Overview
Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary program that combines subject matter from several academic disciplines to give students a broad background in the languages and the historical, political, social, cultural, economic, and geographic aspects of Latin America.
Our minor in Latin American Studies introduces you to the peoples, places, and histories of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking America. In addition to studying with faculty who have conducted extensive research in Latin America, you are encouraged to gain your own experiences in places like Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico, and Dominica.
Considering Latin America’s continued political importance to the United States, and the growing Latino population in the U.S., this is an eminently useful degree to pair with a major in a number of disciplines that will be increasingly eager to employ individuals with a sound knowledge of Latin America’s peoples and traditions in the years to come.
Curricular Requirements
The Latin American Studies Minor at the University of New England consists of 18 credits (six (6) three-credit courses) and a recommended experience in Latin America. Study will be in disciplines such as foreign language, sociology, history, and political science. Two courses are required from two different disciplines. Students will choose four (4) additional courses from the list of electives below.
| Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| SPA 211 – Intermediate Spanish | 3 |
| SOC 230 – Society in Latin America | 3 |
| Total | 6 |
| Four (4) Elective Courses | Credits |
| ANT 231 – Anthropology of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| HIS 240 – Latin American History I: Colonial Latin America | 3 |
| HIS 241 – Latin American History II: Contemporary Latin America | 3 |
| HIS 252 – Gender in Latin American History | 3 |
| HIS 316 – Rebels and Revolutions in Latin America | 3 |
| SPA 101 – Basic Spanish | 3 |
| SPA 306 – Spanish for the Medical Professions | 3 |
| SOC 310 – Population, Society, and Culture | 3 |
| SOC 331 – Latin American Society and Culture Through La Cinema | 3 |
| PSC 405 – Politics of Latin American | 3 |
| PSC 406 – Society and State Relations in Third World Countries | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Total Required Credits | 18 |
Courses in Latin American Studies can also be taken through the Greater Portland Alliance. Additionally, some courses from UNE study abroad programs in Latin America and Spain can be substituted for the minor. Discussions about course substitutions should be initiated by the director of Latin American Studies Minor.
Latin American Experience
All students are expected to engage in at least a short-term intensive (Global Citizenship) or study abroad experience in Latin America. These are approved, as are substitutions, by the LAS program coordinator.
Indigenous Weavers of Peru
The indigenous peoples of the Andes are some the world’s master weavers. This 2013 video showcases Roxana Cusicuna, a traditional weaver from the Chincheros cooperative near Cusco, Peru. Filmed by UNE student Erik Nelson, the video was part of a demonstration that these native weavers teach to UNE students, including the making of the yarns from llamas and alpacas, the cleansing and dying of the yarns by natural ingredients found in the Andes mountains, and the intricate patterns that take months to weave by these virtuoso weavers. UNE students have the opportunity to learn more about these weavers and Peru as part of Global Citizenship Peru. This class fulfills UNE’s Citizenship core requirement.