Whitman
Search for
Latin American Studies
  • Director: Jason Pribilsky, Anthropology
  • Aaron Bobrow-Strain, Politics
  • Julie A. Charlip, History (on Sabbatical, Spring 2010)

Latin America is a diverse region stretching from Mexico to Chile, including 18 Spanish-speaking countries and Brazil. The Latin American studies major offers the opportunity to study the area through an interdisciplinary approach that includes language, literature, history, politics, economics, society, and culture. Students majoring in Latin American studies are required to take courses in Spanish at the third-year level, as well as classes in Latin American history, politics, and anthropology. They also may choose advanced courses in Latino literature, cinema, and art history. Majors are required to complete 34 credits. Although not required, students in the Latin American studies field are encouraged to enroll in approved study abroad programs to Latin American countries.

The Latin American Studies major: Thirty-four credits; at least 12 credits must be at the 300 level or above.

Required courses:

  • Eight credits from among the following courses: Spanish 305/306, 325, 341, 342, 343, or any 400-level courses taught in Spanish on a Latin American topic.
  • Three credits from History 188, Modern Latin America.

Required areas:

  • Four credits from one course in Latin American history at the 200 level or above.
  • Four credits from one course in politics at the 200 level or above.
  • Four credits from one course in anthropology at the 200 level or above.
  • Two credits from Latin American Studies 495, Senior Thesis Workshop.
  • Two credits from Latin American Studies 496, Senior Thesis.
  • Electives: A minimum of seven credits.

Students who major in Latin American studies may choose among the following courses for their required area courses and electives:

  • Anthropology 231 Archaeology of South America
  • Anthropology 238 The Archaeology of Mesoamerica
  • Anthropology 259 Andean Culture and Society since the Inca
  • Art History 208 Art of the Americas
  • History 283 Topics in Latin American History
  • History 287 Colonial Latin America
  • History 381 History of Central America
  • History 382 United States-Latin American Relations
  • History 384 Cuba and Nicaragua
  • History 387 Topics in Latin American History
  • History 389 History of Mexico
  • History 495 Seminar in Latin American History
  • Politics 242 The Politics of Development in Latin America
  • Politics 334 The U.S.-Mexico Border
  • Politics 335 Globalization and the Cultural Politics of Development in Latin America
  • Politics 373 Political Ecology of Latin America
  • Spanish 411 Desperate Housewives: Feminism and Fiction in Latin America
  • Spanish 417 Visions of Paradise: Latin American Perceptions of What it Means to be Human
  • Spanish 418 Soulscapes of Prison: Prison Narratives of Latin America
  • Spanish 419 Cannibalizing Cannibalism: Re-appropriations of Savagery in Latin American Literature and Cinema
  • Spanish 421 Axis of Evil: Law and Literature in Latino America and the Caribbean
  • Spanish 425 The Rise of Latinos in the U.S.
  • Spanish 437 Green: Eco-Literature in the Americas
  • Spanish 447 Familias y Fronteras: Contemporary Chicana Literature
  • Spanish 449 The Persistence of Memory: Cultural Representations of Argentina’s “Guerra sucia”
  • Spanish 450 Night Chicas: Sex Workers in Film and Literature from Spain, Mexico, and Brazil
  • Spanish 453 Seeing and not Seeing: Photography and Film in Latin American Literature
  • Spanish 457 Magical Realism
  • World Literature 381-390/RFS 368 World Literature and World Cinema (when the topic is Latin America)

Other courses with relevant content as approved by the Latin American studies faculty advisers.

At least 23 of the 34 credits required for the Latin American studies major must be completed on-campus at Whitman and none may be taken for P-D-F or as independent study.

No major comprehensive exam is required, rather the oral defense of the thesis before a committee consisting of professors from at least three of the required course areas.

The Latin American Studies minor: Twenty credits as follows:

  • Two Latin American history courses (history majors cannot count these courses toward their history major requirements.)
  • Eight credits from among the following courses: Spanish 205/206, 305/306, 325, 341, 342, 343 or any 400-level courses taught in Spanish on a Latin American topic.
  • Four credits from among the following supporting courses: Anthropology 259; History 283, 287, 381, 382, 383, 384, 387, 389, 495; Politics 242, 334, 335, 373; Spanish 341, 342, 343, 431, 432, 433, 434, plus 440-449, 467, 468; and World Literature 381-390/Rhetoric and Film Studies 368, when the topic is Spanish American cinema or literature, and other courses by consent of the adviser(s) in Latin American studies.

A minimum of eight credits in Latin American history and in Spanish for this minor must be completed at Whitman, and none of these credits may be taken P-D-F or as independent study or directed reading.

The Latin American Studies minor for Spanish majors: Twenty credits as follows:

  • Three Latin American history courses.
  • Eight credits from among the following supporting courses: Anthropology 259; History 283, 287, 381, 382, 383, 384, 387, 389, 495; Politics 242, 334, 335, 373; Spanish 431, 432, 433, 434, plus 440-449, 467, 468; and World Literature 381-390/Rhetoric and Film Studies 368, when the topic is Spanish American cinema or literature (not to be duplicated in major requirement credit), and other courses by consent of the adviser(s) in Latin American studies.

A minimum of eight credits in Latin American history for this minor must be completed at Whitman, and none of these credits may be taken P-D-F or as independent study or directed reading.

495 Latin American Studies Senior Thesis Workshop
2, x Pribilsky

Required of and limited to senior majors in Latin American Studies.

496 Latin American Studies Senior Thesis
x, 2 Staff

The completion of the draft of the senior thesis prepared by Latin American Studies 495. Required of and limited to senior majors in Latin American studies.

498 Latin American Studies Honors Thesis
x, 2 Staff

The completion of the draft of the thesis prepared in Latin American Studies 495. Required of and limited to senior honors candidates in Latin American Studies. Prerequisite: Admission to honors candidacy.