Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores the history, politics, linguistics, literature, art, culture, and human-environmental relations of Latin America. Coursework and immersive experiences prepare students to appreciate the region’s rich diversity, explore its contributions to global history and culture, and address current issues that face this region today. This minor provides an international dimension that will complement any major offered at Eckerd College.
The courses comprising the Latin American Studies minor reflect its interdisciplinary nature by drawing from a wide variety of fields in the humanities and social sciences, including Anthropology, History, Literature, Political Science, and Spanish. Students may also fulfill credits toward the minor by participating in one of Eckerd’s multiple study abroad courses with a focus on Latin American history, language, and culture as well as through internships or projects connected to the Latinx community in Florida.
A small street in Valparaiso, Chile; photo by Zoe Sabadish ’24
The minor
The Latin American Studies minor offers an introduction to the history, societies, politics, language, literature and cultures of Latin America. The minor in Latin American Studies is interdisciplinary and draws from the humanities and the social sciences. It is designed to complement all majors at the College by adding an international dimension.
The Latin American Studies minor consists of one core course, two courses in Spanish and three electives. The core course is Latin American Area Studies (AN 285G). Two courses in Spanish starting at the student's incoming level of language proficiency are required. Native speakers must take two Spanish classes at the 300 or 400 level. The three electives must be chosen from at least two of the following fields of study:
Anthropology
- AN 212G: Mesoamerican Civilizations
- AN 287G: Caribbean Area Studies
- History/Political Science
- HI 371H: History of Latin America
- PO 211G: Inter-American Relations
- PO 311G: Latin American Politics
Literature/Culture
- LI 314G: Caribbean Literature and Film
Available to students with advanced level of proficiency or native speakers:
- SP 301H: History and Culture of the Hispanic World
- SP 303H: The Argentine Short Story
- SP 305H: Dictators and Revolution in Latin America
- SP 309H: Film/Lit: Latinx Experience
- SP 312H: Latin American Culture in Film
- SP 408: Latin American Literature: Reinventing Fiction
- SP 407: Hispanic Women Writers
- SP 409 Latin America: Human Rights Literature
- SP 412: Cuban Literature
Two Winter Term courses may be counted towards the LAS minor: one Winter Term project with a major focus on Latin America offered on or off campus and one Eckerd faculty-led Spanish language intensive course. The language intensive winter term course must count as one of the required semesters of language study. Students majoring in Spanish may only count two of the upper level language classes taken for that major towards the Latin American Studies minor.
Why minor in Latin American studies?
- Latin America encompasses 33 different countries with a population of over 665 million.
- There are over 63 million Latinx Americans in the United States, representing the largest and fastest growing demographic community in the country.
- Intercultural competence is an attractive skill set for employers and graduate schools.
- A minor in Latin American Studies is a great way to deepen the connection to your culture or heritage.
- The intensive study of another culture will enrich your travel or job experiences abroad.
- Courses in Latin American studies fulfill general credit requirements for G and H credits.
- Florida’s history, culture, economy, and population are deeply intertwined with the rest of Latin America.
- Minoring in Latin American Studies and other area studies provides the foundation for creating diverse and inclusive communities on campus and after graduation.
