Latin American Studies, Minor (408)
Dr. Marc Eagle
Cherry Hall, Office 214B
Phone: (270) 745-7026
Email: Marc.Eagle@wku.edu
There are many potential reasons to study Latin America, from a personal love of Latin American music and dance to the professional advantages it can provide after graduation. Latin American and Caribbean countries have historically been closely involved with the U.S. both politically and economically. With the advent of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, Mexico is an ever more important trading partner, and the U.S. continues to seek additional trade agreements throughout the region. Countries like Brazil are playing an increasingly important role in the world economy. Developments in Latin American countries also affect the U.S. directly, and understanding Latin American issues is the key to creating informed policies that can benefit the entire hemisphere. Hispanics are now the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the U.S., so that Latin American culture has become a vital part of the diverse society of this country. Finally, Latin America is an exciting place to study; your experiences with the music, film, food, sports, and people of the region will remain with you for your entire life.
Program Requirements (21 hours)
The minor in Latin American studies requires a minimum of 21 semester hours. Latin American Society: Past and Present (cross-listed as GEOG 200, HIST 200, and SPAN 200) is required of students taking the minor. At least three departments must be represented among the remaining 18 hours. Completion of one year of college Spanish or Portuguese or its equivalent is an additional requirement.
Latin American Society: Past and Present. 3 hours. (Required) (equivalent to GEOG 200, HIST 200, and SPAN 200). The course is a broad, interdisciplinary introduction to the study of Latin America, emphasizing its regions, peoples and cultures. (Colonnade Connections SB course - 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status required). Meets Category E General Education requirement for students enrolled with a catalog term prior to Fall 2014.
Approved Courses for the Latin American Studies Minor are:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH/FLK 340 | Peoples and Cultures of Latin America | 3 |
| ANTH/FLK 342 | Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean | 3 |
| GEOG 462 | 3 | |
| PS 362 | Latin American Government and Politics | 3 |
| HIST 364 | Colonial Latin America, 1400-1825 | 3 |
| HIST 365 | Modern Latin America, 1800-Present | 3 |
| HIST 464 | Latin America and the United States | 3 |
| HIST 465 | The Mexican Republic | 3 |
| SPAN 201 | Intermediate Spanish I | 3 |
| SPAN 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| SPAN 370 | Spanish Conversation | 3 |
| SPAN 371 | Spanish Composition and Grammar | 3 |
| SPAN 376 | Literature and Culture of Latin America | 3 |
| SPAN 470 | Advanced Oral Spanish | 3 |
| SPAN 471 | Advanced Spanish Composition | 3 |
| SPAN 490 | Hispanic Cinema | 3 |
Interested students should consult the program advisors. Other courses with Latin American content can be substituted in the minor with the approval of the faculty advisors.