Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Course | ||
| LAS 101 | Introduction to Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| Advanced Language Proficiency in Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Advanced Spanish | ||
| Advanced French | ||
| Intermediate Haitian Creole I (or equivalent) | ||
| Intermediate Portuguese II | ||
| Secondary Language Competence in another Latin American or Caribbean Language | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Accelerated Elementary Spanish | ||
| Accelerated Elementary French | ||
| Beginning Portuguese for Spanish Speakers | ||
| Elementary Haitian Creole II (or equivalent) | ||
A Latin American, Caribbean, or Indigenous language course in the DILS program | ||
| Upper Division LAS Courses | ||
| Select two courses in Latin American history | 6 | |
| Select six LAS, LAS cross-listed, or LAS Director approved classes 1 | 18 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Independent Study in Latin American and Caribbean Studies | ||
| Interdisciplinary in Latin American and Caribbean | ||
| Internship in Latin American and Caribbean Studies | ||
| Civic Engagement in Latin America | ||
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| MTH 108 | Precalculus Mathematics II ( (or higher)) | 3 |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts & Humanities or People and Society Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| People and Society or Arts and Humanities Cognate (depending on which is fulfilled through the major) | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate | 9 | |
| Additional Required Courses | ||
| UMX 100 | The University of Miami Experience | 0 |
| Minor (not LAS) | 15 | |
| Electives to 120 credits | 42 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- *
A C- or better for all major courses, with a GPA of 2.0 are required for successful completion of the LAS Major.
- 1
12 credit hours (4 classes) of which must be completed at the 300-level or higher. Courses that are not combined with LAS but do have a significant focus on Latin America may be taken with the approval of the academic director. A freshman seminar with a significant focus (25% or more) on Latin America or the Caribbean may be counted towards this requirement. SPA 203 and FRE 203 may be counted towards this requirement if not used to satisfy the aforementioned language requirements.
Disclaimer: This is a model plan of study only. It is not guaranteed that every course will be available in the year/semester noted below.
Suggested Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| LAS 101 | Introduction to Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| UMX 100 | The University of Miami Experience | 0 |
| Natural Science Course | 3 | |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| LAS 301 | Interdisciplinary Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| POL 203 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| LAS Language Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| LAS 330 | Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Religions | 3 |
| ECO 211 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAS 350 | Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Art and Culture | 3 |
| LAS Language Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| LAS 340 | Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Economics | 3 |
| LAS 491 | Debates on Current Issues in Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAS 494 | Independent Study in Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| HIS 554 | Studies in Modern Latin American History | 3 |
| LAS Language Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| LAS 411 | Studies in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| LAS 495 | Senior Honors Thesis I | 3 |
| LAS 505 | Internship in Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| LAS 520 | Interdisciplinary Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Environments | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAS 496 | Senior Honors Thesis II | 3 |
| LAS Language Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Mission
The mission of the B.A. in Latin American Studies is to prepare students as they acquire knowledge of the history, literature, culture, politics, economics, and natural sciences of the regions of Latin America and the Caribbean. This knowledge acquisition should occur within an interdisciplinary framework that emphasizes the languages of the Hispanophone, Francophone, and Lusophone Americas, and which includes the transnational study of Latin American and Caribbean diasporic communities in the United States.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students should graduate from the program with a deep understanding of Latin America, the Caribbean, as well as of the individual countries within the region, as acquired through internships, travel and study abroad.
- Students will demonstrate proficiency in Latin American regional learning, a critical analysis of and an engagement with complex, interdependent regional systems and legacies (such as natural, physical, social, cultural, economic, and political) and the lives and sustainable development of the region.
- Students will demonstrate proficiency in inquiry and analysis. Inquiry is a systematic process of exploring issues/ objects/works through the collection and analysis of evidence that result in informed conclusions/ judgments. Analysis is the process of breaking complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
