Latino/a and Latin American Studies
Overview
The Latino/a and Latin American Studies (LLAS) major offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the societies and cultures of Latin America and the Latino and Chicano experience in the United States. By extending the study of "Latin America" beyond the geopolitical borders of the region to include the Caribbean and the United States, the major emphasizes the importance of migrations, interethnic interactions, and cultural exchanges of Indigenous, European, African, and Asian peoples throughout the Americas. The LLAS program engages students with a variety of perspectives on the socio-political complexities and cultural traditions of the Americas, and the historical development of unique regional societies and cultures. The transnational perspective of our curriculum distinguishes the LLAS major from more traditional area studies programs.
Students in the major develop proficiency in Spanish and take courses from a broad range of academic disciplines and departments, including history, Spanish, sociology, English, music, politics, economics, psychology, and education. LLAS majors are strongly encouraged to participate in study abroad and summer research programs in Latin America or Spain. Our program also encourages students to engage in community-based learning through the different activities available in the Latino and Latin American communities that are integral to the city of Los Angeles. The major prepares students for graduate school as well as for a variety of career paths, including community organizing, social work, education, public history (museums and cultural centers), government, law, public service, and business.
Major Requirements
COURSEWORK
The Latino/a and Latin American Studies Major requires 44 units (or 11 courses). The course distribution requirements are: LLAS 101, two classes on Latin America, two classes on U.S. Latinx, four additional electives from any of the courses listed below, LLAS 490, and either SPAN 202 or SPAN 211.
Introductory Course
| LLAS 101 | Introduction to Latina/o and Latin American Studies | 4 units |
Language Proficiency
Students must complete one of the following:
Latin American Studies Courses
Students must complete two courses on Latin America selected from the list below:
U.S. Latinx courses:
Students must complete two courses on U.S. Latinx selected from the list below:
Senior Seminar
Electives
Four additional electives from any subject area listed above. At least one such elective must be at the 300-level (to satisfy the College's Second-Stage Writing Requirement).
Second-Stage Writing Requirement
LLAS majors satisfy Occidental College's Second-Stage Writing Requirement by earning the grade of B- or better in any 300-level LLAS course or a course cross-listed with LLAS that is writing intensive (and in which writing is in English). Students are expected to complete this graduation requirement before the beginning of their senior year.
Comprehensive Requirement
To satisfy the comprehensive requirement students will produce a senior thesis in the Senior Seminar. Declared majors propose the topic of their thesis before the end of their junior year. The thesis is a research-based essay of approximately 30 pages integrating both primary and secondary source materials. Successful completion of the senior thesis along with a public presentation of it in the spring semester will satisfy the LLAS comprehensive requirement.
Minor Requirements
To complete the LLAS minor, five courses (20 units) are required in the following distribution: LLAS 101 plus four LLAS electives selected from any of the courses above.
Transfer Credit Policies
The Latino/a and Latin American Studies program policy on transfer credit conforms to College Policy. Courses that address topics central to Latino/a and Latin American Studies approved for transfer by the appropriate department or program will be considered to apply toward the Latino/a and Latin American Studies major and minor. Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details.
Courses
Latino/a and Latin American Studies Courses
Faculty
Regular Faculty
Dolores Trevizo, chair
Professor, Sociology
A.B., Occidental College; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Advisory Committee
Raul Villa
Professor, English
B.A., Yale University; M.A., University of Michigan; Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz
Affiliated Faculty
Elizabeth Braker
Professor, Biology
B.A., Colorado College; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Lan T. Chu
Associate Professor, Diplomacy and World Affairs
B.A., M.A., New York University; Ph.D., George Washington University
Salvador Fernández
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Professor, Spanish and French Studies
B.A., University of California, Riverside; M.A., Indiana University; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Mary J. Lopez
Professor, Economics
B.A., University of California, Riverside; M.A., Ph.D., University of Notre Dame
Richard Mora
Associate Professor, Sociology
B.A., Harvard College (Sociology); M.A., University of Michigan (Education); M.A., Harvard University (Sociology); Ph.D., Harvard University (Sociology & Social Policy)
Jennifer Piscopo
Assistant Professor, Politics
B.A., Wellesley; M.Phil., University of Cambridge; Ph.D., University of California, San Diego
Michael Shelton
Associate Professor, Spanish and French Studies; Cognitive Science
B.S., St. Cloud State University; M.A., Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Ronald Solórzano
Professor, Education
B.S., M.Ed., Loyola Marymount University; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Lisa Sousa
Professor, History
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles