The Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies offers students an interdisciplinary perspective on the vibrant and diverse countries and cultures of Latin America. Students gain an understanding of the various cultural practices and worldviews of the broad region and critically analyze complex issues by applying different theoretical frameworks in the humanities and social sciences. Students develop the language skills and cultural understanding needed to engage in and negotiate contemporary societies of Latin America.
This low-unit major is especially valuable for students pursuing careers in Spanish, agriculture, anthropology, business, geography, history, international relations, and political science. The major prepares students for careers in business, education, journalism, sustainable development, recreation, and travel, as well as job opportunities in government and non-governmental agencies.
Students are encouraged to study abroad in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, and Uruguay.
Advising Requirement
Advising is mandatory for this program. Consult your department advisor or program coordinator for information.
E-advising Tools
Use the interactive e-advising tools designed to help students graduate within four years. These tools can be accessed through the Student Center in the Portal.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Some courses require a minimum grade to progress in the program. Minimum grade requirements, including those listed on course requisites, are considered graduation requirements.
Course Requirements for the Major: 31-43 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
A minimum fourth-semester competency in Spanish is required for Latin American Studies majors. Students interested in Portuguese can fulfill this language requirement by taking the equivalent of four semesters of Portuguese from an accredited program either in the United States or through study abroad. Students who have met the language competency prior to enrollment should see the major advisor regarding completion of requirements.
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. Consult with an advisor to help select courses that provide breadth to your University experience and possibly help satisfy credential, professional, or graduate school prerequisites or support completion of a minor.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 43 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education requirements and course offerings.
American Institutions Course Requirements: 6 units
The American Institutions graduation requirement, as mandated in Title 5, Section 40404, requires that students satisfactorily complete courses in United States history, the US Constitution, and government and American ideals (including California state and local government). At Chico State, HIST 130 meets the US history requirement (US-1), and POLS 155 meets the US Constitution and government requirement (US-2) and the California state and local government requirement (US-3). POLS 155 also fulfills three units of GE Area 4, Social and Behavioral Sciences. See Bachelor’s Degree Requirements for more information.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Many courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) requires you to take four Writing (W) courses, two of which are upper-division courses designated for your major. Specifically, you must:
Take one Writing (W) course.
Take one Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) course.
Complete a GE English Composition (1A) course before taking the GW course.
Earn a grade of C- or higher to receive GW credit.
See Writing and Math Requirements for details on additional writing requirements you need to complete for graduation.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are clear, measurable statements that describe how students demonstrate mastery of the knowledge, skills, and values of the discipline as appropriate to the degree. Graduates of this program are expected to achieve the following PLOs:
Write a coherent essay or make an effective oral presentation on a Latin American topic.
Demonstrate functional reading comprehension in Spanish or Portuguese by reading and interpreting authentic materials from Latin America in their original language(s).
Communicate effectively about the history, geography, political and economic systems, achievements in literature and the arts, cultural characteristics, and current events of the region, and apply knowledge from the different disciplines to their own research.
Describe, contrast, and summarize patterns of cultural diversity and/or heritage in at least two regions of Latin America.
Identify, discuss, and analyze the impacts of globalization on Latin America.
Research a topic of their choosing using a variety of print and digital sources found in the university library and online.
