Curriculum in Latin American Studies

Introduction

The three main goals of the Curriculum in Latin American Studies are

• to develop students’ basic knowledge and comprehension of key themes in Latin American and Caribbean history, cultures, and contemporary social, economic, and political issues;
• to develop students’ abilities to think critically, in an interdisciplinary manner, about Latin American and Caribbean issues, past and present, and to locate them within broader global perspectives;
• to develop students’ proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese and other languages of the region as needed, as part of their program of study.

Advising

All majors have a primary academic advisor assigned in ConnectCarolina. Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with their advisor and review their Tar Heel Tracker each semester. The department’s director of undergraduate studies (DUS) works with current and prospective majors by appointment. Majors are expected to meet with the LTAM DUS once a semester and to attend at least one meeting of the LTAM majors a year. Departmental academic advising is particularly important for those majors who are considering going on to graduate school. Further information on courses, undergraduate research and internship funding opportunities, and the honors program may be obtained through the Curriculum in Latin American Studies web page or by contacting the director of undergraduate studies (see contacts tab above).

Graduate School and Career Opportunities

The Curriculum in Latin American Studies provides advice for students interested in pursuing graduate school and career opportunities in Latin America or the Caribbean. Please contact the director of undergraduate studies for an appointment. The Curriculum in Latin American Studies participates in a five-year cooperative B.A.–M.A. program with the Center for Latin American Studies at Georgetown University. The agreement allows qualified Latin American studies majors to earn an M.A. in Latin American studies from Georgetown in a year and a summer rather than the normal three to four semesters. For details on the cooperative degree program and on support for academic research and study, contact the director of undergraduate studies.

Major

• Latin American Studies Major, B.A.

Courses

• Latin American Studies (LTAM) 

Affiliated Faculty

Juan Alamo (Music), Javier Arce Nazario (Geography and Environment), Florence Babb (Anthropology), Clare Barrington (Health Behavior), Brandon Bayne (Religious Studies), Maya Berry (African, African American, and Diaspora Studies), Brian Billman (Anthropology), Richard Bilsborrow (Biostatistics), Teresa Chapa (Latin American and Iberian Resources Bibliographer), Rudolf Colloredo-Mansfeld (Anthropology), Paul Cuadros (Media and Journalism), Eduardo Douglas (Art), Bruno Estigarribia (Romance Studies), Oswaldo Estrada (Romance Studies), David García (Music), Juan Carlos González-Espitia (Romance Studies), Jonathan Hartlyn (Political Science), Ashley Hernandez (Department of City and Regional Planning), Evelyne Huber (Political Science), Miguel LaSerna (History), Nina Martin (Geography and Environment), Cecilia Martínez-Gallardo (Political Science), Ruth Matamoros-Mercado (Geography and Environment), Patricia McAnany (Anthropology), David Mora-Marín (Linguistics), Raúl Necochea (Social Medicine), Todd Ochoa (Religious Studies), Caela O'Connell (Anthropology), Rosa Perelmuter (Romance Studies), Louis A. Pérez Jr. (History), Krista Perreira (Social Medicine), Cynthia Radding (History), Alicia Rivero (Romance Studies), Diego Riveros-Iregui (Geography and Environment), Petal Samuel (African, African American, and Diaspora Studies), Tanya Shields (Women’s and Gender Studies), Ana María Silva (History), Karla Slocum (Anthropology), Angela Stuesse (Anthropology), Amanda Thompson (Anthropology), Brendan Jamal Thornton (Religious Studies), Gabriela Valdivia (Geography and Environment), Richard Vernon (Romance Studies), Adam Versényi (Dramatic Art), Ariana Vigil (Women's and Gender Studies), Laura Villa Torres (Health Behavior), Deborah Weissman (Law), Deshira Wallace (Global Public Health), Lyneise Williams (Art).