Latin American and Latina/o Studies, Bachelor of Arts

The Latin American and Latina/o Studies major draws on various social science disciplines, such as sociology, political science, anthropology and economics, as well as on disciplines in the humanities, including history, literature and the arts. By integrating these varied disciplines in the LLS courses, this major is designed to ensure that students will have both a comprehensive foundational and interdisciplinary knowledge of Latin American and Latina/o Studies and a specialization in either Latin American Studies or Latina/o Studies.

Learning outcomes. Students will:

• Understand the interdisciplinary nature of the study of Latin America and of Latina/o communities in the U.S.
• Integrate the fields of Latin American Studies and Latina/o Studies to develop a deep understanding of the relationship between the social, economic, cultural, and political processes of Latin America and the development in the U.S. of communities of persons of Latin American origin or descent.
• Grasp the relationship between the lives of individuals and the course of history, how one’s life intersects with larger social, political, and economic forces.
• Appreciate the history of Latin America and that of Latina/os in the U.S. as they struggle for justice and human dignity in the face of persistent structures of injustice, inequality, and the abuse of power.
• Think critically and evaluate contrasting texts, narratives, and discourses relevant to the diverse cultures of Latin America and U.S. Latina/o communities.
• Carry out a research project (fieldwork-based or library-based) that includes formulating and justifying a research question, collecting and analyzing data, and articulating conclusions.
• Communicate research results in various formats, including written and oral presentation.
• Possess cultural competency, the ability to work successfully in a variety of culturally diverse settings and to analyze, contextualize and interpret culture/cultural behaviors and beliefs.

Credits Required.

Prerequisites. Depending on foreign language placement, students may have to complete the 101-102 (or 111-112) language sequence as prerequisites for the 200-level Spanish or Portuguese requirement. The 101 (or 111) course satisfies the Flexible Core: World Cultures and Global Issues category and the 102 (or 112) course satisfies the College Option: Communications category of the Gen Ed program.

Professor Isabel Martinez, Department of Latin American and Latina/o Studies (212-237-8674, imartinez@jjay.cuny.edu)

Advising resources. Sample Four-year Plan of Study

Total Credit Hours: 33-40