Latin American & Latino/a Studies
The interdisciplinary program of Latin American & Latino/a Studies (LALS) has as its mission the fostering of a rich and critical understanding of Latin America, including Brazil and the Hispanic Caribbean, in its broadest sense. To this end, the program focuses on the cultural production, history and political, social and economic structures created by the inhabitants of the area extending from Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, from California to Cuba, and in dialogue with the rest of the world. Students explore the diversity that existed in Latin America before the arrival of Europeans, the societies that subsequently developed among Native Americans, Europeans, Asians and Africans, and contemporary issues and forms of expression both of Latin Americans and of Latinos in the United States.
Students can choose from approximately 30 courses on Latin America offered every year by the departments of art, comparative literature, dance, government, history, sociology and Spanish and Portuguese, as well as from the interdisciplinary courses offered in the Latin American studies program. Fifty or more courses on Latin America are available through the Five College Consortium.
News
Latin America at COP 23
On the heels of COP 23, the UN Climate Change Conference (November 6-17) Latino Rebels reports: "Latin American countries, regions and cities demonstrated clear ambition and leadership at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) held in Bonn, Germany over the past two weeks. Their progress appeared in the form of national commitments, participation in global coalitions, subnational action plans, and international awards. With every year, Latin America increasingly appears as a regional leader in efforts to halt and adapt to the warming planet. Several specific countries are playing leading roles and standing out for their work among other developing nations around the world."
María de Jesús Patricio Martínez
Read about Mexico's First Indigenous Woman Presidential Candidate.
Scholarships for Puerto Rican Students
Read about Smith and Mount Holyoke colleges' plans to support Puerto Rican students.
The LALS Program has four primary goals for its students:
- To understand Latin America and Latinos in the United States through the lenses of literature, the arts and the social sciences.
- To investigate the specific historical conditions that have shaped—and continue to shape—these societies.
- To develop communication skills in Spanish and/or Portuguese.
- To further knowledge of the unique ways in which visual culture, literature, artistic production, history, politics and economics intertwine for present-day people who consider themselves Latin Americans.
These goals focus our curriculum to prepare majors to successfully attain essential capacities, with particular strengths in developing historical and comparative perspectives through the study of the development of societies, cultures and philosophies; the study of languages; and the understanding of multi- and interdisciplinary approaches. Likewise, the program curriculum fosters the development of informed global citizens with its fundamental commitment to engaging with communities beyond Smith, domestically and internationally, and its attention to the regional and global challenges of ethnic and racial diversity, as well as gender, environmental and social justice.
The curriculum is attentive to the development of critical and analytical thinking skills and the cultivation of the skills necessary to convey information and understanding. Students develop close reading, clear speaking and writing skills, most explicitly but not exclusively in literature and history courses. Course offerings in the humanities create opportunities for creative expression, in written as well as visual media and performance, and those in the social sciences develop the necessary skills to evaluate and present evidence accurately, verbally and in writing. Community-based research courses and public scholarship -oriented research projects provide opportunities for students to work collaboratively and to reflect critically on the collaborative process.
The major (10 courses, 40 credits) builds upon core interdisciplinary work in Latin American Studies and centers a commitment to the study of Spanish and/or Portuguese. Building on the strength of the core, students will follow a program of studies related to Spanish America and/or Brazil from the disciplines of anthropology, art, dance, economics government, history literature, sociology and theater, through courses offered in affiliated departments and programs. Given the importance of Latino/a studies within the field of Latin American Studies, majors are required to take at least one course in this field. LALS emphasizes student-adviser mentoring partnerships to chart an appropriate curricular path through the major based on students' academic and co-curricular interests.
Basis
- LAS 150
- Other core requirements: LAS 250 and LAS 310: Capstone
Requirements
All students must also complete seven electives:
two humanities courses (e.g., literary studies, historical studies, cultural studies) in Spanish or Portuguese; normally these will be at the 200-level [8 credits]
- Two courses in the social sciences (e.g., sociology, anthropology, government, economics); normally these will be at the 200-level [8 credits]
- One historically-focused class on Latin America, normally at the 200 level [4 credits]
- One course that focuses on the arts in/of Latin America (art history, film studies, theater, dance); normally this will be at the 200-level [4 credits]
- One course on Latin America at the 300-level; this class may be in any discipline [4 credits]
Of these seven courses, at least one must focus on the period before Independence (e.g., pre-1825) and one must focus on Latino/a studies.
To build coherence across this range of classes, we expect students to work with their major advisers, choosing their seven courses to develop an intellectual focus. Such foci may be:
- Thematic (e.g., race/diaspora, indigeneity, gender/sexuality, Latinidades, migration/immigration)
- Geographic (e.g., national, transborder/border studies, regional)
- Temporal (e.g., pre-1825, 19th/20th century, contemporary)
The minor in Latino/a studies consists of six courses (24 credits) emphasizing key intellectual and methodological capacities: exposure to the shared, transnational histories of Latin and Latino/a America; critical engagement with Spanish as a language of thought and cultural production; a shared, intellectual and interdisciplinary experience with a community of majors and minors in the program.
Required Core
- One course in the history of Latin America and/or the Caribbean
- One humanities or cultural communication course in Spanish (normally at the 200-level)
- LAS 310: Capstone
All students must also complete three Latino/a-focused courses that fulfill these distribution requirements:
• At least one course in the social sciences, normally at the 200-level (ANT, ECO, GOV, SOC, HST)
• At least one course in the humanities/arts, normally at the 200-level (ARH, CLT, DAN, ENG, SPN, THE)
Students may count one course in Latino/a studies from another Five College institution toward the minor.
Honors Director: Ginetta Candelario (2017–18)
Please consult the director of honors for specific requirements and application procedures. More information about honors is available of the class deans website.
Requirements
Admission by permission of the Latin American and Latino/a Studies Committee.
- The same as those for the major.
- Thesis proposal, preferably prepared during the second semester of the student's junior year and submitted for consideration no later than the end of the first week of classes the following September.
- A thesis and an oral examination on the thesis.
LAS 430d Thesis
Credits: 8 (yearlong course); offered each year
LAS 431 Thesis
Credits: 8; offered each fall
For additional information, please refer to the Smith College Course Catalog.
LAS 150 Introduction to Latin American Studies
LAS 150 is a multidisciplinary, thematically organized introduction to the cultures and societies of Latin America and serves as a primary gateway to the Latin American studies major. This course surveys a variety of topics in culture, geography, politics, history, literature, language, and the arts through readings, films, discussions and guest lectures. Required for the major in Latin American studies. Recommended for the minor in Latino/a studies. {A} {H} {S} Credits: 4
Members of the department
Normally offered each academic year
Offered Fall 2017
LAS 201 Colloquium in Latin American and Latino/a Studies
Topics course. Topics rotate.
Normally offered each academic year
Landscapes of Work, Wealth, and Power: The Economic Geography of Latin America
This course will critically examine the economic history of Latin America to understand how its economies and societies have evolved from colonial legacies. This course will discuss social structures, distributions of power and wealth, the role and strengths of its elites, and the complex process of state-building to illustrate the ways in which Latin America compares with the rest of the world. {H} {S} Credits: 4 Jamie Worms
Offered Fall 2017
Mapping the Cultural Geography of Latin America: Landscapes of Development and Identity
This course serves as an introduction to the development of regions, places, and the people of Latin America from the pre-Hispanic era to the present. This course will cover its cultural history, environment and physical geography, land use, agriculture, urbanization, social and economic processes, and the Latin American diaspora. {H} {S} Credits: 4 Jamie Worms
Normally offered each academic year
Offered Spring 2018
LAS 250 Inquiry and Interpretation in Latin American Studies
In this inquiry-driven course, students explore a topic from different disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives central to Latin American studies. Students will be exposed to writing in the humanities, social and natural sciences and gain a solid foundation for evaluating, contextualizing and applying current methodological trends within Latin American studies. Case studies illustrate the diversity of thought, interdisciplinary approaches, and innovative directions in the field. Discussions address the roles and responsibilities of researchers, ana- lysts and practitioners across a range of professions. Required for the major in Latin American studies. Topics rotate. {A} {H} {S} Credits: 4
Members of the department
Normally offered each academic year
Offered Spring 2018
LAS 260 (L) Colonial Latin America, 1492–1821
Same as HST 260. The development of Latin American society during the period of Spanish and Portuguese rule. Social and cultural change in Native American societies as a result of colonialism. The contributions of Africans, Europeans and Native Americans to the new multi-ethnic societies that emerged during the three centuries of colonization and resistance. The study of sexuality, gender ideologies and the experiences of women are integral to the course and essential for understanding political power and cultural change in colonial Latin America. {H} Credits: 4
Members of the department
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Not offered in 2017–18
LAS 261 Latin America Since 1821
Same as HST 261.This course provides an overview of Latin American history, from the nineteenth to twenty-first century. We will focus on key themes such as liberalsm, nationalism, imperialism, social movements, state violence, and neoliberalism, and highlight the experiences of ordinary people, from enslaved persons to indigenous peasants and workers. Unit 1 focuses on the independence wars and abolition, nation-building, and the boom of export economies. Unit 2 examines the mass mobilizations that challenged authoritarianism, from the Mexican Revolution to the revolutionary movements in the Cold War era. Unit 3 traces challenges to neoliberalism in the form of center-left governments and grassroots movements. {H} Credits: 4
Members of the department
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered in Fall 2017
LAS 301 Seminar: Topics in Latin American and Latino/a Studies
Topics course. Topics rotate.
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Favelas in Brazil: The Commodification of Places of Protest
A favela is a distinct, irregular, unplanned community in Brazil. Characterized by self-help construction methods and inadequate access to public services, these communities grew out of protest and have etched themselves into the permanent landscape and fabric of Brazil. Intrinsically, the culture of slavery, which was successfully maintained through terror and spectacular punishment, continues to inform the favelas today as many actors including local leaders, politicians, the Church, drug traffickers, militias, NGOs, residents, and the police have tried to govern these sprawling communities with varying degrees of success. Through articles, books, films, and guest lecturers, this course will introduce the rich history of favelas and describe how the distinct spectacle of violence, commodification, and speculation is deeply embedded in the (re)production of favelas in Brazil. {H} {S} Credits: 4 Jamie Worms
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered in Spring 2018
LAS 310 Latin American Studies: Issues, Methods and Debates
This course studies how people trained in the field of Latin American and Latino/a studies “do their work,” asking: what constitutes a compelling research topic and what methodologies are required to complete such research. Focus rests on the last decade. We explore a wide range of authors, from those interested in the arts to those who study immigration or climate change. This class also asks each student to develop and present an independent research project, teaching others in class about her topic. Throughout we consider and debate the implications of working in this field—both inside and outside academic settings. {A} {L} {S} Credits: 4
Members of the department
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Not offered in 2017–18
LAS 400 Special Studies
Credits: 1–4
Members of the department
Normally offered each academic year
LAS 404 Special Studies
Credits: 4
Members of the department
Normally offered each academic year
For additional information, please refer to the Smith College Course Catalog.
AFS 366 Afro-Brazilian Literature, Culture and Identity
Offered Spring 2018
ANT 269 Indigenous Cultures and the State in Mesoamerica
Normally offered each academic year
Offered Spring 2018
ARH 280 Art Historical Studies
Landscapes of the Modern Caribbean
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Fall 2017
DAN 377 Advanced Studies in History and Aesthetics
Salsa in Theory and Practice
Normally offered each academic year
Offered Fall 2017
FYS 127 Cuba and the U.S. Embargo
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Fall 2017
FYS 129 Tierra y Vida: Land and the Ecological Imagination in U.S. Latino/a Literature
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Fall 2017
GOV 220 Introduction to Comparative Politics
Normally offered each spring
Offered Spring 2018
GOV 226 Latin American Political Systems
Normally offered each fall
Offered Fall 2017
GOV 237 Colloquium: Politics of the U.S./Mexico Border
Normally offered each spring
Offered Spring 2018
GOV 307 Seminar in American Government
Latinos and Immigration Politics in the U.S.
Normally offered in alternate years
Offered Fall 2017
HST 261 (L) Latin America, 1821 to the Present
Same as LAS 261
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Fall 2017
HST 263 (C) Aspects of Latin American History
Women and Gender in Latin America
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered in Spring 2018
HST 280 (C) Inquiries into United States Social History
Globalization, Im/migration and Transnational Cultures
Normally offered each academic year
Offered Fall 2017
POR 229 Brazil for All Seasons
Normally offered each fall
Offered Fall 2017
POR 381 Seminar in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies
Translating Brazil
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Spring 2018
SOC 213 Race and National Identity in the United States
Normally offered each spring
Offered Spring 2018
SPN 230 Latin American and Peninsular Literature
Topics Course. Topics Rotate.
Doméstica: Precarious Subjects and the Politics of Intimacy
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Spring 2018
Tales and Images of Travel and Migration
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Fall 2017
SPN 240 From Page to Stage
Argentina 2000–17: Searching From the Stage
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Spring 2018
SPN 245 Topics in Latin American and Peninsular Studies
Lorca: Hidden and Revealed
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Fall 2017
SPN 246 Latin American Literature
Topics Course. Topics Rotate.
Literary Constructions of Afro-Cuban Identity
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Fall 2017
Zapatismo Now: Cultural Revolution on Mexico’s “Other” Border
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Spring 2018
SPN 260 Survey of Latin American Literature I
Normally offered each fall
Offered Fall 2017
SPN 261 Survey of Latin American Literature II
Normally offered each spring
Offered Spring 2018
SPN 372 Seminar Topics in Latin American and Iberian Studies
Topics Course. Topics Rotate.
Teatro x la identidad (2000–17): Social, Political and Cultural Dislocations in Argentine Society
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Spring 2018
SPN 373 Seminar Literary Movements in Spanish America
Topics Course. Topics Rotate.
Literature, Film and the Transnational Imagination in Latin America
Expected to be offered in the next 3 years
Offered Fall 2017
Events
There are no events scheduled at this time.
Faculty
The faculty teaching Latin American studies at Smith have done extensive research into the experiences of Latino/a populations in the United States and on countries including Argentina, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Peru. Interests include colonial visual culture, Latin American feminisms, indigenous and popular social movements, performance arts, contemporary literature and film, race and racism, immigration and border politics.
Opportunities & Resources
The Smith College Office for International Study has an extensive list of programs available for students wishing to go abroad. This list changes frequently, so please contact them directly for details.
Study Abroad in Brazil
Adviser: Marguerite Harrison
See your academic adviser for more opportunities.
Fifty or more Latin American courses are available through the Five College Consortium. More information about studying at the Five Colleges is available on the registrar's website.
Masters in Latin American Studies at Georgetown University
Students interested in pursuing graduate studies in LAS have the option of completing an M.A. in Latin American studies at Georgetown University in only one extra year and a summer. Those interested must consult with an LAS adviser during their sophomore year or early in their junior year.
Students primarily interested in Latin American literature may wish to consult the major programs available in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
Latin American & Latino/a Studies Information Literacy Skills
A list of resources related to information literacy skills drafted by faculty, related to Class Guides (below).
Scholarship guide for Hispanic and Latina students
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
An excellent resource for up-to-date information about Latin America
LANIC at the University of Texas
An ongoing compilation of many sites in Latin America categorized by country and discipline
Five College Certificate
The Five College Certificate in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies gives you the opportunity to show an area of specialization in Latin American studies in conjunction with or in addition to your major.
Contact
Wright Hall 226
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063