Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS)

LALS 103. Mentored Field Experience: Preparation. 0.5 Units.

A two-semester course associated with faculty-guided research trips to Latin America sponsored by the Hollis International Scholars Program. Each portion of the course is worth 0.5 of a course unit. Prerequisite: competitive selection process in semester prior to course offering.

LALS 104. Mentored Field Experience: Evaluation. 0.5 Units.

A two-semester course associated with faculty-guided research trips to Latin America sponsored by the Hollis International Scholars Program. Each portion of the course is worth 0.5 of a course unit. Prerequisite: competitive selection process in semester prior to course offering.

LALS 190. Special Topics in Latin American and Latino Studies. 1 Unit.

LALS 201S. Latin American Revolutions and Resurrections. 1 Unit.

An examination of topics such as social change, economic development, conservation problems and political systems.

LALS 203B. Introduction to Latinx Studies. 1 Unit.

Introduction to Latinx Studies offers the skills and information for students interested in careers in health, education, law, media, business, and politics. It offers an interdisciplinary and practical approach to the study of Mexican-American (Chicano or Chicanx), Puerto Rican, Cuban-American, Dominican-American, Central American-American, and other Latinx communities in the United States. Students will understand not only the interconnections among those diverse communities, but also the critical differences that inform cultural, social, and creative analyses. Apart from studying these dynamic cultural, political, and economic systems, the course will also address the history of Latinx Studies in the United States. Students will learn and appreciate the social protests that gave birth to Latinx Studies as a socially conscious and community-based branch of academia.

LALS 205. Andean Politics and Society - Case Study. 1 Unit.

LALS 245S. Andean Social History – Case Study: Ecuador. 1 Unit.

Ecuador has passed though some very tumultuous times in the last one fifty years: the discovery of vast amounts of oil in the Amazon in the 1960s, military authoritarianism and reformism in the 1970s, indigenous political organization, democratization and economic crisis in the 1980s, neoliberalism and political turmoil in the 1990s leading to political meltdown at the turn of the century, a leftward turn in politics in the 2000s culminating in a ‘populist’ version of electoral-authoritarian politics in the 2010s, a gradual economic recovery and an apparent return to democratic ‘normalcy’ over the last couple of years, and a troubling uptick in drug trafficking and related violence on the coast. How does Ecuador’s (and, locally, Cuenca’s) history help us to understand – “to make sense of” – the country’s and city’s here and now?.

LALS 285. Independent Study. 0.5 or 1 Units.

LALS 290. Special Topics in Latin American and Latino Studies. 1 Unit.

LALS 301B. Mayan Culture. 1 Unit.

A multidisciplinary course that explores the world of the Maya, from its prehistoric origins through its fluorescence during the Classic period to the contemporary cultural revival known as the Mayan Movement. Topics include regional history, hieroglyphic writing, calendar systems, mythology, the Popol Vuh, social conflict and contemporary lifestyles.

LALS 385. Independent Study. 0.5 or 1 Units.

LALS 390. Special Topics in Latin American and Latino Studies. 1 Unit.

LALS 397. Internship in Latin American and Latino Studies. 0.5 or 1 Units.

Students will be accepted into the course by permission only and must have at least second year standing, at least two course units studying Latin American topics, and an overall 2.5 GPA. In addition to completing the required hours in the internship, students will be required to present a journal describing some aspects of that experience and a 10-12-page paper on a topic related to the internship. The field supervisor will also be asked for a letter of evaluation. Internship Orientation: Some majors or internship courses may require completing the internship orientation before starting your course. This orientation is offered asynchronously via Canvas. Please contact your Faculty Internship Course Instructor for details.

LALS 485. Independent Study. 1 Unit.

LALS 490. Special Topics in Latin American and Latino Studies. 0.5 or 1 Units.