Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS)

LALS 20103. 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 30103. 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 30303. Carnival in Latin America. 3 Hours.

Addresses the history and implications of Carnival in Latin America, focusing on Brazil. Interrogates assumptions about the freedoms of Carnival. Examines debates surrounding how cultural appropriation, gender, and sexual orientation have permeated this event. Studies works by sociologists, historians, feminists, filmmakers, journalists, and musicians. (Typically offered: Spring)
This course is cross-listed with AAST 30303, PORT 30303.

LALS 31703. Latinos, Migration, and the U.S. South. 3 Hours.

Examines social, economic, and population changes in the U.S. South, including shift of Latinos' settlement patterns, actions taken by policy makers to adapt to new demographic context, and mechanisms immigrants use to facilitate their induction into the southern community. Prerequisite: SOCI 10103. (Typically offered: Fall)
This course is cross-listed with SOCI 31703.

LALS 31903. The Making of the Modern Caribbean. 3 Hours.

History of the Caribbean from pre-Columbian to present times focusing in particular on indigenous origins, colonialism, slavery, rebellion, independence, nationalism, and political integration in the making of the modern Caribbean region. (Typically offered: Fall)
This course is cross-listed with HIST 31903, AAST 31903.

LALS 32003. Colonial Latin America. 3 Hours.

An introduction to the social, cultural, political and economic formation of Latin America, during the period from 1492 to the movements for independence. (Typically offered: Fall Odd Years)
This course is cross-listed with HIST 32003.

LALS 32103. Modern Latin America. 3 Hours.

An investigation of the varying courses of modernization in Latin America, covering popular revolution, urban populism and military dictatorship. (Typically offered: Spring Even Years)
This course is cross-listed with HIST 32103.

LALS 32503. 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 32503.

LALS 32703. Belonging, Citizenship, & Immigration in the United States. 3 Hours.

Explores belonging, immigration, and citizenship in the U.S., considering historical, political, social, and cultural perspectives. Special emphasis is placed on recent immigration trends, which have impacted demographics and politics. Delves into questions surrounding immigration, including policy, public attitudes, immigrant experiences, and social/political inclusion/exclusion of immigrant and ethnic minorities. (Typically offered: Irregular)
This course is cross-listed with PLSC 32703.

LALS 32803. 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 32803, HIST 32803.

LALS 33003. U.S. Immigration History. 3 Hours.

Examines the migration of ethnic groups into the United States from geographical areas that include Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Special emphasis will be given to cultural history, and will trace the impact of industrialization, urbanization, class formation, and popular culture on various ethnic groups. (Typically offered: Irregular)
This course is cross-listed with HIST 33003.

LALS 33103. Latinos and Latinas in the U.S.. 3 Hours.

Examines the emergence and growth of the Latino population of the United States. A broad survey of the Latino experience will complement more specific case studies focusing on cultural identity and the generational process of acculturation into the American mainstream. (Typically offered: Fall)
This course is cross-listed with HIST 33103.

LALS 33703. Rise of the American Empire: War, Migration and Expansion, 1789-1917. 3 Hours.

Explores the history of U.S. expansion and imperialism from the nation's founding to the start of World War I. It proceeds both chronologically and thematically, considering the evolution of U.S. imperialism and its various manifestations - territorial, political, economic, and cultural. (Typically offered: Irregular)
This course is cross-listed with HIST 33703.

LALS 35403. 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 35403.

LALS 35503. Religion in Latin America. 3 Hours.

Examines contemporary implications of Latin America's unique religious heritage. An exploration of multiple Latin American religious traditions, with sustained focus on key theoretical concerns: conversion, vernacular vs. orthodox expressions, the blending of indigenous and European cosmologies, devotion and ritual, and the articulation of ethnic, gendered, and religious identities. (Typically offered: Irregular)
This course is cross-listed with ANTH 35503.

LALS 399HV. Honors Thesis. 1-6 Hour.

Honors thesis research hours. Prerequisite: Junior standing. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

LALS 40003. 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 400H3. 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 40003.

LALS 41603. Nuevo South: The Emerging Latino Electorate in the South. 3 Hours.

Explores the new wave of Latino migration to the US South and how this has transformed the demographic composition of these states and reshaped politics and policy. Explores, both regionally and locally, concepts of membership, Southern and national identity, and the racialization of Latinos. (Typically offered: Irregular)
This course is cross-listed with PLSC 41603.

LALS 42603. Identity and Culture in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands. 3 Hours.

An exploration of the interplay between Latino/a, Mexican, Anglo, and Native American identities and cultures along the U.S.-Mexico border. Course examines identity formation, hybridity, social tension, marginalization, race and gender, from an anthropological perspective, paying special attention to the border as theoretical construct as well as material reality. (Typically offered: Irregular)
This course is cross-listed with ANTH 42603.

LALS 44403. Frontiers and Borderlands in Colonial Latin America. 3 Hours.

This course examines frontiers and borderlands in colonial Latin America and focuses on the regions of California, New Mexico, Texas, Brazil, and the Río de la Plata. It demonstrates that frontiers and borderlands are defined by the absence of a hegemonic European power and associated with the prevalence of Indigenous norms. (Typically offered: Irregular)
This course is cross-listed with HIST 44403.

LALS 45203. 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 45203.

LALS 47103. Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Colonial Latin America. 3 Hours.

This course examines women, gender, and sexuality in colonial Latin America. It explores the lives of indigenous, Spanish, African, and mixed-race women from all social ranks. A central question is: does the current status of women in Latin America stem from a colonial legacy of gender oppression and sexual repression? (Typically offered: Irregular)
This course is cross-listed with HIST 47103.

LALS 47403. The Cold War in Latin America: Revolutions, Violence, and Politics. 3 Hours.

This course will trace the rise of the ideological and political struggles over social and economic development and the security regimes designed to thwart socialist revolution and political mobilization. The influence of the United States in Latin American security regimes and "containment" activities will receive special attention. (Typically offered: Irregular)
This course is cross-listed with HIST 47403.

LALS 48103. Africans and Slavery in Colonial Latin America. 3 Hours.

Explores the diverse experiences of slaves and free Blacks in colonial Spanish and Portuguese America from 1500 to around 1888, demonstrating that bondage and the practice of African slavery was a pillar of political authority in colonial Latin America. (Typically offered: Irregular)
This course is cross-listed with AAST 48103, HIST 48103.

LALS 48203. Black Freedom in the Age of Emancipation. 3 Hours.

This course centers on the comparative study of Atlantic World freedom movements from the perspective of the African Diaspora. It focuses on the histories, meanings, legacies of the various types of black emancipation in the Atlantic World and the cultural technologies that enabled them. (Typically offered: Spring)
This course is cross-listed with AAST 48203, HIST 48203.

LALS 48503. Latin American Landscapes. 3 Hours.

This course studies the shaping of urban Latin American Landscapes by investigating, problematizing, and analyzing their diverse social, cultural, economic, and environmental conditions as reflected in the built realm. The main scope of study is the conception, origins, meaning, function, and performance of public spaces and landscapes in the continent. (Typically offered: Spring)
This course is cross-listed with LARC 48503.