Latin American Major/Minor

Latin American Studies majors (LAMS) 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.

Requirements for a Major in Latin American Studies

To complete a major in Latin American Studies, a student is expected to take at least 33 credit hours as described below. All students should have reasonable fluency in either Spanish and/or Portuguese.

The major will include:

1. At least 9 hours selected from the following:

   Course Number	Course Name
   LAMS 311	Representative Spanish-American Authors I (SPAN 311) (3 cr)
   LAMS 312	Representative Spanish-American Authors II (SPAN 312) (3 cr)
   LAMS 331	Latin American Civilization (SPAN 331)(3 cr)
   LAMS 459	Spanish-American Poetry (SPAN459) (3 cr)
   LAMS 460	Spanish-American Novel (SPAN 460) (3 cr)
   LAMS 462	Spanish-American Short Story (SPAN 462) (3 cr)
   LAMS 470	Women Writers of Spanish-America (SPAN 470) (3 cr)
   SPAN 203	Intensive Conversation (3 cr)
   SPAN 300	Advanced Reading, Writing, Speaking (6 cr)
   SPAN 303	Advanced Reading for Comprehension (3 cr)
   SPAN 304	Advanced Writing (3 cr)
   SPAN 305	Literary Analysis in Spanish (3 cr)
   SPAN 317	Introduction to Linguistics (3 cr)
   SPAN 319	Spanish Phonetics (3 cr)

2. Courses in at least three departments from the following:

   Course Number	Course Name
   AHIS 256	Latin American Art (3 cr)
   AHIS 457	Colonial Art of Latin America (3 cr)
   ECON 321	Intro to International Economics (3 cr)
   ECON 322	Intro to Development Economics (3 cr)
   ECON 323	Economic Development of Latin America (3 cr)
   ETHN 171	Latin American Culture and Civilization (HIST 171) (3 cr)
   ETHN 245D	Chicano Literature (3 cr)
   ETHN 350	Indians of Latin America (ANTH 350) (3 cr)
   ETHN 370	The Making of Colonial Mexico (HIST 370) (3 cr)
   ETHN 371	The Shaping of Modern Mexico (HIST 371) (3 cr)
   GEOG 378	Geography of Latin America (3 cr)
   HIST 223	Spain & the Spanish Heritage (3 cr)
   HIST 271	Latin American Colonies (3 cr)
   HIST 272	The Latin American Republics (3 cr)
   HIST 372	Revolutions in 20th Century Latin America (3 cr)
   HIST 471	Latin America & the Outside World (3 cr)
   HIST 473	Spanish-American Colonial Institutions (3 cr)
   HIST 475	History of Brazil (3 cr)
   MNGT 428	International Management (3 cr)
   MRKT 453	International Marketing (3 cr)
   POLS 377	Latin American Government & Politics (3 cr)
   POLS 465	The United States & Latin America (3 cr)
   TEAC 433	Comparative Education (3cr)

3. Individualized Courses of Instruction. A total of 9 hours of individualized coursework may count towards the major, but no more than 6 hours of one particular course (i.e., LAMS 399 or LAMS 399H) will count toward the major.

   LAMS 399. Independent Study (1-6 cr, max 6). Prereq: Prior arrangement with and permission of individual faculty member. For students to engage in independent research or reading in Latin American Studies under the supervision of a faculty member.

   LAMS 399H. Honors Course (1-6 cr, max 6). Prereq: Good standing in the University Honors Program or by invitation. Open to candidates for degrees with distinction, with high distinction, and with highest distinction in the College of Arts and Sciences.

4. 3-6 hours Interdisciplinary Pro-seminar 478/878 that are cross-listed in 6 departments at UNL (anthropology, educational psychology, geography, history, modern languages, political science and sociology).

   A minor is also required, which may be any minor offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. Many students who major in Latin American Studies carry a double major with Spanish, history, political science, economics, international affairs, or international business, or have chosen to minor in one of those fields.

   The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska at Omaha are cooperating with the Latin American Studies major. UNO students may complete their course requirements by attending classes at UNL. UNL students may take courses offered at UNO to meet some requirements for a major in Latin American Studies. Please note that UNL residency requirements still apply. Students should check with their adviser for information on UNO equivalent courses or other courses that may apply to the Latin American Studies major. Associate Professor Norman Luna is the coordinator for Latin American Studies at UNO.

5. Program Assessment

   In order to assist the department in evaluating the effectiveness of its programs, majors will be required to submit to the undergraduate adviser a copy of the semester project completed for the Latin American Studies Pro-Seminar. The course instructor will inform majors of the deadline for submission. Results of participation in this assessment activity will in no way affect a student’s GPA or graduation.

Requirements for a Minor in Latin American Studies

* 18 hours: 6 in modern languages and literatures as in Group A courses under the major requirements, 12 in social sciences as in Group B and C courses under the major requirements above. No more than 3 credits of LAMS 399 will count toward the minor. Minors may not take LAMS 399H for credit.

UNL and UNO are also jointly cooperating in the Latin American Studies minor. See discussion above.