Support the ProgramLatin American, Latino/a
and Caribbean Studies at Miami University
Major in Latin American, Latino/a and Caribbean Studies
Note: The requirements listed below are for students enrolling in the LAS major in Fall 2011 or later; for those who enrolled before then, please refer to LAS brochure for students enrolled in major prior to Fall 2011 [PDF].
To declare a major in Latin American, Latino/a and Caribbean Studies, please contact one of the LAS Program advisors.
UniDiversity Fall 2012 Calendar and Curriculum Guide [PDF]
LAS Spring 2013 Courses [PDF]
Credits Required for Major (30 credits)
- 1. Program Requirements
(6 hours) - 2. Core Courses
(18-21 hours) - 3. Related Courses
(0-3 hours) - 4. Language Requirement
(3 hours)
1. Program Requirements
All students must take 1 course in each of 2 program requirement categories.
If a student takes more than 1 course in either category, additional credits are counted toward the Core Courses requirement.
MPC = Miami Plan Capstone
MPF = Miami Plan Foundation
1a. Introduction to Latin America
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAS 208 | Latin American Civilization after 1825 (MPF) | 3 |
| LAS/HST 217 | Modern Latin American History | 3 |
| SPN 362 | Spanish American Cultural History II | 3 |
1b. Integrative Culmination of Latin American Studies
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAS 410 | Current Latin American Issues (MPC) | 3 |
| LAS/IES 412 | Tropical Ecosystems of Costa Rica | 5 |
| LAS/IES 414/514 | Latin American Environmental Affairs | 3 |
| LAS 415 | Cuba in Revolution (MPC) | 4 |
| LAS/IES 416 | Tropical Ecology and Natural History in Belize | 5 |
| LAS 477 | Independent Study Project * | 3-4 |
| LAS/POL 478 | Media and Politics in Latin America and the Caribbean (MPC) | 3 |
| LAS 499 | Workshops in Latin America or the Caribbean (some MPC) | 3-6 |
| ATH 426D | Culture and Environment in Brazil | 3 |
| HST 400G | Latin American History | 3 |
| HST/LAS 437 | Latin American Environmental History | 3 |
2. Core Courses
Core Courses include courses in which the majority of world area and theoretical content is focused on Latin America, Latino/a and Caribbean issues, as well as upper-level courses in languages and literatures important in Latin America.
Students must take a minimum of 18 credits from Core Courses, selected from at least 3 different rubrics (departments or programs). A maximum of 21 credits of Core Courses may be counted toward the 30 credits of the major.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAS 177, 277, 377 | Independent Study * | 4 (max) |
| LAS/BWS/FST/MUS/POR 204 | Brazil through Music | 3 |
| LAS 207 | Latin American Civilization before 1825 (MPF) | 3 |
| LAS/BWS/HST 243 | Origins of the African Diaspora: A History of European Slavers | 3 |
| LAS/ENG 254 | Latino/a Literature in the Americas (MPF) | 3 |
| LAS/HST 260 | Latin America in the United States (MPF) | 3 |
| LAS 277.X | Service Learning ** (taken with any MPF course) |
1 |
| LAS 300 | Special Topics in Latin American Studies | 3 |
| LAS 315 | Latin American Diaspora Communities and Issues | 3 |
| LAS/HST 319 | Revolution and Social Movement in Latin America | 3 |
| LAS/BWS/ENG/POR/WGS 383 | By or About (Afro-) Brazilian Women | 3 |
| LAS/BWS/HST 385 | Race, Science, Disease in Tropical Americas | 3 |
| LAS/SPN 390A | Latin American Popular Culture | 3 |
| LAS 413 | Tropical Marine Ecology: Bahamas | 5 |
| ATH 303 | Native American Cultures | 3 |
| ATH 305 | Peoples & Cultures of Latin America | 3 |
| ATH 313 | Introduction to South American Archeology | 4 |
| ATH/BWS/LAS/WMS 325 | Identity: Race, Class, and Gender | 3 |
| ATH 414 | Caribbean Archaeology | 3 |
| ATH 415 | Caribbean Archaeology: Field & Laboratory Methods |
6 |
| ATH 416 | Archaeological Site Analysis (in Latin America) |
3 |
| BUS 399S | Doing Business in Costa Rica: Environmental Sustainability and Risk Management | 3-4 |
| BUS 420S | The Environment of Business in Latin America | 2 |
| GEO 304 | Latin American Development | 3 |
| GEO 405 | The Caribbean in Global Context | 3 |
| HST 307 | Latin American Civilization (Before 1820) | 3 |
| HST 360T | History of Mexico, 1810-1940 | 3 |
| POL 337 | Politics of Latin America | 4 |
| POL 378 | Latin America: The Region & the World | 3 |
| SPN 315 | Introduction to Hispanic Literature | 3 |
| SPN 361 | Spanish American Cultural History I | 3 |
| SPN 430 | Selected Topics in Literature & Culture: Spanish America |
3 |
| SPN 450 | Topics in Hispanic Literature & Language | 3 |
| SPN 461 | Studies in Spanish American Narrative | 3 |
| SPN 462 | Studies in Modern Spanish American Drama | 3 |
| SPN 463 | Studies in Spanish American Poetry | 3 |
| SPN 464 | Studies in Spanish American Essay | 3 |
| SPN 490 | Issues in Hispanic Literature (Latin American topic required) |
3 |
* Independent Study
Students who have completed at least 3 credits of LAS program requirements or core courses may design an Independent Study in LAS, working with a member of the LAS Committee. The study should explore relevant topics/literature in Latin American Studies; integrate reading, writing and critical thinking; involve open discussions with a mentor; and apply sound research methods/techniques. Independent Study can lead to a major paper, video, research poster or presentation, and it can encompass cultural immersion and on-the-ground participation in Latin American contexts, including study at language schools, mission work, internships, or other. Those students who wish to write a major integrative paper in Latin American studies may do so under the rubric of LAS 477, with 3-4 credits, which fulfills Program Requirement 1b.
** Service Learning
Students are encouraged to participate in Service Learning for credit in Ohio or in other countries. Under Miami's service learning rubric, LAS 277.X, students may engage in a one-credit service learning experience in conjunction with any Miami Plan Foundation course. Under rubrics LAS 277, 377 or 477, students may engage in 1-3 credits of Service Learning under a variety of plans, including volunteer and internship work carried out anywhere in Latin America.
3. Related Courses
Related Courses contain world area and/or theoretical content pertinent to Latin American Studies within a broader framework.
A maximum of 3 credits from Related Courses may count toward the LAS major.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ATH 175 | Peoples of the World (MPF) | 3 |
| ATH 185 | Cultural Diversity in the US (MPF) | 3 |
| ATH 301 | Intercultural Relations | 3 |
| ATH 312 | Introduction to North American Archeology | 4 |
| ECO 342 | Comparative Economic Systems | 3 |
| ECO 344 | International Economic Relations | 3 |
| ECO 347 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ECO 441 | International Trade and Commercial Policy | 3 |
| ECO 442 | International Monetary Relations | 3 |
| FSW 206 | Social Welfare: Impact on Diverse Groups | 4 |
| GEO 101 | Global Forces, Local Diversity | 3 |
| GEO 111 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| GEO 473 | Development and Underdevelopment | 3 |
| GEO 475 | Third World Urbanization | 3 |
| IDS 151 | Diversity Seminar | 1 |
| IDS 159 | Strength through Diversity | 3 |
| IES/GLG 415/LAS 417/517 | Coral Reef Ecology | 5 |
| IES 423/LAS 413 | Tropical Marine Ecology: Bahamas | 5 |
| ITS 201 | Introduction to International Studies | 3 |
| ITS 301 | Intercultural Relations | 3 |
| ITS 302 | Problems of Non-Western Societies | 3 |
| LAS 417/517 | Coral Reef Ecology | 5 |
| MGT 304 | Cross-Cultural Management | 3 |
| MKT 425/471 | International Marketing | 3 |
| MUS 185 | World Music | 3 |
| MUS 186 | Music for the Global iPod | 3 |
| POL 326 | Comparative Ethnic Politics | 3 |
| POL 439 | North American Politics: Unity & Diversity | 3 |
| SOC 348 | Race and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SPN 482 | Spanish Dialectology | 3 |
4. Language Requirement
All students must complete 3 credits selected from the following 4 options:
- SPN 311
- POR 311
- FRE 301
- Students who complete SPN 202, POR 211, FRE 202, or their equivalents may take 3 credits of a second language selected from SPN, POR or FRE.