This Minor in Latin American Studies is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide students with an understanding of a variety of aspects of Latin American societies, including their history, language and literature, social, economic, political developments and their place in the international order. The Minor provides great flexibility to explore a wide range of subjects - from the ancient Maya civilization, to doing business in present-day Latin America - as well as to specialize in particular areas such as the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico and South America.
The Minor will be useful to students planning careers in education, the Foreign Service, international organizations, overseas corporations and banking, as well as for those who simply desire a better understanding of Latin America. The interdisciplinary nature of the program also prepares students for further work in a number of academic fields at the graduate level.
What is the Latin American Studies Minor?
The Latin American Studies Minor consists of a core curriculum of three courses (9 to 12 units) which deal with the region as a whole, from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, plus 12 to 16 units of elective, upper-division coursework. Not more than 9 units can be transferred from other campuses; no more than 6 units can be taken on CR/NC basis. Students planning to take courses other than those listed below must get prior approval from the program director.Students are required to demonstrate basic competency in a language other than English, relevant to their area of study. This requirement may be met by completing the University’s entrance requirement of two years of High School language study, or one year of college level language study, or by demonstrating equivalent competency.
Who should declare a minor in Latin American Studies?
Students interested in Latin American society, culture, art, history, and politics in any time period.
How many courses do I need to take for the Latin American Studies minor?
Seven courses (21-23 units), of which three (9-10 units) form a required core curriculum and four (12-14 units) are electives in humanities and literature, social sciences, and art history or the performing arts. Students can design an elective program that reflects their particular interests in a time period, country, or other specific focus. Many can complete the minor with no additional classes. Details on specific requirements are available in the bulletin or on the pathways tab on this page.
How do I find out more?
For additional information or advising, contact:
Juanita Darling
Department of International Relations
Latin American Studies Minor Director
San Francisco State University
Humanities Building, Room 427
(415) 405-3492
juanitad@sfsu.edu
Latin American Studies combines well with many majors, allowing students who plan their program to graduate with a minimal number of additional courses. Here are some examples:
Latin American Studies Minor — 21-24 units
All coursework used to satisfy the requirements of the minor must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
Core Courses (9-10 units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Group A: Latin America in Historical Perspective | ||
| ANTH/HIST/LTNS 501 | Latin America: The National Period | 3 |
| Select one course from Group B and one from Group C | ||
| Group B: Social Perspectives and Politics | 6-7 | |
|
HIST 356 |
Social Change in Modern Latin America | |
|
HIST/WGS 355/LTNS 533 |
History of Women in Latin America | |
|
HIST 359 |
Central America and the Caribbean | |
| Latin American Policy Analysis | ||
| Sociology of Latin America | ||
| Group C: Arts and Culture | 6-7 | |
| Humanities of the Americas | ||
| Culture and Civilization of Spanish America |
Electives (12-14 units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses from each group, with no more than 9 units from any one discipline. Core courses may not be used to meet this part of the required work. | ||
| Group I: Social Perspectives, Politics, and International Relations | ||
| ANTH 471 | The Ancient Maya | 3 |
| HIST 353 | History of Mexico | 3 |
| HIST 354 | History of Brazil | 3 |
| HIST 357 | Colonial Latin America | 3 |
| IBUS 591 | Doing Business in Latin America | 3 |
| I R/CJ 306 | U.S.-Central American Relations | 4 |
| LS 430 | Future of the Forests | |
| LTNS 350 | Gender and Latinas/x Feminisms | 3 |
| LTNS 460 | Central Americans of the U.S.: History and Heritage | 3 |
| LTNS 467 | Caribbeans in the U.S.: History and Heritage | 3 |
| LTNS/SOC 640 | Sociology of the Latino Experience | 3 |
| LTNS 660 | Latina/o Politics | 3 |
| LTNS 670/PLSI 408 | Mexican Politics and Society | 3 |
| LTNS 692 | Cuba: Health, Education, and Culture | 3 |
| PLSI 389 | Latin American Revolutionary Societies | 4 |
| RPT 470 | Travel with Purpose | |
| Group II: Arts, Humanities, and Culture | ||
| CWL 440 | "Typical American": Narratives of Multiculturalism in the Americas from 1492 to the Present | 3 |
| CWL 520 | Modern Prose of the Americas | 3 |
| CWL 540 | Faulkner, García Márquez, and Morrison | 3 |
| HUM 371 | Biography of a City: Latin American Cities | 3 |
| JS/CWL/ENG 451 | Jewish Literature of the Americas | 3 |
| LTNS 409/CINE 309 | Latina/o/x Cinema | 3 |
| LTNS 425 | Popular and Traditional Music of the Latina/o Diaspora (CSL) | 3 |
| LTNS 450 | Indigenismo: Indigenous Cultures of the Americas | 3 |
| LTNS 475 | Aztec Philosophy | 3 |
| LTNS 490 | Latina/o Teatro Workshop | 3 |
| LTNS 560 | Contemporary Latina/o Literature | 3 |
| MUS 532 | Music of Latin America | 3 |
| SPAN 341 | Introduction to the Reading of Literary Texts | 3 |
| SPAN 543 | Spanish American Literature: Romanticism to Modernism | 3 |
| SPAN 545 | 20th Century Spanish American Literature (all topics) | 3 |
| SPAN 595 | Senior Survey in Spanish or Spanish American Literature (all Spanish American topics) | 3 |
Foreign Language Requirement
All students completing this area studies minor are required to demonstrate intermediate level competency in a language other than English, relevant to the area. This requirement may be met by completing the university entrance requirement of two years of high school language study, one year of successful college-level language study, or by demonstration of equivalent competency.
To declare the minor in Latin American Studies, fill out the declaration form on the Registrar's website.