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

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

Course List

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
SPAN 342	Hispanic Cultures through Literature II
SPAN 343	Hispanic Cultures through Literature III
SPAN 344	Hispanic Cultures through Literature IV
Two courses chosen from the following:		8
HIST 380	Latin America
HIST 381	Latin America
HIST 382	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

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
LAS 200	Introduction to Latin American Studies	4
Select one of the following:		4
LAS 211	Latin American Humanities: [Topic]
LAS 212	Latin American Social Sciences: [Topic]
LAS 407	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

Course List

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

Degree Map

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

Degree Map

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

Degree Map

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

Degree Map

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