Department Website: http://clas.uchicago.edu

Program of Study

Students who major in Latin American Studies gain a thorough grounding in selected aspects of Latin American societies, cultures, histories, politics, and economics through one or more of the social sciences as they deal with Latin American materials, and through competence in Spanish or Portuguese (an added intellectual asset). The BA program in Latin American Studies can provide an appropriate background for careers in business, journalism, government, teaching, or the nonprofit sector, or for graduate studies in one of the social sciences disciplines. Students who are more interested in the languages and/or literatures of Latin America may wish to consider the major in Romance Languages and Literatures. Students in other fields of study may also complete a minor in Latin American Studies. Information follows the description of the major.

Application to the Program

Students who plan to apply for the major in Latin American Studies should follow the guidelines below. An informational meeting is held each spring to describe the program and its requirements, as well as to explain and facilitate the application process.

  1. As early as possible in their studies and in consultation with their College adviser and the Student Affairs Administrator, students should prepare a preliminary plan of study that would meet program requirements.
  2. In the Autumn Quarter of their fourth year, students should choose a suitable faculty adviser to supervise the development of their BA essay project.
  3. Students must then submit an application with a Third-Year Statement to the program adviser for approval. This statement is a brief proposal for their BA essay that identifies their research topic and includes a list of proposed summer readings that are relevant to the BA essay project. The deadline for submission of the Third-Year Statement is Monday of ninth week of Spring Quarter. NOTE: Students who plan to study abroad during Spring Quarter of their third year should meet with the Student Affairs Administrator before leaving campus.

Program Requirements

Students who are majoring in Latin American Studies must complete the general education requirement in civilization studies with LACS 16100-16200-16300 Introduction to Latin American Civilization I-II-III or SOSC 24302-24402-24502 Latin American Civilization in Oaxaca I-II-III. Either of these sequences provides an excellent introduction to the program. To meet the language requirement for the major, these students must also complete three courses in second-year Spanish or Portuguese; eligible students may petition for credit. To meet requirements for the specialization in Latin American Studies, students must also take five courses that focus on Latin America or the Caribbean (at least four of the five must be in the social sciences) and two additional courses that cover any social science topic. All students who are majoring in Latin American Studies are required to participate in the BA Colloquium and to submit a BA essay.

As early as possible in their studies, students should obtain a worksheet from the Student Affairs Administrator that will assist them with selecting the five required courses. For a list of approved courses, visit the LACS website or consult with the Student Affairs Administrator.

Depending on whether the student counts two or three Latin American civilization courses toward the general education requirement, the major requires either eleven or twelve courses. Students who use all three quarters of a Latin American civilization sequence to meet the general education requirement will complete an eleven-course major. Students who fulfill the general education requirement with two quarters of the sequence will count the third quarter of the sequence toward the major, for a total of twelve courses in the major.

Students participating in a study abroad program may petition to have courses accepted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the major.

BA Essay

All students who are majoring in Latin American Studies are required to write a BA essay under the supervision of a faculty member. The BA essay is due Friday of seventh week of Spring Quarter of the year of graduation. Registration for a BA essay preparation course (LACS 29900 Preparation of the BA Essay) is optional. Students who do register for LACS 29900 Preparation of the BA Essay may count this course as one of the five they must take dealing with Latin America. The grade students will receive for this course depends on the successful completion of the BA essay.

This program may accept a BA essay project used to satisfy the same requirement in another major if certain conditions are met and with the consent of both program chairs. Students should consult with the chairs by the earliest BA proposal deadline (or by the end of their third year, if neither program publishes a deadline). A consent form, to be signed by both chairs, is available from the College adviser. It must be completed and returned to the College adviser by the end of Autumn Quarter of the student's year of graduation.

BA Colloquium

LACS 29801 BA Colloquium is a yearlong course led by the preceptor and BA adviser. Fourth-year students are required to participate in all three quarters, although they register only once in Autumn Quarter. The colloquium assists students in formulating approaches to the BA essay and developing their research and writing skills, while providing a forum for group discussion and critiques. Graduating students present their BA essays in a public session of the colloquium during Spring Quarter.

Summary of Requirements

GENERAL EDUCATION200
Introduction to Latin American Civilization I-II
Latin American Civilization in Oaxaca I
   and Latin American Civilization in Oaxaca II
Total Units200
MAJOR
One of the following courses if not taken to meet the general education requirement:0-100
Introduction to Latin American Civilization III
Latin American Civilization in Oaxaca III
One of the following sequences: *300
Language, History, and Culture I-II-III
Intermediate Portuguese
   and Advanced Portuguese
   and Curso de Aperfeiçoamento
Five courses dealing with Latin America (four in the social sciences)500
Two courses in the social sciences **200
LACS 29801BA Colloquium100
BA essay
Total Units1100-1200
*

Or credit for the equivalent as determined by petition.

**

These courses must be chosen in consultation with the student affairs administrator.

Grading

Each of the required courses for the Latin American Studies major must be taken for a quality grade.

Honors

Students who have done exceptionally well in their course work and on their BA essay are considered for honors. Candidates must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher overall and 3.25 or higher in the major.

Minor Program in Latin American Studies

The minor program in Latin American Studies provides students majoring in other disciplines the opportunity to become familiar with selected aspects of Latin American societies, cultures, histories, politics, and economics through one or more of the social sciences as they deal with Latin American materials, and one or more major language of the region. It can provide an appropriate cultural background for careers in business, journalism, government, teaching, or the nonprofit sector, or for graduate studies in one of the social sciences. The course of study is designed to be flexible so as to serve students in the humanities, social sciences, biological sciences, and physical sciences. The minor, which can be completed in one year, requires five to six courses, depending on how the student meets the general education requirement in civilization studies.

No courses in the minor can be double counted with the student's major(s) or with other minors, nor can they be counted toward general education requirements. They must be taken for quality grades and more than half of the requirements for the minor must be met by registering for courses bearing University of Chicago course numbers.

Students must complete the general education requirement in civilization studies with LACS 16100-16200-16300 Introduction to Latin American Civilization I-II-III or SOSC 24302-24402-24502 Latin American Civilization in Oaxaca I-II-III. Students who use all three quarters of a Latin American civilization sequence to meet the general education requirement will complete a five-course minor. Students who meet the general education requirement with two quarters of the civilization sequence will count the third quarter of the sequence toward the minor, for a six-course minor.

The minor requires two courses in Spanish or Portuguese at the level of the second year or beyond. Credit may be granted by petition for one of these courses. The minor also requires three Latin American content courses.

Students must submit a research paper treating a Latin American topic for one of their Latin American content courses. The research paper is of intermediate length (ten to fifteen pages) in a course with Latin American content. Each student is responsible for making appropriate arrangements with the faculty member. Completion of the course research paper must be demonstrated to the program adviser in Latin American Studies.

Students who elect the minor program should meet with the program adviser in Latin American Studies before the end of Spring Quarter of their third year to declare their intention to complete the program. The program adviser's approval for the minor must be submitted to the student's College adviser, on a form obtained from the College adviser, no later than the end of the student's third year.

Summary of Requirements: Minor Program in Latin American Studies

One of the following if not taken to meet the general education requirement:0-100
Introduction to Latin American Civilization III
Latin American Civilization in Oaxaca III
One of the following sequences: *200
Language, History, and Culture I-II
Intermediate Portuguese; Advanced Portuguese
Three courses dealing with Latin America300
Total Units500-600
*

Eligible students may petition for partial credit (for only one language course).

Courses

The following courses are for reference only. See the Time Schedules for specific offerings. See the Center for Latin American Studies webpage for further information on quarterly offerings.

LACS 16100-16200-16300. Introduction to Latin American Civilization I-II-III.

Taking these courses in sequence is not required. This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies. This sequence is offered every year. This course introduces the history and cultures of Latin America (e.g., Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean Islands).

LACS 16100. Introduction to Latin American Civilization I. 100 Units.

Autumn Quarter examines the origins of civilizations in Latin America with a focus on the political, social, and cultural features of the major pre-Columbian civilizations of the Maya, Inca, and Aztec. The quarter concludes with an analysis of the Spanish and Portuguese conquest, and the construction of colonial societies in Latin America.

Instructor(s): R. Granados-Salinas, R. Gutiérrez     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): ANTH 23101,CRES 16101,HIST 16101,HIST 36101,LACS 34600,SOSC 26100

LACS 16200. Introduction to Latin American Civilization II. 100 Units.

Winter Quarter addresses the evolution of colonial societies, the wars of independence, and the emergence of Latin American nation-states in the changing international context of the nineteenth century.

Instructor(s): M. Tenorio     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): ANTH 23102,CRES 16102,HIST 16102,HIST 36102,LACS 34700,SOSC 26200

LACS 16300. Introduction to Latin American Civilization III. 100 Units.

Spring Quarter focuses on the twentieth century, with special emphasis on the challenges of economic, political, and social development in the region.

Instructor(s): D. Borges     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): ANTH 23103,CRES 16103,HIST 16103,HIST 36103,LACS 34800,SOSC 26300

LACS 16460. Modern Latin American Art. 100 Units.

This course offers an introductory survey of the art of modern Latin America from the first wave of independence in the early 19th century to the present day. Through the study of key artists, movements, and works of art, we will attend to a set of central problems: the formation of collective identities in these new nations; the impact of revolution, dictatorship, and political violence on the development of art in the region; the incorporation of both foreign styles and indigenous traditions; and the shifting definitions of Latin American art. Special emphasis will be placed on developing the skills needed to analyze a wide variety of modern and contemporary art, including painting, sculpture, photography, performance art, and site-specific installations.

Instructor(s): M. Sullivan     Terms Offered: Autumn
Note(s): Students must attend first class to confirm enrollment. This course meets the general education requirement in the dramatic, musical, and visual arts.
Equivalent Course(s): ARTH 16460

LACS 16700. Latin American Art. 100 Units.

This introductory course provides a critical survey of Latin America art from Spanish military conquest of the New World to the development of conceptual art (1521 to ca. 1980). We will learn to observe and describe different kinds of artifacts, made in a broad array of media (painting, sculpture, urban form, photography, engraving, and drawing, among others) to explicate the social context in which they were produced and circulated. By taking into account their constant dialogue with European ideas and models, we will analyze how colonial encounters, national formations, and cultural exchange took place in the region, and how identity, ethnicity, politics, and the sacred have been depicted in different historical moments. No background in art history or in Latin America is required for this course.

Instructor(s): Rosario Granados     Terms Offered: TBD
Equivalent Course(s): ARTH 16600

LACS 17735. The Art of Post-Revolutionary Mexico. 100 Units.

This course surveys the landscape of Mexican art from the eve of the Revolution into the 1940s, exploring the developments, debates, and problems of this particularly rich moment in the history of 20th-century art. Within the context of post-revolutionary society and politics, we will study the production, circulation, and reception of prints, photographs, easel painting, film, and craft, along with the work of the “big three” Mexican muralists. Issues to be addressed include: the formation of new ideas of nation and citizenship, the relationship of artists to the state, the place of the Indian in the new social order, the influence of foreign artists, the incorporation of both old and new media and technologies, and the intersection of gender, class, and national identities. Students will develop their ability to analyze works of art both formally and historically and will learn the fundamentals of art historical research and writing.

Instructor(s): M. Sullivan     Terms Offered: Winter
Note(s): Students must attend first class to confirm enrollment. This course meets the general education requirement in the dramatic, musical, and visual arts.
Equivalent Course(s): ARTH 17735

LACS 21205. From the Non-Object to the End of Art: The South American 1960s. 100 Units.

Beginning with the 1959 publication of the “Neo-Concrete Manifesto” in Rio de Janeiro, this course traces the radical transformations of art objects and artistic practices in South America (especially Brazil and Argentina) over the course of the 1960s. Through the study of both works of art and the writings of artists and critics, we will investigate new definitions of the art object, revolts against existing institutions of art, and the emergence of performance, media, and conceptual art. These developments will be read against social and political changes in the region, including the impasse of mid-century modernization efforts and the rise of repressive dictatorships. We will also look to parallel movements in the United States, asking how we might account for the development of related artistic strategies in distinct socio-historical contexts.

Instructor(s): M. Sullivan     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): ARTH 21205,ARTH 31205,LACS 31205

LACS 22310. Literature and Ideas in the Spanish-Speaking Caribbean: The Nineteenth Century. 100 Units.

In this course we will study some of the main intellectual currents in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean during the nineteenth century and their relationships to the literary production of the period. In particular, we will address the reformulation of ideas of the Enlightenment, liberalism, and philosophical Positivism, both for political reflections upon slavery, colonialism, and projects of national independence and social reform as well as for literary aesthetics. How did predicaments of the Enlightenment come to structure pro-slavery thought? What was the relationship between liberalism and abolitionism? How did philosophical principles related to the development of the natural sciences support or undermine projects of national independence and/or of social emancipation (such as women's and labor rights)? And what did literature have to do with these issues? Among the authors we may study are Francisco de Arango y Parreño, Félix Varela, José Antonio Saco, Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, Condesa de Merlín, Eugenio María de Hostos, Enrique José Varona, José de Jesús Galván, José Martí, and Luisa Capetillo.

Instructor(s): A. Lugo-Ortiz     Terms Offered: Winter
Note(s): Taught in Spanish, with an additional weekly discussion session for graduate students.
Equivalent Course(s): SPAN 22310,LACS 32310,SPAN 32310

LACS 22314. Poesía Novohispana con práctica ecdótica. 100 Units.

The study of poetry written in New Spain, working with manuscripts as well as with "editiones principes."

Instructor(s): M. L. Tenorio     Terms Offered: Autumn
Note(s): Taught in Spanish.
Equivalent Course(s): SPAN 22314,LACS 32314,SPAN 32314

LACS 22501-22502-22503. Elementary Haitian Kreyol I-II-III.

This three-course sequence will provide students with an in-depth study of the Haitian Kreyol language in its modern context, with emphasis on developing students' proficiency in speaking and writing, and in listening and reading comprehension. The course will also provide necessary cultural and historical context.

LACS 22501. Elementary Haitian Kreyol I. 100 Units.


Instructor(s): Lecturer     Terms Offered: Autumn 2014 (tentative)
Equivalent Course(s): LACS 32501

LACS 22502. Elementary Haitian Kreyol II. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): Lecturer     Terms Offered: Winter 2015 (tentative)
Equivalent Course(s): LACS 32502

LACS 22503. Elementary Haitian Kreyol III. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): Lecturer     Terms Offered: Spring 2015 (tentative)
Equivalent Course(s): LACS 32503

LACS 23510. Fin-De-Siècle Haïtien: Frederic Marcelin (1848-1917) 100 Units.

« Toutes les fins de siècle se ressemblent » déclarait un esprit très fin-de-siècle, Karl Joris Huysmans, dans Là-bas (1891). Il faudra se demander s’il en est de même pour toutes les fins de siècle dans toutes les littératures ? Quelle fin de siècle pour la littérature haïtienne qui a produit plusieurs essais historico-anthropologiques, dont De l’égalité des races humaines (1885) d’Anténor Firmin, Les Détracteurs de la race noire et de la république d'Haïti  (1882) et L'Égalité des races (1884) de Louis-Joseph Janvier ? Que dire de la dérobade paradoxale des premiers romanciers haïtiens qui puisaient leur sujet ailleurs que dans la réalité locale ? Le séminaire partira précisément de la publication chez Ollendorff de Thémistocle Épaminondas Labasterre,  en 1901, que l’on considère pour toutes sortes de raisons comme le « premier roman haïtien » écrit par un haïtien, Frédéric Marcelin (1848-1917). Diplomate ayant vécu pendant longtemps à Paris, Marcelin invente, pour ainsi dire, une version haïtienne du réalisme. Il engage théoriquement son discours romanesque dans la représentation du quotidien, il opère un véritable changement de paradigme par rapport à une vieille perception distraite de la fiction. Marcelin publie coup sur coup deux autres romans, La Vengeance de Mama (1902) et Marilisse (1903), qui consomment la rupture de l’écrivain avec le modèle esthétique postcolonial, en prônant une sorte d’indigénisme qui s’impose peu à peu comme la seule aspiration romanesque légitime. On tentera au cours du trimestre d'analyser la naissance du réalisme haïtien en France à la fin du XIXe siècle, en se penchant sur les trois romans de Marcelin qui semblent répondre à trois grands champs : l’histoire de la langue romanesque (invention d’un métissage), l’histoire littéraire (influence et analogie avec le réalisme français) et l’histoire politique (révolutions et mentalités).

Instructor(s): D. Desormeaux     Terms Offered: Autumn
Note(s): Taught in French.
Equivalent Course(s): FREN 23510,FREN 33510,LACS 33510

LACS 24250. A Visual History of Latin American Women. 100 Units.

This undergraduate seminar will analyze both visual and literary images of and by women to show their role in society and the transformations experienced in terms of their civil, political, labor, and reproductive rights. These vignettes, which span from Pre-Colombian times to the present, will be examined from an art-historical perspective, thus providing students with the opportunity to discuss Latin America’s historical context through visual culture.

Instructor(s): Rosario Granados     Terms Offered: TBD
Equivalent Course(s): ARTH 24250,GNSE 24250

LACS 24512-24513-24514. Intermediate Haitian Kreyol I-II-III.

 This three-course sequence will enhance students' understanding of Haitian Kreyol with continued study of the language in its modern context, with emphasis on developing students' proficiency in speaking, writing, listening, and reading comprehension at an intermediate level.

LACS 24512. Intermediate Haitian Kreyol I. 100 Units.


Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): LACS 34512

LACS 24513. Intermediate Haitian Kreyol II. 100 Units.

Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): LACS 34513

LACS 24514. Intermediate Haitian Kreyol III. 100 Units.

Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): LACS 34514

LACS 24801. Literatura y crimen. 100 Units.

The production of crime fiction in the Hispanic literary world has a long tradition that dates back to the mid-nineteenth century and has recently gained critical attention as postmodern literary theories focus on fictional forms that are both popular and self-conscious. This course studies the historical development of the genre in Hispanic letters, as well as its formal and ideological foundations. Authors likely to be discussed include Emilia Pardo Bazán, Jorge Luis Borges, Maria Antònia Oliver, Manuel Vázquez Montalbán, Luisa Valenzuela, Mario Vargas Llosa, Marina Mayoral, Gabriel García Márquez, and Ricardo Piglia.

Instructor(s): M. Santana     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20300 or consent of instructor
Note(s): Taught in Spanish.
Equivalent Course(s): SPAN 24801,LACS 34801,SPAN 34800

LACS 25100. The Social Memory of "Convivencia": Muslims, Jews, and Christians and Historical Nationalism in Contemporary Spain. 100 Units.

Convivencia is a word that describes the multicultural and social environment created by the existence of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish communities in medieval Spain. This course aims to examine both this circumstance and its social memory: how and why contemporary narratives have dealt with this historical issue, usually portrayed as a mirror or a precedent for present day situations in which different religious and cultural communities share the same political and social arena. The course is conceived as a dialogue between the past and the present, between the evidence from remote times and the conflicting perceptions, interpretations, and misconceptions that are built upon this evidence. In so doing, the objective is to address a number of pressing questions regarding the uses and abuses of history, its role as forger of identities, communities, or values, and, more particularly, the difficult relations of contemporary Spain with its own past.

Instructor(s): E. Manzano     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Spanish reading proficiency (preferred for some assigned readings) or reading proficiency in Arabic or Hebrew.
Equivalent Course(s): HIST 26214,HIST 36214,LACS 35100

LACS 27808. Mapping Mexico. 100 Units.

This course scrutinizes the role of maps and mapmaking practices in Mexico. Through the study of ten historical moments, spanning pre-Hispanic, colonial, and modern Mexico, students will be exposed to a diverse set of cartographic conventions that speak to the social, cultural, and political currents undergirding Mexican history. Moving away from positivistic readings where only geometric accuracy and mathematical precision fulfill the most salient qualities of a map, students will explore how through the selection, organization, and codification of geographic information into a pictorial language, cartographers made maps the locus of knowledge and power. Aided by readings on critical cartography, students will gain understanding of how to analytically conceive of a map’s aesthetics and their function within their historical context. This course will take advantage of the Newberry Library’s cartographic collection. A term paper will be due at the end of the quarter.

Instructor(s): J. Lopez     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): ARTH 27808,ARTH 37808,LACS 37808

LACS 27901-27902-27903. Beginning Modern Spoken Yucatec Maya I-II-III.

This sequence is a basic introduction to the modern Yucatec Maya language, an indigenous American language spoken by about 750,000 people in southeastern Mexico. Three consecutive quarters of instruction are intended for students aiming to achieve basic and intermediate proficiency. Students receiving FLAS support must take all three quarters. Others may elect to take only the first quarter or first two quarters. Students wishing to enter the course midyear (e.g., those with prior experience with the language) must obtain consent of instructor. Materials exist for a second year of the course; interested students should consult the instructor. Students wishing to continue their training with native speakers in Mexico may apply for FLAS funding in the summer.

LACS 27901. Beginning Modern Spoken Yucatec Maya I. 100 Units.


Instructor(s): John Lucy     Terms Offered: Autumn 2014 (tentative)
Equivalent Course(s): CHDV 27901,CHDV 47901,LACS 47901

LACS 27902. Beginning Modern Spoken Yucatec Maya II. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): J. Lucy     Terms Offered: Winter 2015 (tentative)
Equivalent Course(s): CHDV 27902,CHDV 47902

LACS 27903. Beginning Modern Spoken Yucatec Maya III. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): J. Lucy     Terms Offered: Spring 2015 (tentative)
Equivalent Course(s): CHDV 27903,CHDV 47903,LACS 47903

LACS 29700. Reading and Research in Latin American Studies. 100 Units.

Terms Offered: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Consent of faculty supervisor and program adviser
Note(s): Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. Typically taken for a quality grade.
Equivalent Course(s): LACS 40100

LACS 29801. BA Colloquium. 100 Units.

This colloquium, which is led by the preceptor and BA adviser, assists students in formulating approaches to the BA essay and developing their research and writing skills, while providing a forum for group discussion and critiques. Graduating students present their BA essays in a public session of the colloquium during the Spring Quarter.

Terms Offered: Autumn, Winter, Spring
Note(s): Required of students who are majoring in Latin American Studies. Students must participate in all three quarters but register only in Autumn Quarter.

LACS 29900. Preparation of the BA Essay. 100 Units.

Terms Offered: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Consent of faculty supervisor and program adviser. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form.
Note(s): Typically taken for a quality grade.


Contacts

Administrative Contact

Student Affairs Coordinator
Jamie Gentry
Kelly 109A
773.702.8420
Email

Preceptor/BA Advisor

Director, Center for Latin American Studies, Professor of History
Mauricio Tenorio
SS 506
702.3708

Listhost

https://lists.uchicago.edu/web/info/uofchicago_clas