Overview and Learning Goals

Overview

The Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (LACLaS) Program explores the history, aesthetic production, and contemporary relationships of the diverse cultural groups of Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Latinx population in the United States. Its multidisciplinary approach is designed to integrate the scholarly methods and perspectives of several disciplines in order to foster increased understanding of Latin America’s social differences and economic realities, cultural diversity, transnational connections, historical trajectories, and range of popular culture and artistic and literary expression. Competence in a language spoken in the region other than English (such as Spanish, French, or Portuguese) is required, and it is strongly recommended that students participate in an off-campus study program in Latin America.

Learning Goals

Both majors and non-majors will be able to:

• Identify some of the main topics of discussion that have taken or are taking place in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx communities in the United States from a multidisciplinary perspective.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the commonalities and the specificities of the societies, cultures, and the intellectual history of different communities and sub-regions within Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx communities in the United States.
• Display an understanding of the history of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx communities in the United States. 
• Compare and contrast different methodologies, theories, and frameworks applied by different disciplines to the study of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx communities in the United States.
• Apply some of these methodologies and multidisciplinary frameworks to understanding social, political, and cultural processes in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx communities in the United States
• Engage critically with diverse methodologies, theories, and frameworks in order to expand their goals and scopes.
• Criticize and defend their own points of view and those of others with well-rounded arguments, presentations, and essays.  
• Develop communication skills in Spanish, French, and/or other languages spoken in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx communities in the United States.
• Conduct research in Spanish, French, and/or other language spoken in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx communities in the United States.

• Undertake independent research, particularly on the topics pertinent to their academic and personal interests, and demonstrate capacity to formulate interpretations based on their research.
• Pursue community engagement and service opportunities that foster their own knowledge—and that of Bowdoin's larger community—of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx communities in the United States (i.e., talks, symposiums, Alternative Spring Break trips, Latin American Student Organization activities).
• Pursue either graduate study in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx studies or in one of the disciplines represented in the program.
• Pursue professional training in fields in which knowledge of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx communities in the United States is relevant.

Options for Majoring or Minoring in the Program

Students may elect to major in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies or to coordinate a major in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies with digital and computational studies, education, or environmental studies. Students pursuing a coordinate major may not normally elect a second major. Non-majors may elect to minor in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies.

Program Website