Latin American Studies Minor

World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Advisor: Oscar Diaz

The minor in Latin American Studies introduces the student to the cultural diversity and richness of Latin America and its people and can enhance career opportunities and effectiveness in business, government, health care, journalism, law, and social work. The minor requires 18 semester hours. Courses selected must come from at least three different academic departments. Note: All students minoring in Latin American Studies are required to complete SPAN 2105 /GEOG 2105 /ART 2105 /ANTH 2105 /SOC 2105 /PS 2105 Introduction to Latin American Studies. In addition, all students are required to complete Intermediate Portuguese (PORT 2020 ) or Spanish II (SPAN 2020 ) or the equivalent. SPAN 2010 , SPAN 2020 cannot count for both a Spanish major and a Latin American Studies minor. SPAN 2010 and SPAN 2020 may count for the B.A. degree language requirement. Students are encouraged to take more Spanish courses to develop basic conversational fluency or participate in study abroad programs to Latin America.

Language credits may be earned at MTSU or through an approved overseas program or transferred from another accredited college or university. Students may satisfy the language requirement by examination (a placement test), demonstrating a level of competence equivalent to two years of college Spanish or Portuguese. Students whose native language is either Spanish or Portuguese may substitute equivalent competence in English in lieu of this requirement.

Interdisciplinary Minors

Interdisciplinary minors require the student to complete a minimum of 15 to 21 hours from a list of specific courses. Unless otherwise noted, a student may take no more than 6 hours of courses from a single department until he or she surpasses the required minimum number of hours necessary for completing the minor. Exceptions to this rule may be found within the discussions of several of the minors. In most cases, a student is also limited to just 3 hours of credit toward the minor in the same department or discipline in which he or she is taking a major. Students must fulfill all departmental prerequisites for any course within an interdisciplinary minor. In some cases, advisors may approve course substitutions within these program requirements.

Required Courses (6 hours)

SPAN 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours OR
GEOG 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours OR
ART 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours OR
ANTH 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours OR
SOC 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours OR
PS 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours
SPAN 2020 - Intermediate Spanish II 3 credit hours OR
PORT 2020 - Intermediate Portuguese II 3 credit hours

Electives (12 hours)

ANTH 3517 - Peoples and Cultures of Brazil 3 credit hours
ANTH 3518 - Peoples and Cultures of Latin America 3 credit hours
ANTH 3521 - The Archaeology of Mexico and Central America 3 credit hours
ART 3871 - Mesoamerican Art 3 credit hours
ART 3872 - Andean Art 3 credit hours
ART 3880 - Latin American Art 3 credit hours
COMM 2560 - Intercultural Communication 3 credit hours
ECON 4470 - Economic Development of the Third World 3 credit hours
GEOG 3402 - Cultural Geography Field Course 4 credit hours
GEOG 3420 - Latin America in the 21st Century: Challenges, New Opportunities 3 credit hours
HIST 4490 - Mexico and the Caribbean 3 credit hours
HIST 4510 - Aztecs, Incas, and the Spanish Conquest 3 credit hours
HIST 4520 - Latin America: Development, Diaspora, and Drugs 3 credit hours
HUM 3070 - Brazilian Popular Culture 3 credit hours
HUM 3086 - Women’s Voices in Latin American Literatures 3 credit hours
HUM 3500 - Latino Images in U.S. Film 3 credit hours
PORT 2010 - Intermediate Portuguese I 3 credit hours
PORT 2020 - Intermediate Portuguese II 3 credit hours
PS 3210 - International Relations 3 credit hours
PS 4900 - Latin American Politics 3 credit hours
SPAN 2010 - Intermediate Spanish I 3 credit hours
SPAN 2020 - Intermediate Spanish II 3 credit hours
SPAN 3060 - Introduction to Hispanic Culture 3 credit hours
SPAN 3070 - Introduction to Latin American Civilizations and Cultures 3 credit hours
SPAN 4040 - Latin American Literature I 3 credit hours
SPAN 4045 - Topics in Hispanic Cinema 3 credit hours
SPAN 4050 - Latin American Literature II 3 credit hours
SPAN 4090 - Special Topics in Latin American Literature or Culture 3 credit hours
SPAN 4910 - Directed Readings in Latin American Literature and Culture 1 to 6 credit hours

NOTE:

Directed readings or special topics in any pertinent department may be pursued with prior approval of the instructor involved and the Latin American Studies advisor.