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LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES COURSES

ANT 131 CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Introduction to the basic concepts and findings of contemporary socio-cultural anthropology. An understanding of diverse human lifestyles around the world will be approached by examining and comparing the culture and social organization of several societies. Content will vary from year to year. Ammons/Three credits

ANT 133 ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

This course will examine the earliest civilizations from an archeological perspective. The focus will be the archeology of six “primary” civilizations in Sumeria, Egypt, China, the Indus Valley, highland and lowland Mesoamerica, and Peru. The course will emphasize how archeologists study these civilizations, including questions about how civilizations arose, how they differ from other types of ancient society, and what archeological remains tell us about their defining characteristics. The six civilizations will also be compared for an understanding of what is common in ancient civilizations. Gazin-Schwartz/Three credits

ANT 225 WOMEN AND MEN IN CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

An analysis of the development, perpetuation, and impact of the cultural definition of disparate social roles of women and men. The course takes the comparative view of the gender roles in different types of 20th-century societies: hunter-gatherers, horticulturists, pastoralists, agriculturalist, and industrialists. Emphasis is placed on societies of developing countries. Topics included are varying definitions of gender roles; varieties of family structure; the interrelationship of sex, race, and class; the impact of colonialism; and sociobiology. Ammons/Three credits

ANT 235 ETHNOGRAPHY OF LATIN AMERICA

This course provides an overview of some of the varieties of indigenous and mestizo cultures of Latin America through comparative analysis of several anthropological case studies. Topics covered will be differences and similarities among various subcultural groups in social, economic, political and religious institutions; and interaction among the groups. Attention will be paid to the differential impact of development. Ammons/Three credits

CLT 253 CONTEMPORARY SPANISH-AMERICAN LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION

A reading and analysis of representative works of Fuentes, Borges, Cortázar, and others who constitute the vanguard of the current literary “boom” in Spanish-America. Works will be read in English. The course is designed to introduce the English-speaking students to a wide variety of imaginative fiction being produced today in Latin America. The works and writers studied represent the area’s geographic and social diversity. Emphasis is placed on the particularly “Latin” method of examining the universal questions of love, death, friendship, politics, and survival. Begley/Three credits

CLT 256 LATINO VOICES

The course explores the themes of cultural and national identity in major novels, collections of short stories, television programs, film, and non-fiction created by Latino writers of the United States. The class will attempt to answer the following questions: What are the characteristics of the Latino text? Does the fact that a writer or director heralds from Hispanic descent necessarily render her or his fictional product a Latino text? Is there really one, sole Latino community represented in the texts, or rather, do we encounter a plurality of definitions of community? How does each writer and director use language(s)? Why are most of these texts written or performed primarily in English? Why do they narrate the experiences of young adolescents who emigrate to the United States? How has the existing body of critical studies on these texts affected the production of a Latino canon? Prerequisite: LTE 140 or equivalent. Guerrero-Watanabe/Three credits

ECO 252 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Using problems encountered by less developed countries, theories of development are presented. The course addresses problems of capital accumulation, resources and population issues, strategies for agricultural and industrial development, government’s role, and relationships between developing and developed economies. Latin American Studies majors will focus their case work and writing on Latin American economic issues. Lynn/Three credits

ECO 353 INTERNATIONAL TRADE

An examination of the theory of international trade and policies followed by governments with respect to trade of goods and services among countries. Theory examines the gains from trade under classical and modern assumptions, and the impact of various measures used by governments to either restrict or promote trade. Policy analysis focuses on U.S. trade policies and the role of the World Trade Organization. Current topics include trade and the environment, NAFTA, U.S.-China trade, and others as appropriate. Prerequisites: ECO 110 and Junior/Senior standing. (Fall) Kantarelis, Lynn, McGee/Three credits

ECO 354 INTERNATIONAL FINANCE

This course covers open economy macroeconomics. Topics include: balance or payments accounting, exchange rate determination, monetary and fiscal policy, and macroeconomic modeling. After examining standard theories and models, the course will explore case studies from recent history in numerous countries. The case studies will focus on: debt and balance of payments crises, speculative currency attacks, European monetary union, International Monetary Fund policy, and the value of the U.S. dollar. Students will engage in research projects. Prerequisites: ECO 110-111 and Junior/Senior standing. (Spring) Kantarelis, McGee/Three credits

GEO 222 REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH AMERICA

Although many place names are important, the actual study of Regional Geography does not emphasize the rote knowledge of all rivers, mountains, and cities. The overall concept of the region, its development, its relationship to the stability of the entire continent, and its potential are the most important elements on which to focus. There are place names to know but only in the context of why they are important to their country or to the region. Thus, the conceptualization of how places are located in space is important, but more important is the understanding of those places’ roles in industry, resources, politics, agriculture, and economics. Emphasis is on country by country review of natural resources, industry, physical structure, economic viability, its role in South America, and its potential for development in the new millennium. Hickey/Three credits

HIS 250 COLONIAL LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY

This course is intended as a survey of colonial Latin American history. It traces the historical origins of Latin American society, focusing on the conflict of the clash of cultures. Themes include an examination into Iberian and pre-Columbian societies; conquest and subordination of Amerindian civilizations by Spain and Portugal; the structure and distribution of power, land, and labor in postconquest Latin America; and the order and instability of colonial society. A major theme is the nature of inter-ethnic conflict between the European, African, and Indigenous peoples which made up the complex social fabric of the colony. Not open to students who have completed HIS 256. Staff/Three credits

HIS 251 MODERN LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY SINCE 1821

This course is intended as a survey of Modern Latin American history beginning with independence from Spain, and following through the explosive impact of the Mexican Revolution of 1910. The course ends with an examination of the present-day struggle for democracy and economic stability in Latin American nations, such as Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Columbia, and the countries of the Central American republics. The themes of the course focus on the causes and consequences of structural instability in Latin America since 1800. Special emphasis is placed on the collapse of the region’s traditional liberal/export model of national development in the 1930s and current political and economic crisis. Staff/Three credits

HIS 256 COLONIAL ENCOUNTERS IN SPANISH AMERICA

An interdisciplinary approach to the problems of Spanish colonialism in the New World. Themes and issues are approached from both a historical and literary perspective. Some of the themes covered include the transition from pre- Columbian to colonial society; the Spanish conquest and evangelization, and their impact on the development of a mestizo society; the connection between colonial culture and artistic expression; and finally the development of Spanish- American consciousness and development of national and political identity. The rationale behind this course is the comprehensive examination of Spanish colonial society that can only be understood by examining the society, culture, and literary expressions against the historical context of the region’s colonial development. No prerequisites; not open to students who have completed HIS 250. Staff/Three credits

HIS 389 SPECIAL TOPICS IN HISTORY

This course permits the study of selected topics in history. The topic normally changes every time the course is offered. The course fulfills a Latin American Studies elective when the topic is in this area. Staff/Three credits

HIS 392 HISTORY COLLOQUIUM

Designed principally for History majors and minors, the Colloquium brings together a small number of advanced students to study in depth a fairly restricted topic. Open to Latin American Studies majors when the topic is on Latin America. This course explores the origins of poverty in Latin America from the nineteenth century to the present, focusing on the ways Latin Americans themselves understood, dealt, and represented poverty. It also studies the perspectives of the poor and the ways they have challenged national policies of modernity and development. Staff/Three credits

HIS 393 HISTORY SEMINAR

A research-oriented course designed primarily for History majors and minors, the Seminar is open only to students whose previous academic record demonstrates an ability to work independently and at a high intellectual level. Students will conduct individual research projects on different aspects of the seminar topic, which is chosen by the professor. Recent seminar topics have included the Inquisition and the Catholic Church in Mexico, and the Yucatan, and Human Rights and Violence in Latin America. Staff/Three credits

LAS 200 INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES

A comprehensive introduction to Latin America and the Caribbean, this course provides a foundation for understanding the cultures and societies of the region. The course focuses on the diversity of cultures, indigenous 84 INTERDISCIPLINARY MAJOR IN LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES peoples and those who came later, past and present interactions between this region and the rest of the world, and literature, art, and music. Staff/Three credits

LAS 390 INTERNSHIP

This internship provides students with an experiential learning opportunity while developing an academically oriented project. Students may opt to collaborate with the Latino Education Institute, or other agencies within the Latino community. Prerequisite: a minimum of one course with Latin American content at level 200. Staff/Three credits

LAS 395 SPECIAL TOPICS

This course is an in-depth study of a specific topic on Latin American history, politics, society, culture, or artistic expression. Staff/Three credits

LAS 399 INDEPENDENT STUDY

This is an individually supervised study of a relevant topic on Latin America. Available only to highly qualified majors who wish to develop a special interest, and have demonstrated ability for independent work. Permission of the program director is required. Prerequisite: a minimum of one course with Latin American content at level 200. Staff/Three credits

LAS 400 LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES SEMINAR

An advanced research-oriented course, the seminar examines specific areas or topics from an interdisciplinary perspective. Because of this integrated approach, the course draws upon materials from more than one discipline. The content varies according to interest and the professor’s choice. Recent topics include: Creating a Nation: Mexico; Engaging the Andes: Peru and Ecuador; and Human Rights and Violence in Latin America; among others. The seminar is required of all Latin American Studies majors. Minors are encouraged to complete their study with this course. Prerequisites: Two courses with Latin American content in any related discipline at 200-level or higher and Senior/Junior standing. With permission of the program director, students who have demonstrated suitable preparation may enroll in this course. Staff/Three credits

LIN 221 SOCIOLINGUISTICS

The dynamics of language as a social and cultural phenomenon. The importance of the various groups speakers belong to (social class, ethnic group, sex, age, occupation, and geographic area, for example) and what speakers do on particular communicative occasions (the interrelations of speaker, addressee, audience, topic, channel, and setting). Latin American Studies students may select special projects according to their areas of interest. (Fall and Spring) Aubin/Three credits

MUS 236 LATIN AMERICAN MUSIC

A study of the musical culture of the Latin American nations from the pre-Columbian period to the present in its social and historical context. Along with folk music traditions, concert music of major Latin American composers will be studied, as well as the influence of Latin American music in general on other musical traditions of the West. Lamothe/Three credits

POL 331 LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS

This course traces and examines major political currents and forms in Latin America. It seeks to grasp such political phenomena as dictatorship, revolution, and democratization. An emphatic theme is the problems and prospects for liberal democracy and political stability. The political structure and processes of government, parties and elections, issues of law and policy will be examined in a historical and cultural context. Certain countries (Brazil, Mexico) and particular aspects of various countries (Argentina, Chile, Peru, Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Haiti) will be emphasized as dominant regional trend setters, illustrations of important themes, or exceptional cases. Staff/Three credits

SPA 253 MAIN CURRENTS OF SPANISH-AMERICAN LITERATURE I

A critical study of major literary periods from Colonial times through the 19th Century, this course introduces students to a representative collection of literary works from the countries of Spanish-America which are presented in chronological order. The study entails a comprehensive view of the pre-Columbian literary oral tradition as compiled during the Spanish colonization; the first Spanish- American writings; and the literary works of the Baroque, Neoclassical, and Romantic periods within the historical, cultural, and intellectual context. Readings include poems, letters, chronicles, essays, short stories, and short novels. Prerequisite: SPA 140. Not open to students who have completed SPA 256. (Fall 2005) Grijalva/Three credits

SPA 254 MAIN CURRENTS OF SPANISH-AMERICAN LITERATURE II

A critical study of literary periods from Modernism to the present within the cultural and intellectual development of the Spanish-American nations. Emphasis on the importance of Modernism with which Spanish-American literature entered the mainstream of Western letters, and on the impact of the Mexican Revolution in sharpening the social awareness of all writers throughout the century. Study of various literary directions: regionalism, indigenismo, poetic vanguard, social literary expression, critical revision of history, testimonial narrative and drama, and postmodern expression. Reading and analysis of representative works. Prerequisite: SPA 140. (Spring 2006) Staff/Three credits

SPA 256 COLONIAL ENCOUNTERS IN SPANISH AMERICA

An interdisciplinary survey examining the impact of Spanish colonialism in the New World through Independence in the early 19th Century. Themes and issues are approached from both a historical and literary perspective. By critically using primary sources and other colonial literature, the course explores the nature of Spanish-American literary and historical development during the Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, and early Romantic periods. Some of the themes include the transition from pre-Columbian to colonial society; the Spanish conquest and evangelization and their impact on the development of a mestizo society; and finally the development of Spanish-American consciousness and development of national identity. Prerequisite: SPA 140; not open to students who have completed SPA 253. Staff/Three credits

SPA 312 SPANISH-AMERICAN CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION

This course attempts to build up an understanding of the Spanish-American world since pre-Columbian civilizations through colonial times. Topics to be considered include: Aztec warfare, religion and ritual; Mayan scientific thought, astronomy, and architecture; life in the Inca empire; Spanish conquest and the image of the conquistador; the quest for El Dorado; colonial culture and the Enlightenment; and the role of women in the foundations of the Spanish-American culture. Emphasis is placed on the development of the Spanish-American character, a product of the superimposition of new cultures upon the ancient civilizations. Prerequisite: any Main Currents course. Not open to students who have taken SPA 256. Grijalva/Three credits

SPA 313 SPANISH-AMERICAN CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION II

The main objective of this course is to examine the Spanish- American way of life since the independence from Spain at the beginning of the 19th through the 20th century, as seen in the political development, social structures, and intellectual and cultural achievements of the new nations. Topics to be considered include: civilización vs. barbarie; the culture of dictatorships and revolutions; the Mexican muralists; the role of the church and the work of the theology of liberation; contributions of Spanish- American/Latina women; the impact of African culture on music and art; and the presence of Latino culture in the United States, among other topics. Prerequisite: any Main Currents course. Staff/Three credits

SPA 315 CARIBBEAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE

This course explores the social and cultural institutions of the Spanish Caribbean in the 19th and 20th centuries. Special emphasis will be placed on the racial dynamics and political events that have shaped the culture of all three nations: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. Prerequisite: any Main Currents course. Guerrero-Watanabe/Three credits

SPA 316 EMERGING MODERNITY IN THE HISPANIC WORLD

The main objective of this course is the expansion of each student’s understanding of the social and political events, artistic production, literary texts and culture of four countries in the Hispanic world: Spain, Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. The course focuses on the transition towards the historical period of the 20th century that we will refer to as “modernity.” Throughout the course, we will make use of readings, films, music, and the Internet in order to develop a more complete understanding of the complex modes of cultural production. Prerequisite: Any Main Currents Course. Guerrero-Watanabe/Three credits

SPA 381 20TH-CENTURY SPANISH-AMERICAN DRAMA

This course focuses on the study of Spanish-American playwrights who have been responsive to the challenges of their realities and to world currents of literature and drama. We will study the contexts in which the plays were created, and analyze the construction and meaning of the dramatic world. The plays selected reflect the dramatists’ concerns about institutionalized violence, marginalization, class distinction, self-representation, censorship in restrictive societies, and the complex articulation of gender in a variety of ways. The course examines the construction and meaning of the dramatic world through the study of discourse and speech acts, sign system, dramatic action, and imagery. Prerequisite: any Main Currents course. Staff/Three credits

SPA 384 20TH-CENTURY SPANISH-AMERICAN PROSE FICTION

This course focuses on the study of narrative works written in recent years by innovative Spanish-American writers. Through close reading and analysis of selected texts by Asturias, Borges, Carpentier, Fuentes, García Márquez, Allende, Poniatowska, Cisneros, and Santiago, among others, we will explore artistic values and critically examine subjects related to Spanish-American life and literature: myth and history; identity; marginalization in Latino/a writing; women’s voices; and testimonial writing, among others. Prerequisite: any Main Currents course. Staff/Three credits

SPA 385 SPANISH-AMERICAN SHORT FICTION

Short fiction is particularly significant in the study of 20th century Spanish-American literature, because this genre has been a catalyst in the literary developments that led to the “boom” of the 1960’s. The texts selected are short narratives that represent regional differences, but also reflect common aesthetic goals which aim at innovation and change. These literary movements include magic realism, as in the works of García Márquez and Carpentier; the fantastic, expressed in the short stories of Borges and Cortázar; social realism as presented by Rulfo; and feminist literature written by authors, such as Ferré, Claribel Alegría, and Poniatowska, who address gender issues and questions of identity and social roles. Prerequisite: any Main Currents course. Staff/Three credits

SPA 386 LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA

Latin American cinema has been undergoing a revival from the mid-90’s onward. This course focuses on the cultural context of this revival by exploring the development of city films. We will screen films from Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Cuba, and Colombia, seeking to understand how each film addresses, or does not address, specific national concerns, especially urban issues, such as delinquency, violence and corruption, urban segregation, uses of public space, immigration, and gender, among others. The course also introduces the student to basic sequence analysis and film vocabulary in Spanish. The main objective is to develop “literacy” in media and provide students with a grounding in the film history of Latin America. Prerequisite: any Main Currents course. (Fall 2005) Kercher/Three credits

SPA 387 MODERNISMO

Modernismo asserted the maturity of Spanish-American literature and brought the writers of all regions into its cosmopolitan dimension. The course examines the vital style and imagery that characterized this literary movement at the turn of the 19th century. The concern of modernista poets about experimentation with metaphors and versification will be studied through the poetry and poetic prose of Darío, Martí, Nájera, Silva, and others, while the study of fictional and non-fictional prose will concentrate on the works of Larreta and Rodó. Prerequisite: any Main Currents course. Guerrero-Watanabe/Three credits

SPA 396 SPANISH-AMERICAN/LATINA WOMEN WRITERS

The main objective of this course is to bring together authors from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and address the question of the ideology that sustains their writing. Each work provides the basis for discussion on gender, race, and class. Many writers are less interested in singling out male/female polarities than in exploring their subjectivity. Others are concerned with political oppression. A number of them seek to expose and undermine the established social roles of women. Readings are selected from various types of literary genres: novel, short fiction, epistolary writing, testimonial writing, poetry, autobiography, drama, and essay. Authors vary by semester, and may include: Sor Juana, Gómez de Avellaneda, Allende, Castellanos, Cisneros, Gambaro, Menchú, Prida, Valenzuela, and Vega. Prerequisite: any Main Currents course. Staff/Three credits

SPA 400 SPECIAL TOPICS: INDIANISMO, INDIGENISMO AND NEO INDIGENISMO IN LATIN AMERICA

This course offers a general introduction to the study of indigenista literature from its colonial origins until contemporary times in Latin America. We critically analyze how different literary genres (i.e. chronicle, short story, poetry, novel, and testimony) and public art (i.e. films, paintings and murals) have portrayed, and very often misrepresented, the problems of poverty, economic exploitation and racial discrimination of indigenous populations in Latin America. Prerequisite: Any Main Currents Course. (Fall 2005) Grijalva/Three credits

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Major / Concentration:

Latin American / Latino Studies

The Department of Latin American Studies responds to the increased interest in the societies of the region and to the need to understand the complexity of their history, political and economic systems, social structures, and literary and artistic expression. The history of the Latin American nations and the development of their distinctive identities developed since pre-Columbian times through colonization, the struggle for independence, and the establishment of modern democracies offer a challenging range of areas to explore. The presence of Latin America within the United States in the Latino communities gives another dimension to the study.

Students are strongly advised to study junior year abroad in a Latin American country.
The program fosters multiple opportunities for multiculturalism and diversity.
An appreciation and understanding of Latin American/Latino culture and history gives students an advantage in any profession, particularly international business.
Helps to prepare students for the ever growing diverse work force.
Provides and supports experiential learning opportunities in our local Worcester community
Courses are typically interdisciplinary.

Career Fields

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