Latin American, Latino & Caribbean Studies Advising Guide

Introduction 

Using a multidisciplinary approach, students in the Latin American, Latino and Caribbean studies major study the diverse, multilingual, multiethnic regions of Latin America and the Caribbean and the cultural, linguistic and socio-political characteristics of the Latin American immigrant populations in the United States. Students apply different methods of inquiry from various perspectives and disciplines to gather information, evaluate arguments and analyze complex issues. A total of 11 courses are required for the LALC major as described below. 

Language Requirements

The LALC majors are required to be able to read, write, and understand one of the three main languages used in Latin America and the Caribbean (Spanish, Portuguese or French). For students fulfilling their language requirements for the LALC major at Dickinson, this would mean a minimum of two courses beyond the three-course sequence required for all our students. 

Depending on the specific region or topic of concentration, other languages used in Latin America and the Caribbean may be approved as a substitute for a second language. For example, someone working in the Netherland’s Antilles would study Dutch or a student working in the highlands of Peru may elect to study Quechua or Aymara in non-Dickinson programs.  

In the case of majors who are native speakers of Spanish, Portuguese or French, the language requirement can be waived. This should be done with the permission of the LALC chair in consultation with the appropriate language faculty. In cases where the waiver is granted, the student would take an additional elective to complete the 11 courses required for the major. 

Courses for the LALC Major 

The major requires a total of 11 courses to be distributed as follows: 

LALC 201 

1 additional introductory course  

1 language course as described above 

1 methods course relevant to student’s area of concentration 

4 courses in student’s concentration 

2 electives  

LALC 490-the capstone course where majors carry out research and write a substantial paper 

Of the six courses (4 in the concentration and 2 electives), at least one should be in the humanities and the selection should include courses in three departments. Introductory courses will not count as concentration or elective courses.  

a.   Introductory Courses  

1.          LALC 201,Introduction to Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies (required of all majors) 

2.         AFST 235,Introduction to Caribbean Studies 

3.         AFST 100/200,Introduction to Africana Studies 

4.         AMST 200,Introduction to Latino Studies 

b.         Methods Courses  

1.          AFST 200,Approaches to Africana Studies 

2.         AMST 401,Research Methods in American Studies 

3.         ANTH 240,Qualitative Research Methods 

4.         ANTH 241,Measurement and Quantification in the Social Sciences 

5.         ECON 474,Econometrics 

6.         HIST 204,Introduction to Historical Methodology 

7.         POSC 239,Research Methods in Political Science 

8.         SOCI 240,Qualitative Methods (cross listed with ANTH 240) 

9.         SOCI 244,Quantitative Research Methods (cross listed with ANTH 241) 

10.        SPAN 305,Introduction to Literary Analysis and Theory 

11.        WGST 250,Methods in Women’s and Gender Studies 

c.          LALC Concentration and Elective Courses  

LALC students should select geographic and or thematic concentrations within the major. An example would be a geographical focus on contemporary Mexico who would take HIST 131 (LA History) and POSC 251 (LA Politics), engage in a research project on a Mexican topic approved the LALC advisor, two courses at the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, which would include LALC 202 (Mexican History and Culture) and an additional course on Mexico in another discipline.  

Another example of a thematic concentration would be choosing to study indigenous labor movements in assembly plants; this is a theme that crosses geographical boundaries to possibly include Central and South America, the US-Mexico border region as well as the Caribbean. Students with this type of concentration would be able to select relevant courses in Africana Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science or Sociology. Relevant courses could include ANTH 222 (Contemporary Peoples of Latin America), ECON 236 (Latin American Economics), ECON 349 (Political Economy of the Third World), POSC 251 (Latin American Politics), and POSC 273 (International Political Economy). For other concentrations, courses may be selected from the sciences as well as the humanities. When concentration and elective courses have prerequisites, LALC majors should have satisfied these requirements or received a waiver from the instructor with an approval of the LALC chair. 

LALC 490,Interdisciplinary Research 

This is the capstone course, which consists of research into a topic concerning the region directed by two or more faculty representing at least two disciplines. LALC students must successfully orally defend their research paper to satisfy the requirements for the major. The paper is researched and written in the fall semester for one-half course credit and then defended and revised in the spring semester for the other half credit.  

Study Abroad

LALC majors are strongly urged to study at least one semester in an abroad program relevant to their concentration, and whenever possible the majors should consider an entire year abroad.  Preference is given to the Dickinson Program in Querétaro in Mexico followed by the partner programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina and São Paulo, Brazil. Only when a Dickinson or a partner program does not meet the needs of the concentration should non-Dickinson programs be considered. LALC 202-Mexican Culture and History is taught as part of Dickinson’s Program in Querétaro and is required for all participants. 

Planning the Major

The LALC majors should plan on working with two faculty advisors and the major chairperson. Of the two faculty advisors, one should be the principal concentration advisor who will plan the courses with the student and in consultation with other relevant faculty. A file will be kept on each major to be reviewed every semester to make sure that all requirements are being met. 

Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies Minor

Course descriptions, requirements for the major refer to the College Bulletin: Latin American Studies.