The Latin American and Latina/o Studies (LALS) program prepares students to flourish in the vibrant and increasingly interconnected Americas
The LALS major consists of 36 hours of coursework including an introduction to Latin American and Latina/o Studies, Spanish language courses, electives from multiple disciplines and departments, a senior capstone seminar, and one semester of study abroad in Latin America.
Graduates of the program will:
- Understand and critically analyze historic conditions and major economic, social, religious, and political processes that have shaped—and continue to shape—the lives and cultures of Latin Americans and emigrants from the region
- Comprehend how global factors—including the political, economic, religious and cultural influence of the United States—shape contemporary Latin American realities
- Integrate perspectives from multiple disciplines to understand and appreciate the diversity of Latin America and its cultures
- Develop knowledge, skills, virtues and attitudes necessary to effectively and appropriately interact and collaborate with people from Latin America
- Conduct multidisciplinary research and effectively communicate knowledge about Latin America that reflects robust analytical, writing and speaking skills
- Explore how Christianity has transformed and been shaped by the Latin American context, examine contemporary contributions of Latin American Christianity, and consider how these contribute to shaping their own theological understandings
- Develop long-term commitment to engage with Latin American communities and Latino communities in the United States