LALS - Latin Amer - Latino Stu (LALS)

This course is divided into three periods: the Pre-Columbian and the Encounter, the Colonial period and the post-independence period historical. Its focus is on the political, cultural and social formations, the impact of the encounter between Europeans and the indigenous peoples, the colonial, post independence and contemporary periods. Some of the themes of our inquiry are: indigenous culture, conquest and colonialism, nationalism, cultural expressions, hierarchies of class and caste, social movements, religions, migration, cultural formations, globalization and transnationalism, and race and ethnicity.

The course explores the personal, political, historical and sacred being of Latinas/Latinos in the United States from the perspective of a theory of transformation. Particular attention is given to the struggle of Latinas and Latinos with the inherited stories of their cultural past and present and the conflict between their heritage and the dominant stories of our wider society. It intends to provide an understanding of the Latino people in our midst creating cultures and communities in the United States.

Survey of the development of the New World empires of Spain and Portugal from Pre-Columbian times through independence.

Evolution of societies and nation states from the 1820s to independence.

The issues facing Latinos/Latinas in the United States and an exploration of the reasons for powerlessness in this large, diversified population. Students come to understand the process of comunalization and how it relates to politicalization.

Basic forces conditioning the politics of the area. The variety of governmental structures and party systems in Mexico, South and Central America.

Topics are chosen by the Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies faculty. Through lectures, discussion of readings, written assignments and other means, students explore a special topic in the field of Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies.

Topics are chosen by the Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies faculty. Through lectures, discussion of readings, written assignments and other means, students explore a special topic in the field of Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies.

Topics are chosen by the Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies faculty. Through lectures, discussion of readings, written assignments and other means, students explore a special topic in the field of Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies.

A survey of the literature written by Latina/Latino authors in the United States. Reading materials, class discussions, exams, and term papers will be in English, but Spanish majors and minors, and native Spanish speakers will be encouraged to write in Spanish, and read Spanish translations when available.

The course traces the history of the Latino presence in U.S. filmmaking from the silent era, through the first Spanish language talkies produced in the U.S., to the films of today including both features and documentaries. The centrality of the question of Latino political power (or the historical lack thereof) will also be examined. We will closely study historical, social and aesthetic aspects of each movie discussed.

Topics are chosen by the Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies faculty. Through lectures, discussion of readings, written assignments and other means, students explore a special topic in the field of Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies.

Topics are chosen by the Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies faculty. Through lectures, discussion of readings, written assignments and other means, students explore a special topic in the field of Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies.

Students are placed in employment settings where they apply their theoretical knowledge and research skills to the practical demands of the workplace. Supervision is provided both by the employing agency and by a faculty advisor.

This course provides the capstone experience for Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies majors. In this course, students will critically engage the history of area studies, in particular the interdisciplinary field of Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies and contextualize this history in our contemporary globalized present. This course will merge the humanities and social sciences tracks of the major under the rubric of critical theory.