Latin American Studies

The Latin American Studies Program provides a framework for studying the diverse societies of Latin America. With its cultural mosaic shaped by the meeting of Native American, European, African, and Asian peoples, and its profound geographic, social, and economic variations, Latin America presents rich opportunities for interdisciplinary and cross-cultural study. By drawing upon the perspectives and methodologies of several disciplines, students are challenged to pursue a deeper understanding of the cultures, institutions, and experiences of Latin Americans. The program provides a forum for examining the intersection of issues of politics, economic development, ethnicity, gender, religion, and cultural expression.

Students interested in exploring Latin American Studies as a possible major are strongly encouraged to enroll in at least one of several gateway courses early in their career at Carleton. Those designated courses are: History 170 Modern Latin America, 1810-present, Political Science 221 Latin American Politics, Sociology/Anthropology 353 Ethnography of Latin America, and Spanish 242 Introduction to Latin American Literature.

Requirements for the Latin American Studies Major

Students complete a minimum of sixty-six credits in approved courses for the major. Majors must also demonstrate competence in Spanish by completing Spanish 205 or equivalent.

Required Courses: (The following core courses are required of all majors):

- HIST 170 Modern Latin America 1810-Present
- LTAM 300 Issues in Latin American Studies (not offered in 2019-20)
- LTAM 400 Integrative Exercise

In addition, majors are required to complete:

Two 300-level Latin America-focused courses offered in the Spanish department
One 300-level history, or sociology/anthropology, or political science course focused on Latin America
30 additional credits of electives from the list below. The 300-level courses in the Spanish department that are required are always taught in the language.

Students are strongly encouraged to complete the non-Spanish 300-level course prior to writing their integrative exercise, and to select a 300-level course in a discipline appropriate to the focus of their anticipated comps topic. Students who complete this requirement with a 300-level history course must take at least one approved sociology and anthropology or political science course as an elective.

Up to 27 credits from work in approved off-campus programs may be counted as electives for the major. Credits in natural science courses taken in Latin America may be applied toward the electives requirement if the director approves. Up to twelve elective credits may be comparative or Latino in focus (Economics 240, 241, Religion 227, Sociology/Anthropology 203, 233, 259). No more than four courses (twenty-four credits) in any one discipline may apply to the major.

Elective Courses:

AMST 220 Producing Latinidad and Latinxs: Making "New" Americanxs (not offered in 2019-20)
CAMS 295 Cinema in Chile and Argentina: Representing and Reimagining Identity (not offered in 2019-20)
CAMS 296 Cinema and Cultural Change in Chile and Argentina
ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
ENGL 119 Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Literature
ENGL 227 Imagining the Borderlands (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 100 Indians, Spaniards, and Empire
HIST 170 Modern Latin America 1810-Present
HIST 171 Latin America and the U.S. (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 172 Latin America’s Global Migrations (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 173 Disaster and Society in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 174 Indigenous Rights in Latin American History (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 272 The Mexican Revolution: History, Myth and Art (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 275 U.S.-Mexican Border History (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 276 Race, Sex, and Cold War in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 277 Revolution, Rebellion, and Protest in Modern Mexico (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 279 Latin America and the Global Cold War (not offered in 2019-20)
LTAM 110 Portuguese for Spanish Speakers
LTAM 382 Conflictive Development: Peru 1980 to Present (not offered in 2019-20)
LTAM 398 Latin American Forum
POSC 221 Latin American Politics
POSC 322 Neoliberalism and the New Left in Latin America* (not offered in 2019-20)
POSC 325 Corruption, Clientelism, and Political Machines* (not offered in 2019-20)
RELG 227 Liberation Theologies (not offered in 2019-20)
SOAN 203 Anthropology of Good Intentions
SOAN 233 Anthropology of Food
SOAN 259 Comparative Issues in Native North America (not offered in 2019-20)
SOAN 323 Mother Earth: Women, Development and the Environment (not offered in 2019-20)
SOAN 333 Environmental Anthropology
SOAN 343 Advanced Ethnographic Workshop
SOAN 353 Ethnography of Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 223 Women and Revolution in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 242 Introduction to Latin American Literature
SPAN 262 Myth and History in Central American Literature (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 265 The Old and the New in Contemporary Peru (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 277 The Poem as Artifact: Art and Work in Contemporary Spanish American Poetry
SPAN 278 Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Linguistics (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 321 Murder as a Fine Art: The Detective Novel in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 330 The Invention of the Modern Novel: Cervantes' Don Quijote
SPAN 358 The Spanish Civil War (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 360 Race and Nation in Caribbean Literature
SPAN 366 Jorge Luis Borges: Less a Man Than a Vast and Complex Literature (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 376 Mexico City: The City as Protagonist

Latin American Studies Minor

The Latin American Studies Minor provides students with a framework for developing a deeper understanding of Latin American history, society, and culture from an interdisciplinary perspective, and is intended to complement a disciplinary major. Minors pursue a program of study combining language training with courses in the humanities and social sciences, culminating in an integrative seminar.

Students interested in exploring Latin American Studies as a possible minor are strongly encouraged to enroll in at least one of several gateway courses early in their career at Carleton. Those designated courses are: History 170 Modern Latin America, 1810-present, Political Science 221 Latin American Politics, Sociology/Anthropology 353 Ethnography of Latin America, and Spanish 242 Introduction to Latin American Literature.

Requirements for the Latin American Studies Minor

HIST 170 Modern Latin America, 1810-present
LTAM 300 Issues in Latin American Studies
LTAM 398 Latin American Forum
6 credits in Latin American Literature (above Spanish 219 and not in translation) from the list below
18 elective credits
- 6 credits from the list below in an advanced course in the Social Sciences (200-300 level in Economics, Political Science, or Sociology/Anthropology)
- 12 credits focusing on Latin American (and/or US. Latino Literature) from the list below or relevant off-campus studies programs (Carleton or non-Carleton affiliated).
Students must also complete Spanish 204 or equivalent

Electives may be chosen from the following list:

AMST 220 Producing Latinidad and Latinxs: Making "New" Americanxs (not offered in 2019-20)
CAMS 295 Cinema in Chile and Argentina: Representing and Reimagining Identity (not offered in 2019-20)
CAMS 296 Cinema and Cultural Change in Chile and Argentina
ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
ECON 241 Growth and Development
ENGL 227 Imagining the Borderlands (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 170 Modern Latin America 1810-Present
HIST 174 Indigenous Rights in Latin American History (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 277 Revolution, Rebellion, and Protest in Modern Mexico (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 279 Latin America and the Global Cold War (not offered in 2019-20)
LTAM 110 Portuguese for Spanish Speakers
POSC 221 Latin American Politics
RELG 227 Liberation Theologies (not offered in 2019-20)
SOAN 203 Anthropology of Good Intentions
SOAN 233 Anthropology of Food
SOAN 259 Comparative Issues in Native North America (not offered in 2019-20)
SOAN 323 Mother Earth: Women, Development and the Environment (not offered in 2019-20)
SOAN 353 Ethnography of Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 223 Women and Revolution in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 242 Introduction to Latin American Literature
SPAN 262 Myth and History in Central American Literature (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 263 History of Human Rights (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 277 The Poem as Artifact: Art and Work in Contemporary Spanish American Poetry
SPAN 321 Murder as a Fine Art: The Detective Novel in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 330 The Invention of the Modern Novel: Cervantes' Don Quijote
SPAN 356 The Political and Cultural History of the Cuban Revolution
SPAN 358 The Spanish Civil War (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 366 Jorge Luis Borges: Less a Man Than a Vast and Complex Literature (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 371 Yours Truly: The Body of the Letter (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 377 History and Subjectivity in Latin American Poetry (not offered in 2019-20)

HIST 173 Disaster and Society in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 275 U.S.-Mexican Border History (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 276 Race, Sex, and Cold War in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
POSC 322 Neoliberalism and the New Left in Latin America* (not offered in 2019-20)
POSC 325 Corruption, Clientelism, and Political Machines* (not offered in 2019-20)
SOAN 333 Environmental Anthropology

Latin American Studies Courses

LTAM 110 Portuguese for Spanish Speakers This fast-paced introductory Portuguese language course focuses on developing communication skills and emphasizes speaking, reading, and writing. Previous knowledge of Spanish is assumed in presentation of grammar and vocabulary. Prerequisite: Spanish 204 or instructor permission. 3 credits; S/CR/NC; NE; Spring; Helena I Kaufman

LTAM 300 Issues in Latin American Studies This is an advanced multidisciplinary research seminar on contemporary Latin America. New forms of political populism, indigenous understanding of the relationship between human and non-human forms of being, transformative urbanistic solutions at work in its largest cities, the political economy of migration, and vibrant cultures of protest, will be among our topics of study. Ideal for students going to or returning from study abroad in Latin America. Required course for minors and majors in Latin American Studies. Prerequisite: Latin American Studies gateway course. 6 credits; SI, IS; Not offered 2019-20

LTAM 382 Conflictive Development: Peru 1980 to Present This is a two-track course that focuses, on one hand, on specific problems resulting from the conflict between strong economic growth and the persistence of social inequality and marginalization. On the other hand, the class will explore the difficulties of creating forms of participatory politics, against the background of key moments in Peru's political history. The emphasis will be on present-day manifestations of the polarity "formal" vs. "real" democracy." A political scientist and a sociologist lead the class, and classes are supplemented with lectures by experts on specific issues. Prerequisite: Spanish 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits; SI, IS; Not offered 2019-20

LTAM 398 Latin American Forum This colloquium will explore specific issues or works in Latin American Studies through discussion of a common reading, public presentation, project, and/or performance that constitute the annual Latin American Forum. Students will be required to attend two meetings during the term to discuss the common reading or other material and must attend, without exception. All events of the Forum which take place during fourth week of spring term (on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning). A short integrative essay or report will be required at the end of the term. Intended as capstone for the Latin American Studies minor. 2 credits; S/CR/NC; HI, IS; Spring; Jorge Brioso, Yansi Y Perez

LTAM 400 Integrative Exercise Satisfactory completion of the major includes the writing of a thesis which attempts to integrate at least two of the various disciplines studied. A proposal must be submitted for approval early in the fall term of the senior year. The thesis in its final form is due no later than the end of the first week of spring term. An oral defense of the thesis is required. 1-6 credit; S/NC; Fall, Winter; Jorge Brioso, Yansi Y Perez, Adriana Estill

Other Courses Pertinent to Latin American Studies

CAMS 295 Cinema in Chile and Argentina: Representing and Reimagining Identity (not offered in 2019-20)
CAMS 296 Cinema and Cultural Change in Chile and Argentina
ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
ECON 241 Growth and Development
ENGL 119 Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Literature
ENGL 227 Imagining the Borderlands (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 170 Modern Latin America 1810-Present
HIST 171 Latin America and the U.S. (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 173 Disaster and Society in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 174 Indigenous Rights in Latin American History (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 272 The Mexican Revolution: History, Myth and Art (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 275 U.S.-Mexican Border History (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 276 Race, Sex, and Cold War in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 277 Revolution, Rebellion, and Protest in Modern Mexico (not offered in 2019-20)
HIST 279 Latin America and the Global Cold War (not offered in 2019-20)
POSC 221 Latin American Politics
POSC 322 Neoliberalism and the New Left in Latin America* (not offered in 2019-20)
POSC 325 Corruption, Clientelism, and Political Machines* (not offered in 2019-20)
RELG 227 Liberation Theologies (not offered in 2019-20)
SOAN 203 Anthropology of Good Intentions
SOAN 233 Anthropology of Food
SOAN 259 Comparative Issues in Native North America (not offered in 2019-20)
SOAN 323 Mother Earth: Women, Development and the Environment (not offered in 2019-20)
SOAN 333 Environmental Anthropology
SOAN 353 Ethnography of Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 223 Women and Revolution in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 242 Introduction to Latin American Literature
SPAN 262 Myth and History in Central American Literature (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 263 History of Human Rights (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 277 The Poem as Artifact: Art and Work in Contemporary Spanish American Poetry
SPAN 278 Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Linguistics (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 321 Murder as a Fine Art: The Detective Novel in Latin America (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 330 The Invention of the Modern Novel: Cervantes' Don Quijote
SPAN 356 The Political and Cultural History of the Cuban Revolution
SPAN 360 Race and Nation in Caribbean Literature
SPAN 366 Jorge Luis Borges: Less a Man Than a Vast and Complex Literature (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 371 Yours Truly: The Body of the Letter (not offered in 2019-20)
SPAN 376 Mexico City: The City as Protagonist