
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
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
SPAN 101 | First-Year Spanish | 5 | |
WR 121 | College Composition I | 4 | |
LAS 200 | Introduction to Latin American Studies | 4 | |
General-education course in science | 4 | ||
Credits | 17 | ||
Winter | |||
SPAN 102 | First-Year Spanish | 5 | |
WR 122 | College Composition II | 4 | |
LAS 211 | Latin American Humanities: [Topic] | 4 | |
General-education course in social science | 4 | ||
Credits | 17 | ||
Spring | |||
SPAN 103 | First-Year Spanish | 5 | |
HIST 380 | Latin America | 4 | |
General-education course in arts and letters | 4 | ||
General-education course in social science | 4 | ||
Credits | 17 | ||
Total Credits | 51 |
Second Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
SPAN 201 | Second-Year Spanish | 4 | |
GLBL 280 | Global Environmental Issues and Alternatives | 4 | |
General-education course in science | 4 | ||
General-education, non-Spanish arts and letters course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Winter | |||
SPAN 202 | Second-Year Spanish | 4 | |
General-education course in social science | 4 | ||
Elective course | 4 | ||
Credits | 12 | ||
Spring | |||
SPAN 203 | Second-Year Spanish | 4 | |
HIST 381 | Latin America | 4 | |
General-education course in arts and letters | 4 | ||
Elective course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Total Credits | 44 |
Third Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
SPAN 301 | Cultura y Lengua: Identidades Hispanas | 4 | |
SPAN 312 | Spanish in the Media | 4 | |
LAS 407 | Seminar: [Topic] | 4 | |
General-education course in arts and letters | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Winter | |||
SPAN 305 | Cultura y lengua: cambios sociales | 4 | |
SPAN 311 | Advanced Writing in Spanish | 4 | |
General-education course in science | 4 | ||
Elective course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Spring | |||
GLBL 446 | Development and Social Change in Latin America | 4 | |
SPAN 303 | Cultura y lengua: expresiones artisticas | 4 | |
General-education course in social science | 4 | ||
Elective course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Total Credits | 48 |
Fourth Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
SPAN 344 | Hispanic Cultures through Literature IV | 4 | |
General-education course in science | 4 | ||
Elective courses | 8 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Winter | |||
SPAN 342 | Hispanic Cultures through Literature II | 4 | |
General-education, non-Spanish arts and letters course | 4 | ||
Elective courses | 8 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Spring | |||
PS 330 | Governments and Politics in Latin America | 4 | |
Elective courses | 8 | ||
Credits | 12 | ||
Total Credits | 44 |
Courses

LAS 199. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable twice when topic changes for a maximum of 15 credits.

LAS 200. Introduction to Latin American Studies. 4 Credits.
Introduction to the history, peoples, and cultures of Latin America and of the Latino population in the United States.

LAS 211. Latin American Humanities: [Topic]. 4 Credits.
Focuses on the comparative study of Latin American cultural and intellectual traditions. Introduces scholarship in the humanities about Latin American and U.S. Latinos. Repeatable once for a maximum of 8 credits when topic changes.

LAS 399. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable twice when topic changes for a maximum of 15 credits.

LAS 400M. Temporary Multilisted Course. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

LAS 401. Research: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.
Repeatable.

LAS 403. Thesis. 1-4 Credits.
Repeatable.

LAS 404. Internship: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.

LAS 405. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.
Repeatable.

LAS 407. Seminar: [Topic]. 4 Credits.
Repeatable.

LAS 410. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable twice when topic changes for a maximum of 15 credits.

LAS 500M. Temporary Multilisted Course. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

LAS 510. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable twice when topic changes for a maximum of 15 credits.