Course Descriptions : Academic Bulletin

LATS–L 101 Introduction to Latino Studies (3 cr.) S & H, CSA General inquiry into the historical and cultural heritage of Latinos who have lived or currently live in what is today the United States. Through readings and discussions, the course studies the varied histories of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and other Latin American peoples in the United States.

LATS–L 102 Introduction to Latino History (3 cr.) S & H, CSA An introduction and overview of Latino issues beginning with a brief examination of the histories of the major Latino national groups of origin in the United States. Most of the course will examine a number of topics and issues that are key to understanding contemporary Latinos, e.g., immigration, language, education and employment.

LATS–L 103 Introduction to Latino Cultures (3 cr.) S & H, CSA Introduces students to cultural diversity, histories, and experiences of Latinos in the United States. Survey course mapping general issues pertaining to these communities and explores specific questions regarding diverse Latino cultural groups. We will consider different kinds of media including ethnographic essays, cultural analysis, film, music, and dance.

LATS–L 104 Latinas in the United States (3 cr.) S & H, CSA Focuses on the experiences of Latinas, women of Latin American heritage in the United States. Although many believe Latinas arrived only recently, thousands of Latinas can trace their ancestry in territories that later became part of the United States as early as the sixteenth century. Examines how Latinas’ experiences and cultural expressions are shaped by intersections of race, gender, and class.

LATS–L 105 Diversity by the Numbers (3 cr.) N & M Introduces methods used by social scientists to produce statistics such as averages, proportions, rates, probabilities, standard deviation, variance, and correlations. With these quantitative tools, students will use an existing database to analyze, produce, and present their own projects about the Hispanic population in the United States. By learning to read, interpret, evaluate, and produce graphical information and statistics on Latinos, students will be able to build on each other's work to create a more systematic analysis of the complexities of the Latino population.

LATS–L 111 Latino Film: An Introduction and Overview (3 cr.) S & H, CSA This course examines U.S. films by and/or about Hispanics and Latinos/as (i.e., Mexican-American/ Chicano, Puerto Rican/Boricua, and Cuban-American). Throughout the semester, we will explore the complex relationship between the constructions of Latino/a identities, Latino/a stereotypes, and the circumstances which Latinos encounter in the U.S. as portrayed in film.

LATS–L 301 Latino Immigrants in United States Society (3 cr.) S & H, CSA Examines Latino immigrants to the United States with a focus on the frequent conflict between these immigrants and various institutions and segments of United States society.

LATS–L 302 Latinos in the Media (3 cr.) S & H, CSA Explores the complex relationship between mainstream media constructions of Hispanics and the Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban migrations to the United States.

LATS–L 303 The Latino Family (3 cr.) S & H, CSA Examines the Latino family as a social system in the U.S. Begins with an examination of how scholars approach the study of the Latino family. Also includes such topics as diversity of Latino families, marital patterns, gender roles, the status of Latino youth, social network, education, rituals based on social class, and representations in the media.

LATS–L 304 Gender and Migration from the Caribbean (3 cr.) Examines the immigration of Caribbean ethnic communities to the United States, as well as to other Caribbean islands, in order to study how gender relations and identities develop in a transnational context.

LATS–L 325 Latinos on the Internet (3 cr.) CSA An intensive inventory, analysis, and critique of Latino-oriented Web-based materials as well as materials targeted to the general population to discover how well they suit the needs and preferences of the Latino population and how they might be improved.

LATS–L 380 Latino Education across the Americas (3 cr.) S & H, CSA Overview of important patterns and issues in Latino education. Includes study of major Latin American educational trends and traditions. Focus on the cultural contexts of Latino education; challenges faced by Latinos in contemporary U.S. schools; and strategies for improving Latino educational achievement. Credit not given for both L380 and EDUC H380.

LATS–L 396 Social and Historical Topics in Latino Studies (3 cr.) S & H, CSA Study of historical and current issues affecting Latino communities and Latino integration into U.S. mainstream society. Topics may vary. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

LATS–L 398 Arts and Humanities Topics in Latino Studies (3 cr.) A & H, CSA Examination of literature, art, music, performance, and other forms of aesthetic expression pertaining to the study and understanding of Latinos. Topics may vary. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

LATS–L 490 Individual Reading in Latino Studies (1–3 cr.) P: Consent of department. Intensive study of selected authors and/or topics. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin 2010-2011