Latino/Latin American Studies (LLS)
Mission
LLS is an interdisciplinary program that seeks to combine academic excellence with real-world engagement in order to produce positive social change and enhance our understanding of Latino/Latin American issues.
Organization's Primary Goals, Major Programs or Services
LLS' main goals are to: 1) develop policy-oriented and community-relevant research, 2) create learning opportunities for students and communities beyond the classroom and across borders and 3) establish strategic and egalitarian community partnerships to strengthen our capacity to address local and global concerns.
The Latino/Latin American Studies Program
Prepares undergraduate students for a wide variety of career options. A major in Latino/Latin American Studies (LLS) or a minor in Chicano/Latino Studies (CLS) may be particularly useful to those students planning a career in public service, non-profits, education, law, health, counseling, and business. LLS offers student research, study abroad and internship opportunities which help prepare them for their chosen careers and graduate school. In sum, the program offers what we like to call “the LLS Job Credential”:
LLS offers what 21st century employers want and what the world needs:
- Individuals who are knowledgeable about local Latino cultures and issues while understanding the global contexts which influence them today.
- Professionals with increased proficiency in languages as well as excellent writing and critical thinking skills.
- Problem-solvers, team players and ethical professionals ready to meet the challenges of the dynamic changes taking place in the 21st century here and abroad.
- Individuals ready to continue their learning process beyond a bachelor’s degree
Other Information
All coursework taken for the LLS major or CLS minor must be completed with a grade of "C-" or better.
The Senior Project
Students have a number of options for completing the Senior Project. They must discuss these options and preferred choice with the OLLAS director/academic advisor. Next, students must send a one-page description of the proposed project to the OLLAS Director. The OLLAS Director, in consultation with the student, will arrange for a committee of one to two Faculty to oversee the student’s Senior Project. Once all the details have become sufficiently clear, students are required to sign a contract with their committee describing the plan to complete the project and the agreed upon method for evaluating the final product(s). In addition, all students, regardless of the option they choose, must make a presentation during the end-of-the year OLLAS graduation celebration. Presentations are most commonly made in the form of posters, but other formats could be considered as appropriate.
The senior project for LLS must be fulfilled through one of the following options:
1) Internships may be completed with OLLAS staff (Director, Research Associate) or faculty engaged in a specific research/creative activity/community engagement project. The internship can also be completed with an outside agency pending approval of the project committee. In the latter case, the contract must be drafted in consultation with the agency supervisor who will report on the student’s activities and performance to the committee. If this first option also fulfills the College of Arts and Sciences’ third writing course requirement, the project committee will identify appropriate writing assignments.
2) A critical literature review essay on a subject related to the major and of interest to the student. The review will be supervised by the student’s senior project committee.
3) A senior project offered by the student’s second major or by the primary major if not LLS. The proposed topic must still be approved by the OLLAS director/academic advisor and a copy of the final products must be submitted to the OLLAS Director and shared with the OLLAS faculty and students at a designated time prior to graduation.
Contact
Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS)
102 ASH
402.554.3835
Website
Writing in the Discipline
All students are required to take a writing in the discipline course within their major. For the LLS major, this is LLS 4990. Three hours are earned through the completion of a senior capstone project that also fulfills the departmental writing course requirement (three hours).
LLS 1000 LATIN AMERICA: AN INTRODUCTION (3 credits)
The course introduces the students to the study of Latin America. Its main focus is on contemporary Latin American societies and regional dynamics, but historical forces and the impact of globalization are continuously evaluated. Students will learn about the region's dominant forces and trends associated with development policies, political regimes, population changes, urbanization, and a whole host of social problems, challenges and perspectives. Topics for readings, discussions and assignments include social inequality, gender, race, violence, the environment, food, health, education, social media, religion, emigration and international relations. Students will have opportunities to explore in more depth specific topics as well.
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course and Social Science General Education course
LLS 1010 INTRO TO CHICANO-LATINO STUDIES: SOCIAL SCIENCES (3 credits)
The course introduces the students to key social, political, economic, and cultural issues related to the Latino experience in the U.S., and it utilizes conceptual, analytical, and methodological tools from the social sciences in order to promote their understanding.
Distribution: Social Science General Education course and U.S. Diversity General Education course
LLS 1020 INTRODUCTION TO CHICANO-LATINO STUDIES: HUMANITIES (3 credits)
The course introduces students to intellectual, artistic, literary, musical, and other cultural traditions and contributions of Chicanos Latinos in the U.S. and in their historical crossing of real and imaginary borders. The unique contributions of different racial, ethnic, gender, and other social groups within the Latino population are discussed.
Distribution: Humanities and Fine Arts General Education course and U.S. Diversity General Education course
LLS 2800 SPECIAL TOPICS IN LATINO/LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES: HUMANITIES (3 credits)
An interdisciplinary topical approach that explores various aspects of Latino/Latin American Studies. Selected topics will be suitable for examination from an inter- and multidisciplinary humanities perspective (literature, visual and performance arts, music, religion, history, philosophy). Topics and disciplines will vary from term to term. Course description will be announced in advance. Repeatable up to six credits if content differs.
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course and Humanities and Fine Arts General Education course
LLS 2900 SPECIAL TOPICS IN LATINO/LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES: SOCIAL SCIENCES (3 credits)
he course introduces students to in-depth examinations of novel topics related to Latin American societies, U.S. Latinos and migrants. The courses draw from varying combinations of social sciences (sociology, anthropology, political science, psychology, law, economics and international studies). Topics vary from term to term and examples include: Immigration Laws and Latinos across the Americas, Violence and human security in Central America. Repeatable up to nine credits if content differs
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course and Social Science General Education course
LLS 3140 LATINO/-A POLITICS (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the dynamism and growth of the role of Latinos, as a group of political actors, in the United States. This course provides students with an exposure to and understanding of various concepts and dimensions of this phenomenon, including historical and contemporary Latino political thought and the efforts to increase political empowerment (representation and participation) and influence through grassroots, social, and political movements. (Cross-listed with PSCI 8145, PSCI 3140, LLS 8145)
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): PSCI 1100 is recommended.
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course
LLS 3680 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF LATIN AMERICA (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the political institutions, processes, and public policies of the states of Latin America. (Cross-listed with LLS 8685, PSCI 3680, PSCI 8685)
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): PSCI 2500 or junior status or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course
LLS 3800 SPECIAL TOPICS IN LATINO/LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES: HUMANITIES (3 credits)
An interdisciplinary topical approach that explores various aspects of Latino/Latin American humanistic expressions. Selected topics will be suitable for examination from an inter and multidisciplinary humanities perspective (literature, visual and performing arts, history, music, religion, and philosophy). Topics and disciplines will vary from term to term. Repeatable up to six credits if content differs.
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): Junior standing or permission of the instructor
LLS 3900 SPECIAL TOPICS IN LATINO/LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES (1-3 credits)
A discussion-led course on current and evolving issues and questions pertaining to the Latino population in the United States and its transnational ties to Latin America and the Caribbean. Topics fall within the social sciences. The course may also include service-learning assignments when appropriate.
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): A social science course.
LLS 4280 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF LATIN AMERICA (3 credits)
Analysis of the role of Latin American states in the international political arena. Emphasis upon developing, applying and testing an explanatory theory of international politics through the study of the inter-American system: the regional, institutional and ideological environment, power relations, policies and contemporary problems. (This course fulfills the department's international politics requirement). (Cross-listed with LLS 8286, PSCI 4280, PSCI 8286)
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): PSCI 2500 or junior standing or permission of the instructor.
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course
LLS 4900 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-3 credits)
This course is designed for those students who are capable of pursuing, independently, an area of Latino/Latin American Studies that is not covered under the existing curriculum. The student will be supervised by a member of the faculty of the LLS department. All course assignments, requirements, and expectations will be clearly indicated in advance. May be repeated for credit, up to six hours, under a different topic.
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): Permission of LLS faculty member required.
LLS 4910 CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN LLS: SOCIAL SCIENCES (3 credits)
This is a discussion-led course on current and evolving issues and questions pertaining to the Latino and Latin American immigrant population in the United States and its transnational ties to Latin America and the Caribbean. Topics fall within the social sciences. The course may also include service-learning assignments when appropriate. (Cross-listed with LLS 8916.)
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): Must have taken at least one social science course as well as a different LLS course, junior standing or above and/or permission of the instructor.
LLS 4920 CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN LLS:HUMANITIES (3 credits)
This course is an interdisciplinary topical approach that explores various aspects of Latino/Latin American Studies. Selected topics will be suitable for examination from the perspective of the humanities (literature, art, dance, music, theatre, and philosophy topics). Topics and disciplines will vary from term to term. Course description will be announced in advance. Repeatable up to nine credits if content differs. (Cross-listed with LLS 8926.)
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): One humanities and one LLS course and junior standing or permission of the instructor.
LLS 4950 LATIN AMERICAN STUDY ABROAD (1-3 credits)
This course is designed as an international study abroad course that will introduce undergraduate and graduate students to the dynamism of socio-cultural, economic and political changes taking place across Latin America. Note: International travel and special fees required. (Cross-listed with LLS 8956)
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): Senior standing or Junior standing with permission of the department. LLS 1000 or LLS 1010 or equivalent and departmental permission.
LLS 4990 SENIOR PROJECT (3 credits)
This is a research-based and writing-intensive course for students majoring in Latino/Latin American Studies. Students will propose and develop an original research project on a topic of their choice but one which is informed by the previous course work, practical experience, as well as the interdisciplinary, comparative, and transnational perspectives to which they have been exposed during the course of their major field of study.
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): Senior standing (or students in junior standing with permission from the instructor) and LLS 1000, LLS 1010 or 1020, and a research methods course approved for LLS credit, and ENGL 1160 or equivalent. Not open to non-degree graduate students.