Latin American Studies offers an interdisciplinary structure for the systematic study of Latin America, an area that encompasses countries in North, Central, and South America as well as the Caribbean, whose distinct geography and cultures are connected by elements of a common history of colonization and its consequences. Profound geographic variations, differing economic resources, and the intermingling of multiple racial, ethnic, and cultural groups have yielded complex and diverse societies. Increasing socioeconomic contacts among states and societies in the Americas and the growing presence of Latinos in the United States underscore the need for a deeper, co-constructed understanding of the region.
Overview of the Major and Concentration
The Latin American Studies program offers courses, a Latin American Studies major and a Latin American Studies concentration with an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach that contributes to the investigation of political, economic, ethnic, gender, religious, and cultural issues in Latin America. The support of perspectives and methodologies of several disciplines inspires students to seek a deeper understanding of Latin America and its complex relationships with the United States, and, in some cases, with Spain. In addition, students find opportunities for reflecting on their own culture and society.
Special Programs
Latin American Studies majors and concentrators are encouraged to take advantage of the many study abroad and away programs available to them. Study abroad opportunities in the Spanish-speaking world currently offered to St. Olaf students include two periodic January terms: SPAN 240 in Puerto Rico that counts for the major and the concentration, and SPAN 270 in Spain that counts for the major. There are also semester-length opportunities, such as
- the SIT "Migration, Borders, and Transnational Communities" program in Oaxaca, Mexico
- the CET "Race, Ethnicity, and Identity" program in Cali, Colombia
- the "Social Work in a Latin American Context" program in Mexico
- the Andean Studies Program in Ecuador
- the IES program in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- the CIEE program in Seville, Spain
Students who wish to count courses from study abroad or away for the major or concentration should get prior approval from the Latin American Studies director. Latin American Studies faculty members participate in the Languages Across the Curriculum (LAC) program, which offers students the opportunity to use their world language skills in selected courses. (See Languages Across the Curriculum under Academic Departments and Programs in this catalog.)
Requirements for the Major
The requirements for the completion of the Latin American studies major consist of a minimum of nine approved courses as shown below. Outside of the capstone LAMST 333, courses must be taken in at least three departments or programs.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 1.00 |
| Peoples of Colonial Latin America | |
| Modern Latin America | |
| Foreign Relations in the Americas | |
| Latin American Politics | |
| Forging a Latin American Culture | |
| SPAN 251 | Gender and Race in Modern Latin America | 1.00 |
| or SPAN 250 | Family and Gender Roles in Spain: 1900 to Present |
| 1 | 2.00 |
| Politics and Environment in Puerto Rico (study abroad) | |
| Spain's Cultural and Linguistic Legacy (study abroad) | |
| Cultures of Spain | |
| Cultures of Latin America | |
| Cultures of the Latinx/a/o U.S. | |
| Contemporary Issues in the Spanish-Speaking World | |
| 4.00 |
| LAMST 333 | Contemporary Latin American Issues | 1.00 |
| Total Credits | 9 |
- Students may count one independent research course toward the major.
- Students may count up to three study-abroad courses taken in Latin America or Spain.
- With the approval of the Latin American Studies director, students may have courses from any discipline with substantial Latin American or U.S. Latino content counted toward their major.
- A maximum of three courses that focus on Latinos in the United States may count toward the major.
- Additional courses from the core list can be counted as electives.
- Either SOAN 264 or RACE 121 may be included in the major, but not both.
- LAMST 333 is taught in alternate years and is ideally taken in the junior or senior year. Students planning to study abroad during the semester in which the course is taught should in their junior year petition the Latin American Studies director to take an alternative course or independent study to fulfill this requirement during their senior year.
Students should contact the Latin American Studies director as early as possible to plan a major.
*By completing this major, the student also satisfies the OLE Core Writing in the Major requirement.
Requirements for the Concentration
Students majoring in any discipline except Latin American studies can pursue a Latin American studies concentration, which enables them to enhance their understanding of Latin American countries and the interconnectedness of Latin America and the United States. It differs from the Latin American studies major in that it does not require course work in Spanish.
The requirements for the completion of the Latin American studies concentration consist of a minimum of five approved courses. Outside of the capstone LAMST 333, courses must be taken in at least two departments or programs.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 1.00 |
| Peoples of Colonial Latin America | |
| Modern Latin America | |
| Foreign Relations in the Americas | |
| Latin American Politics | |
| Forging a Latin American Culture | |
| 3.00 |
| LAMST 333 | Contemporary Latin American Issues | 1.00 |
| Total Credits | 5 |
- A maximum of two study-abroad courses taken in Latin America or Spain may be counted.
- With the approval of the Latin American studies director, students may have courses from any discipline with substantial Latin American or U.S. Latino content counted toward their concentration.
- A maximum of two courses that focus on Latinos in the United States may count toward the concentration.
- Additional courses from the core list can be counted as electives.
- Either SOAN 264 or RACE 121 may be included in the concentration, but not both.
- Only SPAN 251 and 270-level Spanish courses with a Latin American or U.S. Latino focus can be counted toward the concentration. These include SPAN 272, SPAN 273, and SPAN 274 (when taught with a Latin American focus).
- LAMST 333 is taught in alternate years, and is ideally taken in the junior or senior year. Students planning to study abroad during the semester in which the course is taught should in their junior year petition the Latin American studies director to take an alternative course or independent study to fulfill this requirement during their senior year.
Latin American Studies Courses
LAMST 294: Academic Internship
LAMST 298: Independent Study
LAMST 333: Contemporary Latin American Issues
This seminar focuses on the implications of studying Latin America, or the way in which different conceptualizations of this region have helped to shape Latin America as an object of study. Possible topics for approaching this question include the history of Latin American studies in the United States and the relation between scholarship on Latin America and U.S. policy in the region; Latin American responses to U.S. representations of the region; the production of images of lo indígena according to Western expectations; and indigenous cultures and globalization. Languages Across the Curriculum (LAC) course is often available in Spanish. Offered alternate years in the fall semester.
LAMST 394: Academic Internship
LAMST 398: Independent Research
Core Courses
Select one of the following. Other courses taken in this list will count as electives.
HIST 126 Peoples of Colonial Latin America
HIST 193 Modern Latin America
PSCI 257 Foreign Relations in the Americas
PSCI 264 Latin American Politics
SOAN 237 Forging a Latin American Culture
Spanish Courses
Three Spanish courses are required for the Latin American Studies major and may include courses focused on Spain. Only Spanish courses focused on Latin America or the Latinx/a/o U.S. count for the Latin American Studies concentration.
SPAN 251 Gender and Race in Modern Latin America (or, for the major only: SPAN 250 Family and Gender Roles in Spain: 1900 to Present)
SPAN 240 Politics and Environment in Puerto Rico (study abroad)
(count for the major only: SPAN 270 Spain's Cultural and Linguistic Legacy (study abroad) / SPAN 271 Cultures of Spain)
SPAN 272 Cultures of Latin America
SPAN 273 Cultures of the Latinx/a/o U.S.
SPAN 274 Contemporary Issues in the Spanish-Speaking World (when focus is Spain, counts only for the major)
Approved Courses
Any course with significant focus on Latin America may be considered for elective credit. If a course is not listed, please consult with the director of Latin American Studies.
ART 275 Topics in Art History (or ART 276 Topical Seminar when taught as Latin American Modernism or Mesoamerican Art)
ECON 343 Development Economics
ENGL 251 Major Chicano/a Authors
HIST 126 Peoples of Colonial Latin America
HIST 189 Topical Seminar (when topic is Race in Latin America)
HIST 193 Modern Latin America
HIST 240 Methods Seminar: Histories of Africa, Asia, and Latin America
HIST 245 Environmental History of Latin America
HIST 257 Human Rights in Latin America
HIST 397 History Research Workshop (Sem: Cities in Latin American Hist)
PHIL 247 Selected Topics in Philosophy (when topic is Latin American Political Phil)
PSCI 257 Foreign Relations in the Americas
PSCI 264 Latin American Politics
RACE 121 Introduction to Race and Ethnic Studies
RACE 252 Topical Seminar (when topic is Introduction to Chicanx Studies)
REL 218 Political and Liberation Theology
REL 231 Religion at the US-Mexico Border
SOAN 237 Forging a Latin American Culture
SOAN 264 Race and Class in American Culture
