Latin American Studies Concentration, BA

Latin American Studies Concentration

A concentration in Latin American studies provides an opportunity for students to broaden their understanding of the Core Curriculum’s themes and questions through study of Latin American peoples, literatures, and histories. Latin America’s position as a site of cultural encounter with distinct approaches to the Western and Catholic traditions allows the student to examine those traditions in a new context. Topics covered by this concentration include Catholic social teaching, social justice, economic development, cultural forms of expression, public health, Inter-American relations and immigration.

Course offerings and Requirements

18 credit hours are required for the concentration. Each student must take either HIS 3363 or HIS 3364 (History of Latin America I or II) as a foundational course for the concentration. It is recommended that students take at least one course from Anthropology & Sociology and one from Modern Languages (Spanish). Per university policy, up to two courses in the concentration may double-count toward the student’s major, as appropriate.

The following list includes courses that can be taken for the concentration, yet other relevant courses may be offered that could count toward the concentration. As such, substitutions (including for the foundational course, if necessary) may be made in consultation with the director.

History
HIS 3361. History of Mexico.
HIS 3363. History of Latin America I.
HIS 3364. History of Latin America II.
HIS 4357. Special Studies in History. Has included: Modern Latin America, Inter-American Relations, Social Justice in Latin America, and Revolution in Latin America

Modern Languages
MSP 3318. Spanish-American Literary Traditions.
MSP 3322. Civilization of Mexico.

MSP 4313. Golden Age Peninsular/Colonial Narrative.
MSP 4371. 20th Century Spanish-American Novels.
MSP 4372. Spanish-American Poetry.
MSP 4374. Mexican Literature.

Economics
ECON 4332. Comparative Economic Systems.
ECON 4335. Economic Development.

Theology
THE 3340. Social Justice.
THE 4343. Social Teaching.