Latin American and Latina/o Studies, Bachelor of Arts
The Latin American and Latina/o Studies major draws on various social science disciplines, such as sociology, political science, anthropology and economics, as well as on disciplines in the humanities, including history, literature and the arts. By integrating these varied disciplines in the LLS courses, this major is designed to ensure that students will have both a comprehensive foundational and interdisciplinary knowledge of Latin American and Latina/o Studies and a specialization in either Latin American Studies or Latina/o Studies.
Learning outcomes. Students will:
- Understand the interdisciplinary nature of the study of Latin America and of Latina/o communities in the U.S.
- Integrate the fields of Latin American Studies and Latina/o Studies to develop a deep understanding of the relationship between the social, economic, cultural, and political processes of Latin America and the development in the U.S. of communities of persons of Latin American origin or descent.
- Grasp the relationship between the lives of individuals and the course of history, how one’s life intersects with larger social, political, and economic forces.
- Appreciate the history of Latin America and that of Latina/os in the U.S. as they struggle for justice and human dignity in the face of persistent structures of injustice, inequality, and the abuse of power.
- Think critically and evaluate contrasting texts, narratives, and discourses relevant to the diverse cultures of Latin America and U.S. Latina/o communities.
- Carry out a research project (fieldwork-based or library-based) that includes formulating and justifying a research question, collecting and analyzing data, and articulating conclusions.
- Communicate research results in various formats, including written and oral presentation.
- Possess cultural competency, the ability to work successfully in a variety of culturally diverse settings and to analyze, contextualize and interpret culture/cultural behaviors and beliefs.
Credits required. 33-37 (or more depending on foreign language placement)
Prerequisites. Depending on foreign language placement, students may have to complete the 101-102 (or 111-112) language sequence as prerequisites for the 200-level Spanish or Portuguese requirement. The 101 (or 111) course satisfies the Flexible Core: World Cultures and Global Issues category and the 102 (or 112) course satisfies the College Option: Communications category of the Gen Ed program.
Coordinator. Professor Jose Luis Morin, (Department of Latin American and Latina/o Studies) (212-393-6481,
jmorin@jjay.cuny.edu)
Advising resources. Sample Four-year Plan of Study
Part One. Required Core Courses
Required
| LLS 124 | Latina/os in the U.S. | 3 |
| LLS 130 | Introduction to Latin American History | 3 |
| LLS 242/POL 242/HIS 242 | U.S. Foreign Policy in Latin America | 3 |
| LLS 322 | Latina/o Stuggles for Civil Rights & Social Justice (was Civil Rights & Civil Liberties in Urban Latina/o Communities) | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 12
Part Two. Research Methods
Required
LLS 3XX Research Methods in Latin American and Latina/o Studies
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Three. Study Abroad, Fieldwork, or Independent Research
Required, Select one option:
- Study Abroad in Latin America (3 credits will be earned from the course offered as part of the study abroad program)
- LLS 321 Puerto Rican/Latina/o Community Fieldwork (4 credits)
- LLS 489 Independent Research Project (3 credits)
Total Credit Hours: 3-4
Part Four. Language Requirement
Students are required to take one 200-level course in Spanish or Portuguese.
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Five. Electives
Students must choose a track and select three courses. In the other track, students must select one course. At least six credits must be taken at the 300-level or above.
Track A: Latin America
| LLS 110 | Popular Music of the Caribbean | 3 |
| LLS 215 | Socio-Political Developments in Contemporary Puerto Rico | 3 |
| LLS 220 | Human Rights and Law in Latin America | 3 |
| LLS 232/AFR 232 | Comparative Perspectives on Crime in the Caribbean | 3 |
| LLS 223 | Revolution & Social Change in LA Lit & Arts | 3 |
| LLS 245 | Dominican Society and Identity | 3 |
| LLS 250 | Drugs, Crime and Law in Latin America | 3 |
| LLS 255 | Latin American Womanin Global Society (was Latin American Woman) | 3 |
| LLS 260/HIS 260 | History of Contemporary Cuba | 3 |
| LLS 261/HIS 261 | Revolution and Social Change in Contemporary Latin America | 3 |
| LLS 263 | Blacks in Latin America (was African Heritage in Caribbean) | 3 |
| LLS 227 | Indigenous Latin America | 3 |
| LLS 2XX | | |
| LLS 341 | Immigrant Rights in the Americas (was Immigrants, Citizens, Exiles & Refugees in Americas) | 3 |
| LLS 343 | Race and Citizenship in the Americas | 3 |
| LLS 356 | Terror and Transitional Justice in Latin America | 3 |
LLS 2XX: Latin American Cultures
Track B: U.S. Latina/os
| LLS 217 | Theater of Americas since 1960 (was Latino/a Theater in US) | 3 |
| LLS 241 | Latina/os & the City (was Puerto Rican Latina/o Exp in Urban U.S. Settings) | 3 |
| LLS 247 | Growing Up Latina/o (was Growing Up Latina/Latino) | 3 |
| LLS 267/AFR 267/HIS 267 | History of Caribbean Migrations to the United States | 3 |
| LLS 2XX | | |
| LLS 325 | Latina/o Experience of Criminal Justice | 3 |
| LLS 362 | Entangled Tongues: Bilingualism in U.S. Latino/a Literature | 3 |
| LLS 363 | Il-Legal Subjects: U.S. Latino/a Lit & the Law | 3 |
| LLS 364 | Ethical Strains in U.S. Latino/a Literature | 3 |
| LLS 3XX | | 3 |
| LLS 3XX | | 3 |
| LLS 401 | Seminar in Latina/o Issues: Gender, Race, Ethnicity and the Legal System | 3 |
LLS 2XX: Public Health Policy in the Americas
LLS 3XX: Latina/os and the Digital Divide, The U.S.-Mexico Border
Total Credit Hours: 12
Part Six. Capstone Experience
Required
| LLS 4XX | Senior Seminar in Latin American and Latina/o Studies | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Seven. LLS Honors Option
| LLS 489 | Independent Study 400-level | 3 |
NOTE: Students must qualify for the Honors in LLS to enroll in LLS 489 Independent Honors Project.
Total Credit Hours: 0-3
Total Credit Hours: 33-40