Latin American, Latino & Caribbean Studies Curriculum

Major

LALC 201
One additional introductory course (AFST 235, AFST 100, AFST 200, AMST 200)
One language course above the intermediate level in one of the three main
languages of the area (Spanish or French or another regional language approved by the department)
One methods course relevant to area of concentration (geographic or
thematic) (AFST 200, AMST 401, ANTH 240 or 241, ECON 474, HIST 204, POSC 239, SOCI 240 or 244, SPAN 305, WGST 250)
Four courses in area of concentration
Two electives
LALC 490-the capstone course
Of the six courses (four in the concentration and two 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.

Minor

Six courses:
(Students will be encouraged to follow a concentration.)
LALC 201
Five courses approved by LALC in at least three different departments

Suggested Four Year Program

First Year: Spanish, Portuguese or French language, or another regional language approved by the department); LALC 201
Second Year: SPAN P 232 or 232 or PORT 231 or FREN 230, or another regional language at the intermediate level; LALC courses
Third Year: LALC courses; Spring semester, Dickinson in Mexico Program at the University of Querétaro or another approved non-Dickinson program
Fourth Year: LALC 490; Research Paper

NOTE: Specific LALC courses are dependent upon the student's area of concentration.

Independent Study

Independent Studies on LALC topics in the Departments of Political Science, Anthropology, Spanish and Portuguese, Religion, Philosophy, History, Economics, Art & Art History, or any other academic department that may be able to offer such instruction, with prior approval from the candidate's program supervisor.

Opportunities for Off-Campus Study

The Dickinson in Mexico Program at the University of Querétaro is an integral part of the LALC major at the college. This is a spring semester program. Students who participate in other off-campus programs approved by the college's Dean of International Education may petition the Committee of Contributing Faculty to have a maximum of three Latin American courses taken in said programs applied to the requirements stated above.

Information regarding other approved non-Dickinson programs which may be appropriate for LALC majors is available through the Office of Global Education.

Courses

• 201 Introduction to Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies
  A multi-disciplinary, introductory course designed to familiarize students with Latin American societies through a study of their history, economics, politics, literature, and culture. The purpose of the course is to provide a framework or overview to enhance understanding in the students' future courses in particular disciplines and specific areas of Latin American study.
  Required of all LALC majors. This course fulfills the Comparative Civilizations graduation requirement.

• 490 Interdisciplinary Research
  Research into a topic concerning Latin America directed by two or more faculty representing at least two disciplines. Students must successfully defend their research paper to obtain course credit. 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.
  Prerequisite: senior majors.

The following course is offered in Querétaro:

• 202 Mexican Culture and History
  This course is an examination of the cultural, economic, and political history of Mexico designed to provide an understanding of the complexities of modern Mexican society. Students will examine pre-Hispanic cultures, the colonial era, Mexican independence from Spain, the revolution, 20th century political parties, the sexual revolution, current economic inequality, ethnic and linguistic diversity, and the conflict in Chiapas. Special emphasis will be placed on the history of the state of Querétaro in relation to the Mexican nation. Class trips will be made to selected areas of Mexico that are of archaeological, cultural and historical significance.
  This course fulfills the DIV II social sciences distribution requirment and WR graduation requirement.