College Schools, Departments & Programs

Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Course Descriptions

The following courses may be complemented by offerings related to Latin America and the Caribbean in other departments.

  • LTAM-C 101 Elementary Haitian Creole I (4 cr.) Introduction to Haitian Creole, the vernacular language of Haiti spoken by over 9 million people; conversational drills, grammatical explanations and exercises, listening comprehension training, aspects of Haitian culture.
  • LTAM-C 102 Elementary Haitian Creole II (4 cr.) P: Grade of C or higher in C101 or equivalent proficiency. Focus on reading non-specialized texts and learning about the rich, African-based folk culture and religion of the world’s first black republic.
  • LTAM-C 201 Intermediate Haitian Creole I (3 cr.) P: Grade of C or higher in C102 or equivalent proficiency. Builds on skills acquired in C102 with the aim of improving conversational fluency and the ability to read nonspecialized texts.
  • LTAM-C 202 Intermediate Haitian Creole II (3 cr.) P: Grade of C or higher in C201 or equivalent proficiency. Focus on expanding and refining conversational skills, reading and writing more specialized texts, and increased knowledge of Haitian culture and history.
  • LTAM-L 200 Topics in Latin American Studies (3 cr.) An introduction to different aspects of Latin American and/or Caribbean cultures and societies. Focuses on one country or region, which will vary. All readings in English. May be repeated with a different focus (country or region) for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • LTAM-L 210 The Latin American Experience (3 cr.) Introduction to Latin America: geography, heritage, and process from pre-Columbian civilizations to colonies and nations.
  • LTAM-L 211 Contemporary Problems in Latin America (3 cr.) Introduction to pertinent problems of twentieth-century Latin America, such as industrialization, urbanization, revolution, and self-expression.
  • LTAM-L 275 Altered States: Spirituality, Power, Healing (3 cr.) Explores the meanings and practices of altering consciousness, also known as "shamanism," in relation to spirituality and spiritualism and to health and healing of individuals and communities. Considers ethnographic and historical contexts throughout the Americas, with a focus on Latin American cultures, especially Maya, Huichol, Andean, Mestizo, and Mapuche.
  • LTAM-L 280 Indigenous Rights, Politics, and Histories in Latin America (3 cr.) Explores indigenous rights, politics and culture in the contexts of globalization, colonialism and neo-liberalism, focusing on Latin American indigenous peoples in Guatemala, México, and the Andes. Uses comparative and historical perspectives to examine how indigenous peoples have sought to attain human rights for their individual and collective selves as cultures and communities.
  • LTAM-L 403 Contemporary Central America (3 cr.) Analyzes the contemporary conflicts in Central America by placing them in historical perspective. Includes such topics as the relation between socioeconomic structures and politics, the impact of World War II and agro-export development, agrarian reform, revolution, democratization, and relations with the United States.
  • LTAM-L 426 Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (1-3 cr.) Intensive study and analysis of selected Latin American and Caribbean problems of limited scope within an interdisciplinary format. Topics will vary but will ordinarily cut across fields, regions, or periods. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 9 credit hours.
  • LTAM-M 101 Elementary Maya I (4 cr.) Introduction to Maya language and culture. Maya is an indigenous language of Mexico spoken by close to 1 million people; basic grammatical structure and vocabulary; conversational drills; and lessons on historical and cultural context.
  • LTAM-M 102 Elementary Maya II (4 cr.) P: Grade of C or higher in M101 or equivalent proficiency. The second semester of Maya emphasizes vocabulary-building, simple conversation, beginning writing, and common grammatical patterns.
  • LTAM-M 201 Intermediate Maya I (3 cr.) P: Grade of C or higher in M102 or equivalent proficiency. Development of listening and comprehension skills. More complex grammatical constructions. Deepens understanding of Mayan culture.
  • LTAM-M 202 Intermediate Maya II (3 cr.) P: Grade of C or higher in M201 or equivalent proficiency. Development of conversation skills. Reading and writing practice using contemporary Maya orthography. Exploration of Mayan culture and history.
  • LTAM-Q 101 Elementary Quechua I (4 cr.) Introduction to Quechua, spoken by over 13 million people across the Andean Nation of South America; basic grammar and vocabulary; an introduction to the culture and history of the Andean region.
  • LTAM-Q 102 Elementary Quechua II (4 cr.) P: Grade of C or higher in Q101 or equivalent. Builds on the basic vocabulary and grammar lessons of Q101 and introduces further aspects of Andean culture and history.
  • LTAM-Q 201 Intermediate Quechua I (3 cr.) P: Grade of C or higher in Q102 or equivalent proficiency. Focuses on more advanced grammatical constructions, vocabulary building, conversational drills, reading and writing Quechua texts.
  • LTAM-Q 202 Intermediate Quechua II (3 cr.) P: Grade of C or higher in Q201 or equivalent. Focus on refining conversational skills, practicing more extensive reading and writing of Quechua texts and increased knowledge of the Andean region.
  • LTAM-X 390 Individual Study of a Latin American and Caribbean Language (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Advanced study in one of the less commonly taught languages of Latin America or the Caribbean. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X390 and L327.
  • LTAM-X 490 Undergraduate Readings in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (1-3 cr.) Designed to accommodate a student’s individual interest in those thematic or regional areas in which courses are not offered but in which professors have expertise. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X490 and L495.