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Latin American Studies
Latin
American Studies is a multidisciplinary major from the academic resources
of the departments of anthropology, art, economics, geography, history,
Chicana/o studies, political science, sociology, Spanish/Portuguese
and women's studies. Its goals are to provide a better understanding of
the cultures and governments of the Western hemisphere and to offer basic
education and training for business or professional careers requiring
an understanding of Latin America.
The Latin American Studies program at SDSU recognizes that the proximity to Latin America may accentuate the differences between the sociocultural systems of the Latin American nations and of the United States. The Program strives to develop a framework in which students can analyze and interpret where Latin America has been, where it is today, and where it will be in the future.
Why Major in Latin American Studies? As a neighboring region, Latin America has always been a crucial area of interest for the United States. In recent years, the region's fundamental importance has been underscored by significant events: military confrontations in Central America, Chiapas, Mexico, and along the border between Peru and Ecuador; the Latin American debt crisis; the "redemocratization" of many of the region's governing systems; NAFTA and regional free trade issues; and by the potential global consequences of the destruction of Latin America's environment. There is great need for trained Latin American specialists in a variety of fields. If you have a strong interest in the peoples and cultures of Latin America, a degree in Latin American Studies could open the door to a challenging and rewarding career as a Latin American specialist.
Program Overview
As preparation for the major, students must achieve competency in either Portuguese or Spanish, which may require the completion of up to six courses. In addition, four other courses must be selected from anthropology, economics, history, Latin American studies, and political science.
At the upper division level, students will select courses from the areas of anthropology, art, Chicana/Chicano studies, economics, geography, history, Latin American studies, political science, Portuguese, sociology, Spanish, or women's studies. At least 11 of the courses must have Latin American content.
Special Features
The Center for Latin American Studies administers the undergraduate and graduate degree programs and sponsors teaching and research activities. The Center offers a minor in Latin American Studies, a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Master of Arts degree, a concurrent Master of Arts and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in collarboration with the College of Business Administration, and a concurrent Master of Arts and Master of Public Health (MPH) in collarboration with the Graduate School of Public Health.
The Center is a nationally designated resource center on Latin America (one of only 13 in the United States). The Center enjoys a national reputation and supplementary federal funding which supports a variety of on-going programs, including the following:
- The Latin American Lecture Series, sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies, brings prominent Latin American academic scholars to campus to speak on a variety of topics.
- The Latin American Film Collection includes over 350 films and videos on such topics as agrarian reform, the changing role of women in Latin America, Indians, revolution, and social change. New films, selected by the Center for Latin American Studies, are added yearly to the collection.
- The Latin American Studies Student Organization (LASSO) is open to all SDSU students with an interest in Latin America. The group sponsors speakers, films, cultural groups, and get-togethers of students at a variety of social events.
- Study abroad permits undergraduate students to study at a university in Mexico or Brazil for a year while they earn academic credit and maintain campus residence. Study abroad for graduate students, while not available for credit, is also encouraged.
- Student internships in Tijuana. Undergraduate and graduate students may earn three units for work in social service agencies, health clinics or businesses.
- A federally funded Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC)
provides opportunities to practice speaking and listening skills in
Spanish, Portuguese, Mixteco, and Nahuatl. A federally funded Center for International
Business Research and Education (CIBER) promotes internationally
focused business training, and sponsors lectures and other activities.
Career Opportunities
A variety of career opportunities exist for Latin American studies graduates. These include the following: employment with state and federal government organizations as area specialists; careers in the private sector, including work with corporations which have a significant share of their activities in Latin America; service with international organizations which seek to improve social welfare and living conditions; and for students with a Master of Arts degree, academic positions are often available in community colleges and universities.
To further explore career options in this field, visit the Career Services Web site.
General Catalog
You can view more complete information regarding the Latin American Studies program in the General Catalog. All students are responsible for reading and knowing the information pertinent to their areas of study available in the General Catalog. It contains requirements for all academic majors, course descriptions, policies, and regulations governing progress at the University. Catalogs are distributed at all Academic Orientation programs. To order a catalog, call (619) 594-7535.
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Latin
American Studies
College of Arts and Letters
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-6038
Email: esaenz@mail.sdsu.edu
Telephone: (619) 594-1103 and (619) 594-1104
Office location: Arts and Letters, 377
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm