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The Latino/Latin American Studies (LLS) Major is an interdisciplinary program housed in the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) that prepares students to work, live, and thrive in a culturally and demographically changing environment in an increasingly multicultural and transnational United States. The LLS Major provides students with a broad foundation for professional careers in public service, non-profit and community organizations, education, law, health, counseling, and business, among others. The LLS Major offers student research opportunities and internship opportunities which help prepare them for their chosen careers and/or professional and graduate school. The bookend of the LLS curriculum is the Senior Capstone. In this course, students need to complete an internship in a relevant community organization, in any of the areas of the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies, or as a research assistant for an OLLAS faculty member. Students also will develop a portfolio that will prepare them to enter the labor market with an in-depth knowledge of the Latino experience in the Midwest and the United States and in Latin America. The LLS curriculum includes courses from programs such as World Languages (Spanish), Political Sciences, History, International Studies, and Sociology/Anthropology making it very simple for students to obtain double majors with these and/or other programs through strategic overlapping of course requirements for both programs. Examples of programs and the maximum amount of allowable credit overlapping are below. Students interested in these, or other program combinations will need to work closely with their programmatic advisor(s). Double Major in LLS and International Studies. Students enrolled in the Area Studies Concentration can count up to 18 LLS credits in approved coursework toward the 33 required credits for the International Studies major. Double Major in LLS and Sociology: Students can count between 9 and 12 LLS credits in approved coursework towards the 33 credits required credits for the Sociology major. Double Major in LLS and Political Science: Students can count between 9 and 12 LLS credits in approved coursework towards the 33 required credits for the Political Science major.  Major in LLS and Foreign Languages & Literature (Spanish concentration): Students can count up to 12 LLS credits in approved coursework towards the 30 required credits for the Foreign Languages & Literature major with a Spanish concentration. Fast Track Program The Office of Latino and Latin American Studies has developed a Fast Track program for highly qualified and motivated students providing the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an accelerated time frame. With Fast Track, students may count up to 9 graduate hours toward the completion of their undergraduate program as well as the graduate degree program. Program Specifics: This program is available for undergraduate students pursuing Bachelor of Arts in Latino and Latin American Studies desiring to pursue a Master of Arts in Critical and Creative Thinking. Students must have completed no less than 60 undergraduate hours. Students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Students must complete the Fast Track Approval form and obtain all signatures and submit to the Office of Graduate Studies prior to first enrollment in a graduate course. Students will work with their undergraduate advisor to register for the graduate courses. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to remain in good standing. Students remain undergraduates until they meet all the requirements for the undergraduate degree and are eligible for all rights and privileges granted undergraduate status including financial aid. Near the end of the undergraduate program, formal application to the graduate program is required. The application fee will be waived, the applicant will need to contact the Office of Graduate Studies for a fee waiver code. Admission to Fast Track does NOT guarantee admission to the graduate program. The admit term must be after the completion term of the undergraduate degree. Students seeking this option should work with their advisor to select appropriate graduate level courses. The Office of Latino/Latin American Studies The Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) is a bilingual and interdisciplinary academic program established in 2003. OLLAS is the only specialized unit within the University of Nebraska System focused on education, research, and community engagement of Latinos in the Midwest and on the interconnections between Nebraska, the Midwest Region, and Latin America. OLLAS mission is to advance understanding of Latin American and Latino cultures and societies through a commitment to social inclusion, student-centered education, interdisciplinary research, community engagement, and the forging of collaborative partnerships with local, state, national, and international organizations. Our main goals are to 1) create learning opportunities for students and communities beyond the classroom and across borders, 2) develop policy-oriented and community-relevant research, and 3) establish strategic and egalitarian community partnerships to strengthen our capacity to address local and global concerns. In accomplishing these goals, we seek to assist Nebraska and the Great Plains region, as well as the growing Latino population, in reaching a shared prosperous present and future in a context of cultural understanding, respect of differences, and the promotion of human rights. LLS majors and minors are invited to join our OLLAS Learning Community, volunteer in our multiple community events, and develop networks and collaborations with other students, with close to thirty OLLAS faculty from many UNO departments and from UNMC, and with community organizations and their leaders. Although the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) does not yet offer a graduate degree, it does offer a number of graduate courses. Students pursuing graduate programs in other colleges and departments are encouraged to concentrate on Latinos or Latin America and take advantage of Latino/Latin American Studies course offerings. Contact Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) 102 ASH 402.554.3835 Email unoollas@unomaha.edu Website