Latin American and Latina/o Studies, Bachelor of Arts
The Latin American and Latina/o Studies major draws on various social science disciplines, such as sociology, political science, anthropology and economics, as well as on disciplines in the humanities, including history, literature and the arts. By integrating these varied disciplines in the LLS courses, this major is designed to ensure that students will have both a comprehensive foundational and interdisciplinary knowledge of Latin American and Latina/o Studies and a specialization in either Latin American Studies or Latina/o Studies.
Learning outcomes. Students will:
- Understand the interdisciplinary nature of the study of Latin America and of Latina/o communities in the U.S.
- Integrate the fields of Latin American Studies and Latina/o Studies to develop a deep understanding of the relationship between the social, economic, cultural, and political processes of Latin America and the development in the U.S. of communities of persons of Latin American origin or descent.
- Grasp the relationship between the lives of individuals and the course of history, how one’s life intersects with larger social, political, and economic forces.
- Appreciate the history of Latin America and that of Latina/os in the U.S. as they struggle for justice and human dignity in the face of persistent structures of injustice, inequality, and the abuse of power.
- Think critically and evaluate contrasting texts, narratives, and discourses relevant to the diverse cultures of Latin America and U.S. Latina/o communities.
- Carry out a research project (fieldwork-based or library-based) that includes formulating and justifying a research question, collecting and analyzing data, and articulating conclusions.
- Communicate research results in various formats, including written and oral presentation.
- Possess cultural competency, the ability to work successfully in a variety of culturally diverse settings and to analyze, contextualize and interpret culture/cultural behaviors and beliefs.
Coordinator. Professor Jose Luis Morin, (Department of Latin American and Latina/o Studies) (212-393-6481, jmorin@jjay.cuny.edu)
Credits required: 33 - 37 credits Four Year Academic Plan
Part One. Required Core Courses
Required
Total Credit Hours: 12
Part Two. Research Methods
Required
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Three. Study Abroad, Fieldwork, or Independent Research
Required, Select one option:
- Study Abroad in Latin America (3 credits will be earned from the course offered as part of the study abroad program)
- LLS 321 Puerto Rican/Latina/o Community Fieldwork (4 credits)
- LLS 489 Independent Research Project (3 credits)
Total Credit Hours: 3-4
Part Four. Electives
Students must choose a track and select three courses. In the other track, students must select one course. At least six credits must be taken at the 300-level or above.
Track A: Latin America
| LLS 110/MUS 110 | Popular Musics of the Caribbean | 3 |
| LLS 215 | Socio-Political Developments in Contemporary Puerto Rico | 3 |
| LLS 220 | Human Rights and Law in Latin America | 3 |
| LLS 232/AFR 232 | Comparative Perspectives on Crime in the Caribbean | 3 |
| LLS 223 | Revolution and Social Change in Latin American Literature and Arts | 3 |
| LLS 245 | Dominican Society and Identity | 3 |
| LLS 250 | Drugs, Crime and Law in Latin America | 3 |
| LLS 255 | The Latin American Woman in Global Society | 3 |
| LLS 260/HIS 260 | History of Contemporary Cuba | 3 |
| LLS 261/HIS 261 | Revolution and Social Change in Contemporary Latin America | 3 |
| LLS 263/AFR 263/HIS 263 | Blacks in Latin America | 3 |
| LLS 227 | Indigenous Latin America | 3 |
LLS 2XX
| | |
| LLS 341 | Immigrant Rights in the Americas | 3 |
| LLS 343 | Race and Citizenship in the Americas | 3 |
| LLS 356 | Terror and Transitional Justice in Latin America | 3 |
LLS 2XX: Latin American Cultures
Track B: U.S. Latina/os
| LLS 217/SPA 217/DRA 217 | Theater of the Americas Since 1960 | 3 |
| LLS 241 | Latina/os and the City | 3 |
| LLS 247 | Growing Up Latina/Latino | 3 |
| LLS 267/AFR 267/HIS 267 | History of Caribbean Migrations to the United States | 3 |
LLS 2XX
| | |
| LLS 325 | The Latina/o Experience of Criminal Justice | 3 |
| LLS 362 | Entangled Tongues: Bilingualism in U.S. Latino/a Literature | 3 |
| LLS 363 | Illegal Subjects: U.S. Latina/o Literature and the Law | 3 |
| LLS 364 | Ethical Strains in U.S. Latina/o Literature | 3 |
LLS 3XX
| | 3 |
LLS 3XX
| | 3 |
| LLS 401 | Seminar in Latina/o Issues: Gender, Race, Ethnicity and the Legal System | 3 |
LLS 2XX: Public Health Policy in the Americas
LLS 3XX: Latina/os and the Digital Divide, The U.S.-Mexico Border
Total Credit Hours: 12
Part Five. Capstone Experience
Required
LLS 4XX
| Senior Seminar in Latin American and Latina/o Studies | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Six. LLS Honors Option
| LLS 489 | Independent Study 400-level | 3 |
NOTE: Students must qualify for the Honors in LLS to enroll in LLS 489 Independent Honors Project.
Total Credit Hours: 0-3
Total Credit Hours: 33-37