Latin American and Latino Studies Minor
The Latin American and Latino Studies Program (LALS) is an interdisciplinary program that allows students to explore the rich heritage and contemporary trends of Latin-based cultures in the United States and beyond.
Many students in the program are heritage speakers of either Spanish or Portuguese. However, anyone able to demonstrate proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese is eligible to become an LALS student. Students may pass a language proficiency test or complete the language requirement in one of the above languages. Language study is not counted toward credits for the minor.
Latin American and Latino Studies students greatly benefit from study abroad opportunities, although study abroad is not a requirement. Students interested in taking advantage of this option must make arrangements through MSU's Global Education Center. Students must work with an LALS advisor to select courses and determine methods of evaluation. As many as four courses from the study abroad experience may be used to complete the LALS minor (again, with the exception of language courses). If the student decides to study abroad, the capstone course for the minor, LALS 401, must be taken after the study abroad experience.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| LALS 201 | Perspectives on Latin America | 3 |
| LALS 401 | Capstone Course in Latin American and Latino Studies | 3 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
Select 9-12 credits from the following (must be from at least two different departments): | ||
| Cultures of Latin America | ||
| Land and Life in Latin America | ||
| Village to Metropolis: Urbanization in Latin America | ||
| Selected Topics in Economics (may be taken if topic is appropriate) | ||
| Early Latin America | ||
| History of Puerto Rico | ||
| Modern Latin America | ||
| History of Brazil | ||
| Seminar in Latin American History | ||
| Church and State in Latin America | ||
| Revolutions in Latin American History | ||
| Economic Relations in Latin America | ||
| Image and Identity: Representation of Latin American Women in Film and Fiction | ||
| Selected Topics in Latin American and Latino Studies | ||
| Skills for Bilingual Legal Personnel | ||
| Government and Politics of Latin America | ||
| Hispanic/Latino Psychology | ||
| Religion in Latin America | ||
| Voices of the Past and Present: Latin America | ||
| Cultural Studies: Latin America and the Caribbean | ||
| Contemporary Spanish-American Short Story | ||
| Contemporary Latin American Poetry | ||
| The Spanish-American Novel | ||
| Contemporary Latin American Theater | ||
| Contemporary Trends in the Spanish-American Novel | ||
| Puerto Rican Literature and Thought | ||
| Collateral Elective | ||
Select 0-3 credits from the following: | ||
| Health and Healing in Cross Cultural Perspective | ||
| Cultural Competencies in Child Welfare | ||
| Working with Diverse Families and Children | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| Ethnic Politics in America | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Relations | ||
| Sociology of Rich and Poor Nations | ||
| Social Inequality | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |