Latin American Studies
Steven Byrd, Ph.D.
Professor, School of Arts and Humanities
sbyrd@une.edu
Curricular Requirements
The Latin American Studies Minor at the University of New England consists of six (6) three (3)-credit courses and a recommended experience in Latin America. Study will be in disciplines such as foreign language, sociology, history, and political science. Two (2) courses are required from two (2) different disciplines. Students will choose four (4) additional courses from the list of electives below.
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| SPA 211 – Intermediate Spanish | 3 |
| SOC 230 – Society in Latin America | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 |
| Select Four (4) Electives from the Following: | 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 Credits | 12 |
| Minimum 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.
Learning Outcomes
Develop conversational, grammatical, reading, and writing proficiency in Spanish.
- At the end of the program students will be able to:
- Engage in conversation, provide and obtain information, express feelings, and exchange opinions
- Comprehend and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics
- Present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners on a variety of topics
Expand historical and cultural awareness of Latin America and apply it to the study of the region.
- At the end of the program students will have:
- Learned about the basic historical and cultural origins of Latin America, including pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial Latin America
- Gained a perspective on regional cultures, religions, languages, and the arts in Latin America
- Experienced current popular cultures in Latin America in a variety of ways
Develop a basic knowledge about society in Latin America to include the roles of geography, demographics, politics, culture, and media.
- At the end of the program students will have:
- Learned about the social origins of Latin America, including social structures, political and economic developments, and demographics
- Examined the connections between culture and the various dimensions of society
Enhance the ability to think critically about culture, social relations, history, politics, and language in Latin America.
- At the end of this program students will have
- Applied their knowledge base to analyze social problems in Latin America such as poverty and income inequality, environmental degradation, and development
- Increased their ability to integrate disciplines and perspectives using a variety of mediums, methods, and modes of expression
Transfer Credit
Courses completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program. Transferred courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the required courses offered at UNE in order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they may transfer as general electives. All courses completed must be no older than five (5) years.
Other restrictions apply. See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Admissions
See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Financial Information
Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.