Yajaira M. Padilla
Director of Studies
723 Kimpel Hall
479-575-4301
Latin American and Latino Studies Website
Students interested in Latin America and wishing to maximize their potential for academic, business, professional, or government careers related to the area, may earn a second major or a minor in Latin American and Latino studies together with a primary major in another discipline in Fulbright College. Advice on appropriate combinations of Latin American and Latino studies with other primary majors as well as individual approval of such combinations may be obtained from the Latin American and Latino studies program director. New students in this program must officially declare both majors and notify the Latin American and Latino studies program director. Degree checks must also be cleared with the program director. Freshmen and sophomores considering this program are advised to begin their study of Spanish or Portuguese as early as possible.
Requirements for a Second Major in Latin American and Latino Studies
In addition to the requirements of a primary departmental major, students pursuing a second major in Latin American and Latino Studies must complete the following:
Language Competence: The student must complete SPAN 2013, PORT 2013, or equivalent. Provisions are available for recognition of language skills gained by other means than formal course work taken at the University of Arkansas: See information under the entry in the department of world languages. Further functional work in Spanish or Portuguese as well as study and residence in a Latin American nation can serve to strengthen language competence and are encouraged.
Colloquium: The student must complete at least three hours in the interdepartmental colloquium, LALS 4003. The Colloquium may be repeated, with the adviser’s approval, provided the topic is different.
Electives: The student must complete 18 hours, in addition to LALS 4003, in courses with specific Latin American or Latino content, or individualized study options under instructors teaching Latin American or Latino Studies. Students choosing to take individualized readings or directed research courses must obtain the approval of the director of the area studies program. In the selection of the electives, the following conditions apply:
- Courses must be selected from at least three different departments,
- A maximum of nine hours may be submitted from courses taken in any one department.
The following courses and individualized study options may be taken in fulfillment of elective requirements:
| Anthropology | ||
| ANTH 2013 | Introduction to Latin American Studies | 3 |
| ANTH 3553 | Religion in Latin America | 3 |
| ANTH 4263 | Identity and Culture in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands | 3 |
| Art History | ||
| ARHS 4563 | Pre-Columbian Art | 3 |
| ARHS 4563H | Honors Pre-Columbian Art | 3 |
| ARHS 4573 | Artists of New Spain | 3 |
| ARHS 4573H | Honors Artists of New Spain | 3 |
| Economics | ||
| ECON 3843 | Economics of the Developing World | 3 |
| ECON 3853 | Emerging Markets | 3 |
| English | ||
| ENGL 3543 | Topics in U.S. Latino/Latina Literature and Culture (English) | 3 |
| ENGL 4523 | Studies in U.S. Latino/Latina Literature and Culture | 3 |
| History | ||
| HIST 3073 | Women and Gender in Modern Latin American History | 3 |
| HIST 3193 | The Making of the Modern Caribbean | 3 |
| HIST 3203 | Colonial Latin America | 3 |
| HIST 3213 | Modern Latin America | 3 |
| HIST 3283 | U.S. Latinos and Latinas through Film | 3 |
| HIST 3303 | U.S. Immigration History | 3 |
| HIST 3313 | Latinos and Latinas in the U.S. | 3 |
| HIST 3843 | Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean History | 3 |
| HIST 4173 | The Latin American City | 3 |
| HIST 3363 | The Atlantic World, 1400-1850 | 3 |
| HIST 4443 | Frontiers and Borderlands in Colonial Latin America | 3 |
| HIST 4743 | The Cold War in Latin America: Revolutions, Violence, and Politics | 3 |
| HIST 4783 | History of Modern Mexico | 3 |
| HIST 4813 | Africans and Slavery in Colonial Latin America | 3 |
| HIST 4823 | Black Freedom in the Age of Emancipation | 3 |
| Latin American and Latino Studies | ||
| LALS 2013 | Introduction to Latin American and Latino Studies | 3 |
| LALS 399VH | Honors Thesis | 1-6 |
| LALS 4003 | Latin American Studies Colloquium | 3 |
| Music | ||
| MUHS 4253 | Capstone Project Seminar (Latin American Music) | 3 |
| Political Science | ||
| PLSC 3263 | Latino Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 3573 | Governments and Politics of Latin America | 3 |
| PLSC 3593 | Politics of Mexico | 3 |
| PLSC 4793 | Latino/Hispanic Political Thought | 3 |
| PLSC 4873 | Inter-American Politics | 3 |
| Portuguese | ||
| PORT 3013 | Brazilian Cinema | 3 |
| PORT 3103 | Introduction to Luso-Afro-Brazilian Literature | 3 |
| PORT 3203 | Brazilian Cultural and Social Issues | 3 |
| Sociology | ||
| SOCI 3173 | Latinos, Migration, and the U.S. South | 3 |
| Spanish | ||
| SPAN 3103 | Cultural Readings | 3 |
| SPAN 3113 | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 3123 | Spanish for Heritage Speakers II | 3 |
| SPAN 4133 | Survey of Spanish-American Literature I | 3 |
| SPAN 4193 | Survey of Spanish-American Literature II | 3 |
| SPAN 4223 | Latin American Civilization | 3 |
| SPAN 4243 | Literature and Culture in the Hispanic United States | 3 |
| SPAN 4253 | Latin American Cinema and Society | 3 |
| SPAN 475V | Special Investigations | 1-6 |
| SPAN 5253 | Colonial Literature and Culture | 3 |
| SPAN 5393 | 19th Century Spanish American Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 5463 | 20th Century Spanish American Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 5703 | Special Topics | 3 |
| SPAN 5943 | U.S. Latino/a Literatures and Cultures | 3 |
Requirements for a Minor in Latin American and Latino Studies: Students wishing to minor in Latin American and Latino Studies must fulfill the Colloquium (LALS 4003) and the language requirements described in the combined major, and must complete at least 12 hours from among the electives listed in the combined major. Electives must include courses from at least two different academic departments. Included in the 12 hours may be 3 additional hours of LALS 4003, provided the topic is different.
Requirements for Honors in Latin American and Latino Studies: The Honors Program in Latin American and Latino Studies gives junior and senior students of high ability the opportunity to enroll in enriched courses and conduct independent research culminating in an honors thesis. In addition to satisfying the general Fulbright College requirements for graduation and the basic eligibility requirements for honors as established by the Honors Council, candidates for honors in Latin American and Latino Studies must complete 12 hours of honors credit in partial satisfaction of requirements for the co-major. One to six of these may be thesis hours (LALS 399VH). The preferred method for satisfying the remaining hours is to enroll in the colloquium at least once for honors credit (LALS 4003H) and to take relevant honors colloquia or graduate courses (with permission) in one of the departments contributing to this interdisciplinary area study. The thesis committee shall include a representative from the major discipline (in the case of multiple majors, from the discipline contributing most significantly to the topic). Successful completion of these requirements will be recognized by the award of the distinction “Latin American and Latino Studies Scholar Cum Laude” at graduation. Higher degree distinctions are recommended only in exceptional cases and are based upon the whole of the candidate’s program of honors studies.
Courses
LALS 2013. Introduction to Latin American and Latino Studies. 3 Hours.
Provides an interdisciplinary introduction to Latin America and the Latino United States. Drawing on Latin American and/or Latino literature, film, art, history, sociology, anthropology, and political science, this course examines the broad forces that have shaped the region and/or the U.S. Latino experience. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)
LALS 3013. Special Topics in Latin American and Latino Studies. 3 Hours.
Courses with a varying disciplinary focus on topics related to Latin American and Latino Studies. (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.
LALS 3253. The Latinx Image in Media. 3 Hours.
Exploration of the image and experience(s) of Latinx populations in the United States as represented in visual and print media, including film, television, news journalism, and art. Topics related to US Latinx history, culture, politics, and socioeconomics will be examined in the analyses of these mediated depictions. (Typically offered: Irregular)
This course is equivalent to ENGL 3253.
LALS 3283. U.S. Latinos and Latinas through Film. 3 Hours.
This course will examine the portrayal of U.S. Latinos and Latinas in Hollywood films and how those images have changed over time. While coverage will extend to the early years of the twentieth century, the chosen films will place particular emphasis on the century's second half, from the Cold War to the modern day. (Typically offered: Spring)
This course is cross-listed with COMM 3283, HIST 3283.
LALS 3543. Topics in U.S. Latino/Latina Literature and Culture. 3 Hours.
The study of works of U.S. Latino/Latina literature, with attention to particular themes, genres, authors, literary movements, historical moments, or other organizing principles. Content varies. (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.
This course is equivalent to ENGL 3543.
LALS 399VH. Honors Thesis. 1-6 Hour.
Honors thesis research hours. Prerequisite: Junior standing. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)
LALS 4003. Latin American Studies Colloquium. 3 Hours.
An interdepartmental colloquium with an annual change in subject of investigation, required of all Latin American studies majors. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing for Latin American and Latino Studies majors. (Typically offered: Spring) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.
LALS 4003H. Honors Latin American Studies Colloquium. 3 Hours.
An interdepartmental colloquium with an annual change in subject of investigation. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and honors standing for Latin American and Latino Studies majors. (Typically offered: Spring) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.
This course is equivalent to LALS 4003.
LALS 4523. Studies in U.S. Latino/Latina Literature and Culture. 3 Hours.
The study of works of U.S. Latino/a literature, with attention to particular themes, genres, authors, literary movements, historical moments, or other organizing principles. Content varies. At least one major research paper will be required. (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.
This course is equivalent to ENGL 4523.
