Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies
Department Overview
Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (LACLS) is an interdisciplinary program that brings together the expertise of Skidmore’s faculty in the fields of Anthropology, Art History, Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology, Theater, and World Languages and Literatures, among others. The program’s broad scope provides our students with a well-rounded knowledge of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx communities and their geographies, histories, and cultures. Our minors learn to develop questions and think critically about the issues that such communities face from an interdisciplinary perspective. The mission of the LACLS program is to provide our students with an understanding of the diversity and influence of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx communities and prepare them to participate in civic and professional life as informed citizens at home and abroad.
Director of the Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies Program: Oscar Pérez-Hernández
Administrative Assistant: Beth Miller
Affiliated Faculty
Anthropology: Heather Hurst, Michael Ennis-McMillan, Bernardo Ramirez Ríos
Art History: Kristi Peterson
Economics: Rodrigo Schneider
English: Jamie Parra
Geosciences: Amy Frappier
History: Jordana Dym
International Affairs: Rachel Cantave
Sociology: Ruth Hernandez
World Languages and Literatures: Diana Barnes, Charlene Grant, María Fernanda Lander, Beatriz Loyola, Aurélie Matheron, Oscar Pérez Hernández, Viviana Rangil
Theater: Eunice Ferreira, Lisa Jackson-Schebetta
Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies Minor
The Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies minor offers students the opportunity to undertake the comparative study of the political, cultural, and economic traditions and contemporary realities of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx communities, drawing from such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, art history, economics, history, language, literature, and political science. It consists of a minimum of 19 credit hours (five to six courses) from the designated Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies courses listed on the Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies program page, including the senior capstone experience, with at least two 300-level courses and with no more than two courses in a single discipline or the student’s major. Up to 4 credit hours of Spanish, French, or Portuguese language at the 208 level or above may count toward the minor, as well as pre-approved courses taken abroad. One course may be “Partial Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Content.” Each student’s program will be approved by the coordinator of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies, who serves as advisor to all minors.
If you are ready to declare the minor, or have questions about the requirements, please contact the director.
This interdisciplinary minor emphasizes use of language skills in different disciplines, and requires that students demonstrate above intermediate competency in at least one regional language and complete one Languages Across the Curriculum (LAC) course, ensuring the ability to consider sources of knowledge produced in the region. Competency may be demonstrated either by demonstrating intermediate competency by taking a test offered by the World Languages and Literatures Department or successfully completing a foreign languages and literatures course at the 208 level or above.
The minor includes the following:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Foundation Course | ||
Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
Economics of Latin America | ||
Latin American History: An Introduction | ||
Latinidades: Reconfiguring Identities in the U.S. | ||
Spanish-American Literature and Culture | ||
Electives | ||
Select three to four courses | 10 | |
Languages Across the Curriculum Course | ||
Select one Languages Across the Curriculum course | 1 | |
Senior Capstone | ||
LA 377 | Colloquium in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (one semester) | 1 |
Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Capstone Requirement | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Independent Study | ||
Professional Internship In Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies | ||
Select approved course in an associated discipline or program | ||
Total Hours | 18-19 |
Course Listing
Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies Courses
An investigation into the question of authorized identity and social hierarchy generated from a history of policies regulating border-crossing from Mexico to the United States. Students will examine the myths and the realities of rhetoric surrounding the U.S./Mexico border wall, and the frontera effect (the border effect) that influences the American psyche. Students study key historical landmarks that have fortified the essence of division beginning at the border and spreading across the country, to consider present-day policies and imagined narrative that inform our understanding of power and identity based on a physical and a psychological border. Theory and practice combine in this course as students study the geopolitical psychology of border divisions as a prelude to field trips to meet with human rights activists in Western New York who advocate for undocumented dairy farm workers, and to tour the backstretch of the Saratoga thoroughbred racetrack to meet a community of border-crossers in Saratoga Springs.
An exploration of the work of Latino/a writers considering the ways in which they have depicted and imagined the experiences of moving between and within nations. Students will consider the impact these movements have had in the configuration of Latino/a identities.
Topically organized courses at the intermediate level focused on selected problems, areas, and issues of special interest in Latin American Studies. Topics vary from year to year, depending upon specialization and research interests of the instructor.
A learning and community engagement class for which students volunteer or work in an internship in a Latin American country or Latinx communities in the United States or internationally. Students are introduced to the history and culture relevant to the places and peoples engaged and to the role that the international community (in particular the United States government, organizations, and volunteers) has played in past and present. Enrollment in this course is a co-requisite for participating in an alternative spring break off-campus experience developed by LALS and the Office of Community Services. Since 2014, the program has supported an alternate spring break in Guatemala.
Topically organized courses at the advanced level focused on selected problems, areas, and issues of special interest in Latin American Studies. Topics vary from year to year, depending upon specialization and research interests of the instructor.
An opportunity for qualified students to pursue independent study or research in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies under the supervision of an appropriate faculty member. The written study proposal must be approved by the Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies Coordinator, in consultation with the Advisory Board.
The course includes presentations and discussions by students, faculty, and guest lecturers, instruction on library research, writing, and oral presentation skills. It may also include field trips or a small community service project.
Internship or professional experience at an advanced level for juniors and seniors with substantial academic and cocurricular experience in the minor field. With faculty sponsorship and program approval, students will select an internship and also produce a major research paper related to the area of internship.
Cross-Listed Courses that Count for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
AH 151 | Special Topics in Art History (when topic is Visual Cultures of America) | 3 |
AH 208 | Art and the Environment in Ancient Mesoamerica and South America | 3 |
AN 205 | Mesoamerican Archaeology | 3 |
AN 229 | Mexican Cultures | 3 |
AN 322 | Sports in the Americas | 3 |
AN 328 | Built Environments: Archaeology of Architecture | 3 |
AN 349 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
EC 282 | Economics of Latin America | 3 |
HI 111 | Latin American History: An Introduction | 3 |
HI 251A-D | (when topic relates to Latin America) | 1-4 |
HI 228 | Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America | 3 |
HI 229 | War and Peace in Twentieth-Century Latin America | 3 |
HI 230 | History Through Travel: Latin America 1500-1900 | 3 |
HI 330 | Politics/Society in Latin Amer | 3 |
HI 351A-D | (when topic relates to Latin America) | 1-4 |
IA 351C-D | (when topic is Colorism in Paradise) | 1-4 |
PL 209 | The Latin American Puzzle | 4 |
PL 309 | Latin America and the United States | 3 |
SO 204 | Introduction to Race, Class, and Gender | 3 |
SO 251A-D | (when topic relates to Latin America) | 1-4 |
SO 351A-D | (when topic relates to Latin America) | 1-4 |
WLL 265 | Latinos in the United States | 3 |
WLS 212 | Spanish-American Literature and Culture | 4 |
WLS 221 | Spanish for Heritage Speakers | 4 |
WLS 301 | Business Spanish | 4 |
WLS 319 | Contemporary Spanish-American Fiction | 3 |
WLS 321 | Spanish-American and Latino Performance Arts | 3 |
WLS 323 | Spanish in the Media | 4 |
WLS 324B | Spanish-American/Latino Film | 4 |
WLS 330 | Spanish-American Thought | 3 |
WLS 331 | Tales of the Wondrous Lands: The Hispanic Transatlantic World | 3 |
WLS 363 | Special Studies in Spanish (when topic relates to Latin America or is Crime Without Punishment) | 3 |
WLS 376 | Senior Seminar (when topic relates to Latin America or French Carribean) | 3 |
Cross-Listed Courses - Partial Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
AH 103 | 4 | |
AM 231 | Ethnic and Immigrant Experience | 3 |
AM 236 | 4 | |
BI 325 | Tropical Ecology | 3 |
EC 314 | International Economics | 3 |
EC 334 | International Political Economy | 3 |
PL 315 | Immigration Politics and Policy | 4 |
PL 339 | International Political Economy and the Environment | 4 |
TH 334 | Special Studies in Theater History and Theory (when topic is Theater for Social Change) | 3 |
WLF 220 | Language Across the Curriculum | 1 |
WLS 220 | Language Across the Curriculum | 1 |