Latin American Studies Minor Requirements
Latin American Studies Minor
World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Advisor: Oscar Diaz
The minor in Latin American Studies introduces the student to the cultural diversity and richness of Latin America and its people and can enhance career opportunities and effectiveness in business, government, health care, journalism, law, and social work. The minor requires 18 semester hours. Courses selected must come from at least three different academic departments. Note: All students minoring in Latin American Studies are required to complete SPAN 2105/GEOG 2105/ART 2105/ANTH 2105/SOC 2105/PS 2105 Introduction to Latin American Studies. In addition, all students are required to complete Intermediate Portuguese (PORT 2020) or Spanish II (SPAN 2020) or the equivalent. SPAN 2010, SPAN 2020 cannot count for both a Spanish major and a Latin American Studies minor. SPAN 2010 and SPAN 2020 may count for the B.A. degree language requirement. Students are encouraged to take more Spanish courses to develop basic conversational fluency or participate in study abroad programs to Latin America.
Language credits may be earned at MTSU or through an approved overseas program or transferred from another accredited college or university. Students may satisfy the language requirement by examination (a placement test), demonstrating a level of competence equivalent to two years of college Spanish or Portuguese. Students whose native language is either Spanish or Portuguese may substitute equivalent competence in English in lieu of this requirement.
Interdisciplinary Minors
Interdisciplinary minors require the student to complete a minimum of 15 to 21 hours from a list of specific courses. Unless otherwise noted, a student may take no more than 6 hours of courses from a single department until he or she surpasses the required minimum number of hours necessary for completing the minor. Exceptions to this rule may be found within the discussions of several of the minors. In most cases, a student is also limited to just 3 hours of credit toward the minor in the same department or discipline in which he or she is taking a major. Students must fulfill all departmental prerequisites for any course within an interdisciplinary minor. In some cases, advisors may approve course substitutions within these program requirements.
Required Courses (6 hours)
- SPAN 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours OR
SPAN 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies
3 credit hours
(Same as PS 2105, SOC 2105, ART 2105, ANTH 2105, GEOG 2105.) A multidisciplinary, team-taught introduction to Latin America. Covers the cultures and societies of the region: pre-history, history, geography, politics, art, languages, and literatures. Required course for all Latin American Studies minors. Does not count for Spanish major or minor.
- GEOG 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours OR
GEOG 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies
3 credit hours
(Same as SPAN 2105, PS 2105, SOC 2105, ART 2105, ANTH 2105.) A multidisciplinary, team-taught introduction to Latin America. Covers the cultures and societies of the region: pre-history, history, geography, politics, art, languages, and literatures. Required course for all Latin American Studies minors. (Fall)
- ART 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours OR
ART 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies
3 credit hours
(Same as SPAN 2105, PS 2105, SOC 2105, ANTH 2105, GEOG 2105.) A multidisciplinary, team-taught introduction to Latin America. Covers the cultures and societies of the region in terms of pre-history, history, geography, politics, art, languages, and literatures. Required course for all Latin American Studies minors.
- ANTH 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours OR
ANTH 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies
3 credit hours
(Same as SPAN 2105, PS 2105, SOC 2105, ART 2105, GEOG 2105.) A multidisciplinary, team-taught introduction to Latin America. Covers the cultures and societies of the region: pre-history, history, geography, politics, art, languages, and literatures. Required course for all Latin American Studies minors.
- SOC 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours OR
SOC 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies
3 credit hours
(Same as SPAN 2105, PS 2105, ART 2105, ANTH 2105, GEOG 2105.) A multidisciplinary, team-taught introduction to Latin America. Covers the cultures and societies of the region: prehistory, history, geography, politics, art, languages, and literatures. Required course for all Latin American Studies minors.
- PS 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 credit hours
PS 2105 - Introduction to Latin American Studies
3 credit hours
(Same as SPAN 2105, SOC 2105, ART 2105, ANTH 2105, GEOG 2105.) A multidisciplinary, team-taught introduction to Latin America. Covers the cultures and societies of the region: pre-history, history, geography, politics, art, languages, and literatures. Required course for all Latin American Studies minors.
- SPAN 2020 - Intermediate Spanish II 3 credit hours OR
SPAN 2020 - Intermediate Spanish II
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: SPAN 2010 or advanced placement. A continuation of SPAN 2010.
TBC: Non-Written Communication
- PORT 2020 - Intermediate Portuguese II 3 credit hours
PORT 2020 - Intermediate Portuguese II
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: PORT 2010 or permission of instructor. Continuation of PORT 2010.
TBC: Non-Written Communication
Electives (12 hours)
- ANTH 3517 - Peoples and Cultures of Brazil 3 credit hours
ANTH 3517 - Peoples and Cultures of Brazil
3 credit hours
The diverse peoples and cultures of Brazil. Histories, sociocultural systems, and contemporary issues and impacts resulting from globalization from an anthropological perspective.
- ANTH 3518 - Peoples and Cultures of Latin America 3 credit hours
ANTH 3518 - Peoples and Cultures of Latin America
3 credit hours
The diverse peoples and cultures of Latin America. Histories, sociocultural systems, and contemporary issues and impacts resulting from globalization from an anthropological perspective.
- ANTH 3521 - The Archaeology of Mexico and Central America 3 credit hours
ANTH 3521 - The Archaeology of Mexico and Central America
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: 3 hours anthropology. Archaeology of Mexico and Central America to include the findings of archaeology of the initial settlement of Mesoamerica; the origins, adaptations, and development of major prehistoric Mesoamerican cultural traditions such as the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec; and the major theoretical contributions of Mesoamerican archaeology.
- ART 3871 - Mesoamerican Art 3 credit hours
ART 3871 - Mesoamerican Art
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 1910 with C or better or permission of instructor. Survey of pre-Columbian arts of Mesoamerica from the Olmec to the Mexica.
- ART 3872 - Andean Art 3 credit hours
ART 3872 - Andean Art
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 1910 with C or better or permission of instructor. Survey of the pre-Columbian arts of Peru from the Chavin to the Inca.
- ART 3880 - Latin American Art 3 credit hours
ART 3880 - Latin American Art
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 1930 with C or better or permission of instructor. A survey of the art of Latin America from the period of Independence (1821) to the present, focusing on architecture, sculpture, and painting from Mexico through South America. Impact of these cultural expressions on Hispanic/Chicano/Latino arts of the United States.
- COMM 2560 - Intercultural Communication 3 credit hours
COMM 2560 - Intercultural Communication
3 credit hours
Introduces how communication patterns are influenced by perceptions, values, and norms of behavior that vary among people of different cultural, racial, and national backgrounds. Content focuses on increasing understanding as well as improving abilities to facilitate cross-cultural interactions.
TBC: Creativity and Cultural Expression (Explorations)
- ECON 4470 - Economic Development of the Third World 3 credit hours
ECON 4470 - Economic Development of the Third World
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ECON 2410, ECON 2420; junior standing; and admission into the College of Business. Conditions and problems of the less-developed countries; causes, processes, and consequences of economic development; introduction to basic growth models, development theories, and strategies for development. Economic as well as noneconomic factors studied.
- GEOG 3402 - Cultural Geography Field Course 4 credit hours
GEOG 3402 - Cultural Geography Field Course
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: Permission of department. Required for all Human Geography majors. Supervised study in some geographical area/topic. Emphasis on cultural elements of the environment with special attention directed toward interpretation of cultural landscapes. For fees and specific credit, consult the instructor. Course has required off-campus activities. (Offered upon sufficient demand)
GEOG 3420 - Latin America in the 21st Century: Challenges, New Opportunities
3 credit hours
Comprehensive survey of the human and physical geographies of Latin America. Examines the ecological, historical, cultural, economic, and political processes that shape the region. Emphasis placed on socioeconomic development, migration, globalization, and linkages. (Spring odd-numbered years)
- HIST 4490 - Mexico and the Caribbean 3 credit hours
HIST 4490 - Mexico and the Caribbean
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Three hours of HIST 1010, HIST 1020, HIST 1110, or HIST 1120. The development of cultural, economic, and political traditions since 1492.
- HIST 4510 - Aztecs, Incas, and the Spanish Conquest 3 credit hours
HIST 4510 - Aztecs, Incas, and the Spanish Conquest
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Three hours of HIST 1010, HIST 1020, HIST 1110, or HIST 1120. Examines the indigenous societies present before European colonization and the first encounters in Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. Analyzes political structures imposed by the Spanish as well as the social and cultural implications of colonialism and miscegenation.
- HIST 4520 - Latin America: Development, Diaspora, and Drugs 3 credit hours
HIST 4520 - Latin America: Development, Diaspora, and Drugs
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Three hours of HIST 1010, HIST 1020, HIST 1110, HIST 1120. Nineteenth- and twentieth-century Latin America. Examines colonial background, then focuses on the post-Independence period. Explores economic, political, social, and cultural developments since Independence.
- HUM 3070 - Brazilian Popular Culture 3 credit hours
HUM 3070 - Brazilian Popular Culture
3 credit hours
Provides the necessary context, critical analysis, and perspectives on contemporary culture studies in Brazil. There is no language prerequisite for this course.
- HUM 3086 - Women's Voices in Latin American Literatures 3 credit hours
HUM 3086 - Women's Voices in Latin American Literatures
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ENGL 2020, HUM 2610, equivalent, or permission of instructor. Involves in-depth literary and cultural study of a representative sample of women's writing from Latin America. Taught in English.
- HUM 3500 - Latino Images in U.S. Film 3 credit hours
HUM 3500 - Latino Images in U.S. Film
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ENGL 2020, ENGL 2030, HUM 2610, or permission of instructor. Explores the past and present portrayals of Latinos in U.S. cinema.
- PORT 2010 - Intermediate Portuguese I 3 credit hours
PORT 2010 - Intermediate Portuguese I
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: PORT 1020 or PORT 1040 or permission of instructor. A review of Portuguese grammar with readings and oral exercises designed to improve the student's skills and understanding of Brazilian culture.
TBC: Non-Written Communication
- PORT 2020 - Intermediate Portuguese II 3 credit hours
PORT 2020 - Intermediate Portuguese II
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: PORT 2010 or permission of instructor. Continuation of PORT 2010.
TBC: Non-Written Communication
- PS 3210 - International Relations 3 credit hours
PS 3210 - International Relations
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: PS 1010 or permission of instructor. The state system and national power, balance of power, balance of terror, game theory, psychological aspects of international conflict, decision making, diplomacy and negotiation, war, disarmament, and collective security.
- PS 4900 - Latin American Politics 3 credit hours
PS 4900 - Latin American Politics
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: PS 1010 or permission of instructor. Emphasis on the comparative analysis of structures, functions, and aspects of Latin American political cultures and systems.
- SPAN 2010 - Intermediate Spanish I 3 credit hours
SPAN 2010 - Intermediate Spanish I
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: SPAN 1020, SPAN 1040, or advanced placement. A review of Spanish grammar with reading and oral exercises designed to improve the ability to understand the written and spoken language.
TBC: Non-Written Communication
- SPAN 2020 - Intermediate Spanish II 3 credit hours
SPAN 2020 - Intermediate Spanish II
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: SPAN 2010 or advanced placement. A continuation of SPAN 2010.
TBC: Non-Written Communication
- SPAN 3060 - Introduction to Hispanic Culture 3 credit hours
SPAN 3060 - Introduction to Hispanic Culture
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: SPAN 2020 or permission of instructor. Peninsular Spanish culture focusing on the geography, history, social institutions, values, and beliefs.
SPAN 3070 - Introduction to Latin American Civilizations and Cultures
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: SPAN 3010 or permission of instructor. Historical and cultural overview of Latin America from its early pre-Columbian origins to this region's dynamic realities in the twenty-first century.
- SPAN 4040 - Latin American Literature I 3 credit hours
SPAN 4040 - Latin American Literature I
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: SPAN 3080 or permission of instructor. Latin American literature from pre-Columbian times through Romanticism. Prose fiction and nonfiction, poetry, and drama included.
- SPAN 4045 - Topics in Hispanic Cinema 3 credit hours
SPAN 4045 - Topics in Hispanic Cinema
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: SPAN 3080 or permission of instructor. A cultural study of the peoples and societies of Latin America and Spain through film.
- SPAN 4050 - Latin American Literature II 3 credit hours
SPAN 4050 - Latin American Literature II
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: SPAN 3080 or permission of instructor. Major works of Latin American literature from the late nineteenth century to the present.
SPAN 4090 - Special Topics in Latin American Literature or Culture
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: SPAN 3080 or permission of instructor. Topics selected from specialized areas of Latin American literature or culture.
- SPAN 4910 - Directed Readings in Latin American Literature and Culture 1 to 6 credit hours
SPAN 4910 - Directed Readings in Latin American Literature and Culture
1 to 6 credit hours
Prerequisites: 15 hours of Spanish or permission of instructor. Individualized intensive reading in primary and secondary sources relating to a specific topic in Latin American literature or culture.
NOTE:
Directed readings or special topics in any pertinent department may be pursued with prior approval of the instructor involved and the Latin American Studies advisor.
