Latin American Studies Major

Major Requirements

The Latin American Studies major consists of 10 courses, as follows:

I. Introduction to Latin American Studies-one course

Latin American Studies majors preferably should take the introductory course by the end of the sophomore year. Choose one of the following courses:

ANTH 255 - Latin America in Motion
GEOG 249 - Environment and Society in Latin America
LATI 141 - Latin America Through Women’s Eyes
LATI 151 - Caribbean Literature and Culture: Aesthetics of Resistance
LATI 171 - Susurros del Pasado: Whispers Toward the 21st Century
LATI 181 - Introduction to Latin America

II. Language-1 or more courses

Competency in Spanish to the level of SPAN 305 or Portuguese to the level of PORT 331 . Students already competent at one of these levels must either achieve competence in the other language or take at least one 300- or 400-level Spanish or Portuguese course at Macalester, which will also count toward their “Across the Disciplines” requirement.

III. Latin America Across the Disciplines-6 courses

Choose six courses, including at least one Arts in Context, one Humanities, and one Social Science course. At least one course must be an advanced 300-level seminar in Spanish and Portuguese. Up to three courses taken while on Study Away can count toward this requirement.

IV. Methods-1 course

In consultation with their advisor, Latin American Studies majors choose a methods course that will prepare them for their senior Capstone project. This class should be taken before studying abroad. Possible courses include:

ANTH 230 - Ethnographic Interviewing
ANTH 232 - Field Methods and Research Design
ANTH 368 - Life Histories/Cultures/Selves
ECON 381 - Introduction to Econometrics
GEOG 377 - Qualitative Research Methods
POLI 269 - Empirical Research Methods
SOCI 269 - Social Science Inquiry
SOCI 270 - Interpretive Social Research
SOCI 275 - Comparative-Historical Sociology
THDA 110 - Introduction to the Study of Performance
THDA 489 - Seminar in Performance Theory and Practice

V. Study Abroad in Latin America-3 courses

Latin American majors must complete one semester of full-time study on a study abroad program approved by the Latin American Studies Director. Up to three study abroad courses may count toward the Latin America Across Disciplines requirement.

VI. Capstone-1 course

Majors normally complete their capstone via the senior seminar, which is offered every fall. Occasionally, a student may be approved to complete their capstone via an independent project or another appropriate course. Students participating in the honors program take LATI 488 - Senior Seminar in the fall and LATI 644 (Honor Independent) in the spring of their senior year.

VI. Curricular Overlap

Due to the high degree of potential overlap between major plans in Latin American studies and international studies, students seeking to complete both majors must list, on each plan, at least six courses that do not appear on the other plan.