2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin

Latin American and Latinx Studies, Bachelor of Arts

The Latin American and Latinx 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 Latinx Studies and a specialization in either Latin American Studies or Latinx Studies.

Learning outcomes. Students will:

  • Understand the interdisciplinary nature of the study of Latin America and of Latinx communities in the U.S.
  • Integrate the fields of Latin American Studies and Latinx 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 Latinx people 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. Latinx 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.

Latin American and Latinx Studies Major (depending on foreign language placement)
33-43
General Education 42
Electives 35-45
Total Credits Required for B.A. Degree 120

 

Coordinator. Professor Brian Montes, Department of Latin American and Latinx Studies (212-237-6809, bmontes@jjay.cuny.edu).

Advisors. Department of Latin American and Latinx Studies Professors Jose Luis Morin (212.393.6481, jmorin@jjay.cuny.edu), Luis Barrios (212-237-8751, lbarrios@jjay.cuny.edu), Jodie Roure (212-237-8672, jroure@jjay.cuny.edu), Belinda Rincon (212-237-8750, brincon@jjay.cuny.edu), John Gutierrez (212-237-8667, jgutierrez@jjay.cuny.edu), Lisandro Perez (212-237-8708, loperez@jjay.cuny.edu).

Advising resources. Latin American and Latinx Studies Major Advising Resources including a Sample Four-year Degree Map - Track A and Track B..

Other information. Students who enrolled for the first time at the College or changed to this major in September 2020 or thereafter must complete the major in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose the form shown here or the earlier version of the major. A copy of the earlier version may be obtained in the 2019–2020 Undergraduate Bulletin.

Foundational Course

Required depending on foreign language placement
POR 102Elementary Portuguese II

3

SPA 102Introductory Spanish II

3

SPA 112Introductory Spanish II for Heritage Students

3

Advisor's recommendation: POR 102 or SPA 102 or SPA 112 satisfy the John Jay College Option: Communications area of the Gen Ed Program.

Subtotal: 0-3

Part One. Required Core Courses

Required

LLS 124Latinx Communities in the United States

3

LLS 130Introduction to Latin American History

3

LLS 242/POL 242/HIS 242U.S. Foreign Policy in Latin America

3

LLS 322Latinx Struggles for Civil Rights & Social Justice

3

Subtotal: 12

Part Two. Research Methods

Required

LLS 315Research Methods in Latin American and Latinx Studies

3

Subtotal: 3

Part Three. Study Abroad, Fieldwork, or Independent Research

Required, Select one option:

  1. Study Abroad in Latin America (3 credits will be earned from the course offered as part of the study abroad program)
  2. LLS 321 Latinx Community Fieldwork (4 credits)
  3. LLS 389 Independent Study Research Project (3 credits)

Subtotal: 3-4

Part Four. Language Requirement

Students are required to take one 200-level course in Spanish or Portuguese.

Please noteStudents who have prior knowledge of  Portuguese or Spanish can take a placement exam in the Modern Language Center, (212-484-1140, languagelab@jjay.cuny.edu) to place out of this requirement.  

POR 201 is typically offered in the fall semesters.  SPA 207SPA 308 and SPA 335 do NOT fulfill this language requirement. They are taught in English.

Subtotal: 0-3

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/MUS 110Popular Music of the Caribbean

3

LLS 215Socio-Political Developments in Contemporary Puerto Rico

3

LLS 220Human Rights and Law in Latin America

3

LLS 223Revolution & Social Change in Latin American Literature & Arts

3

LLS 227Indigenous Latin America

3

LLS 232/AFR 232Comparative Perspectives on Crime in the Caribbean

3

LLS 245Dominican Society and Identity

3

LLS 250Drugs, Crime and Law in Latin America

3

LLS 255Latin American Woman in Global Society

3

LLS 260/HIS 260History of Contemporary Cuba

3

LLS 261/HIS 261Revolution and Social Change in Contemporary Latin America

3

LLS 263/AFR 263/HIS 263The Black Experience in Latin America: Racism and Resistance

3

LLS 280Selected Topics in Latin American and Latinx Studies

3

LLS 341Immigrant Rights in the Americas

3

LLS 343Race and Citizenship in the Americas

3

LLS 356Terror and Transitional Justice in Latin America

3

LLS 280 can satisfy Track A. Latin America if the course topic is appropriate. 

Track B: U.S. Latinx Experience

LLS 100Latinx People and Justice in New York: Freshman Year Seminar

3

LLS 120Race, Criminal Justice and Latinx Communities

3

LLS 143Introduction to Latinx Literature

3

LLS 203U.S. Latinx Identity in the 21st Century

3

LLS 217Theater of Americas since 1960

3

LLS 241Latinx Populations and the City

3

LLS 247Growing Up Latinx

3

LLS 267/AFR 267/HIS 267History of Caribbean Migrations to the United States

3

LLS 270Afro-Latinx Literature

3

LLS 280Selected Topics in Latin American and Latinx Studies

3

LLS 325Latinx Experience of Criminal Justice

3

LLS 341Immigrant Rights in the Americas

3

LLS 362Entangled Tongues: Bilingualism in U.S. Latinx Literature

3

LLS 363Il-Legal Subjects: U.S. Latinx Literature and the Law

3

LLS 364Ethical Strains in U.S. Latinx Literature

3

LLS 401Seminar in Latinx Issues: Gender, Race, Ethnicity and the Legal System

3

LIT 265Foundations of U.S. Latinx Literature

3

LIT 267Latinx Horror and Gothic in Literature and Film

3

LIT 268Latinx Graphic Novel

3

LIT 357Latinx Street Literature

3

LIT 383Gender and Sexuality in U.S. Latinx Literature

3

Note: LLS 100 is only open to freshman.  LLS 280 can fulfill Track B. U.S. Latinx Experience if topic is appropriate.

Subtotal: 12

Part Six. Capstone Experience

Required

LLS 425Senior Seminar in Latin American and Latinx Studies: Issues of Justice and Injustice

3

Subtotal: 3

Part Seven. LLS Honors Option

Required to earn honors in the Latin American and Latina/o Studies major

LLS 487Independent Honors Project

3

NOTE: Students must qualify for Honors in the LLS major to enroll in LLS 487 Independent Honors Project, see the major coordinator.

Subtotal: 0-3

Total Credit Hours: 33-43