Latin American Studies

Degree

Minor in Latin American Studies
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
School of Arts and Humanities

Contact

Steven Byrd
sbyrd@une.edu

Curricular Requirements

The Latin American Studies Minor at the University of New England consists of 18 credits (6 three-credit courses) and a recommended experience in Latin America. Study will be in disciplines such as foreign language, sociology, history, and political science. Two courses are required from two different disciplines. Students will choose four additional courses from the list of electives below.

Required Courses Credits
SPA 211: Intermediate Spanish - Students must complete at least an intermediate level of Spanish. A student may petition for another course or for transferred credits to count for this requirement. 3
SOC 230: Society in Latin America - Students must have a foundational understanding of society and culture in Latin America. 3
Total 6

Latin American Experience

All students are expected to engage in at least a short-term intensive (Global Citizenship) or study abroad experience in Latin America. These are approved, as are substitutions, by the LAS Program Coordinator.

Electives

For the remaining four courses (12 credits), students may select from the following

Anthropology Credits
ANT 231: Anthropology of Latin America and the Caribbean 3
History Credits
HIS 240: Latin American History I: Colonial Latin America 3
HIS 241: Latin American History II: Contemporary Latin America 3
HIS 252: Gender in Latin American History 3
HIS 316: Rebels and Revolutions in Latin America 3
Languages Credits
SPA 101: Basic Spanish 3
SPA 306: Spanish for the Medical Professions 3
Sociology Credits
SOC 310: Population, Society, and Culture 3
SOC 331: Latin American Society and Culture Through La Cinema 3
Political Science Credits
PSC 405: Politics of Latin American 3
PSC 406: Society and State Relations in Third World Countries 3

Courses in Latin American Studies can also be taken through the Greater Portland Alliance. Additionally, some courses from UNE study abroad programs in Latin America and Spain can be substituted for the minor. Discussions about course substitutions should be initiated by the Director of Latin American Studies Minor.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Develop conversational, grammatical, reading and writing proficiency in Spanish.
    • At the end of the program students will be able to:
      • engage in conversation, provide and obtain information, express feelings, and exchange opinions;
      • comprehend and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics;
      • present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners on a variety of topics.
  2. Expand historical and cultural awareness of Latin America and apply it to the study of the region.
    • At the end of the program students will have:
      • learned about the basic historical and cultural origins of Latin America, including pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial Latin America;
      • gained a perspective on regional cultures, religions, languages, and the arts in Latin America;
      • experienced current popular cultures in Latin America in a variety of ways.
  3. Develop a basic knowledge about society in Latin America to include the roles of: geography, demographics, politics, culture, and media.
    • At the end of the program students will have:
      • learned about the social origins of Latin America, including social structures, political and economic developments, and demographics;
      • examined the connections between culture and the various dimensions of society.
  4. Enhance the ability to think critically about culture, social relations, history, politics and language in Latin America.
    • At the end of this program students will have
      • applied their knowledge base to analyze social problems in Latin America such as poverty and income inequality, environmental degradation, and development;
      • increased their ability to integrate disciplines and perspectives using a variety of mediums, methods, and modes of expression.

Transfer Credit

Courses completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program. Transferred courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the required courses offered at UNE in order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they may transfer as general electives. All courses completed must be no older than five years. Other restrictions apply. See Undergraduate Admissions also.

Admissions

Financial Information

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog

This Catalog documents the academic programs, policies, and activities of the University of New England for the 2022–2023 academic year. The information contained herein is accurate as of the date of publication May 2, 2022.

The University of New England reserves the right in its sole judgment to make changes of any nature in its programs, calendar, or academic schedule whenever it is deemed necessary or desirable, including changes in course content, the rescheduling of classes with or without extending the academic term, canceling of scheduled classes or other academic activities, in any such case giving such notice thereof as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances.

While each student may work closely with an academic advisor, he or she must retain individual responsibility for meeting requirements in this catalog and for being aware of any changes in provisions or requirements.