The Latino and Latin American Studies program (LLAS) is housed within the Institute
for Ethnic Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
LLAS was formed in 1993 when two previously separate programs merged: Latin American
Studies and Chicano Studies. These two components offer unique but complementary
perspectives on people of Latin American origin or descent.
The Latin American Studies major and minor offer an opportunity for students to
gain knowledge about the peoples, languages and cultures of Latin America. The Chicano
Studies minor focuses on Chicanos/Latinos in the U.S.
Requirements for the Major
Latin American Studies majors take at least 33 credits of content and language courses.
Content classes are selected from at least three of ten designated departments (e.g.,
History, Geography, Anthropology, Political Science, English). Majors also take
a senior-level pro-seminar and complete at least nine credits of advanced language
courses in either Spanish or Portuguese. Many majors complete a double major in
Spanish, History, or another field; a minor is required and may be taken in any
field.
Overview
The Latin American Studies program provides a basis for students who intend to seek
employment with government agencies and private enterprises with operations in Latin
America, as well as students who plan to undertake graduate study with an emphasis
in this region. Opportunities for majors are found in U.S. banks and commercial
firms with Latin American branch offices, the travel industry, publishing companies,
research organizations, and U.S. governmental agencies such as the Department of
State, Agency for International Development, and U.S. Information Agency.
Requirements for the Minor
The Latin American Studies minor involves completing at least 18 hours from a combination
of advanced language courses (6 hours) and social science courses (12 hours).
Study Abroad
Many majors/minors spend one or more semesters studying in a Latin American country.
This allows them to develop their language skills and gain valuable experience to
complement their coursework. By working with UNL's Study Abroad office (housed in
International Affairs), students can receive credit for courses taken abroad.
Latino Research Initiative
Latino Research Initiative is a multidisciplinary effort at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln. The goals of the LRI are to Engage in culturally sensitive and competent research and programming,
contribute to the limited knowledge base related to the needs of the Latino community, develop,
implement, and evaluate programming for the Latino community, and disseminate information to, and learn from,
practice systems, scholars, and policy-related systems that are related to addressing Latino issues and needs.
Requirements for the Minor
The Chicano Studies minor provides a background for students whose employment or
graduate study will address issues pertinent to U.S. Latinos, particularly Mexican-Americans,
the largest Latino group in the U.S. For example, students who intend to seek employment
in educational or human service settings may benefit from the specialized knowledge
a Chicano Studies minor provides. To complete a minor in Chicano Studies, students
take at least 18 hours from a list of approved courses from various departments
(e.g. English, History, and Psychology.)
