Career and Professional Preparation
UWM graduates in the 21st century will participate in a globalized economy with corresponding internationalization of the mass media, education and the arts. As the United States draws even closer to its neighbors in the Americas, students in the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Certificate Program (LACS) will be especially well prepared for this complex and ever-changing world.
Like a departmental minor, the LACS certificate offers a specific academic focus but differs by being interdisciplinary, allowing students to combine related courses in different disciplines to explore common themes. Students who earn a certificate demonstrate their intellectual commitment to a subject and their competence in scholarly areas, which can prove valuable at the graduate level or in the workplace.
All individuals in liberal arts or professional schools, intent on internationalizing their university education by strengthening language skills and area studies knowledge, benefit from participation in the program.
Eligibility
The Certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies is open to all students seeking a bachelor’s degree from UWM, to those who previously received a bachelor’s degree from UWM or any other accredited college or university, and to those who do not plan to pursue a college or university degree (non-degree students) but who have a strong interest in this subject. To be admitted to the university as non-degree students, individuals must meet regular university admission requirements.
Requirements
You are strongly advised to consult both the Latin American and Caribbean Studies advisor and your L&S advisor to ensure you stay on track towards a degree.
Proficiency in a language (other than English) widely spoken in Latin America or the Caribbean is required. The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies will determine which languages will satisfy the certificate. This requirement may be fulfilled by either:
- successful completion (with a grade of C or above) of any upper-level (numbered 300 or above) course in the target language; or
- successful completion of a language proficiency examination. Exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the LACS Certificate Committee.
Students must complete 21 credits in Latin American and Caribbean content courses, 12 of which must be at the 300 level or above. The 21 credits include one required course, LACS 101. Students must take courses in at least two curricular areas, although three areas are recommended. No more than 12 credits in any one curricular area may be counted towards the certificate program, and no more than 3 credits may be in independent study courses. In addition to any Latin American content courses taken in a semester-length, UWM-approved study abroad program in Latin America or the Caribbean, an additional three credits for participating also may be counted, if courses are taken within an immersion setting (as determined by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies). A 2.750 GPA or better must be achieved in all UWM coursework and in all certificate credits. At least 12 credits of the Latin American/Caribbean content courses must be completed at UWM.
Courses that meet the certificate requirements include, but are not limited to, those in the following list. For the most current list of Latin American and Caribbean content courses, see the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, located at NWQ B 2484.
African and African Diaspora Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFRIC 205 | The Poetry of African, African-American, and Caribbean Writers | 3 |
| AFRIC 299 | Ad Hoc: (Sex in the Caribbean) | 1-6 |
| AFRIC 311 | African Religious Thought and Social Organizations | 3 |
| AFRIC 320 | Black Cultures in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| AFRIC 334 | Survey of Black American and Black Brazilian Societies | 3 |
| AFRIC 411 | Change in African-American Communities | 3 |
| AFRIC 418 | Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
Anthropology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 225 | The Aztec Empire | 3 |
| ANTHRO 309 | Archaeology of Central and South America | 3 |
| ANTHRO 310 | Archaeology of Middle America | 3 |
| ANTHRO 311 | The World of the Ancient Maya | 3 |
| ANTHRO 328 | Comparative Studies of Music, Race, and Gender in Nationalism | 3 |
Art History
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTHIST 104 | African, New World and Oceanic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 251 | Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Latin America | 3 |
| ARTHIST 367 | Latin American Modernisms | 3 |
| ARTHIST 372 | Art of the Inca and their Ancestors | 3 |
| ARTHIST 373 | Art of Ancient Mexico and Central America | 3 |
| ARTHIST 375 | Art of the Aztec Empire | 3 |
| ARTHIST 474 | Maya Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 499 | Ad Hoc: (Modern Art of Latin America) | 1-6 |
Atmospheric Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ATM SCI 297 | Study Abroad: (Mexico - Air Pollution and Ancient Cultures) | 1-12 |
| ATM SCI 497 | Study Abroad: (Mexico - Air Pollution and Ancient Cultures) | 1-12 |
Biological Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI 297 | Study Abroad: (Ecology of Tropical Streams in Costa Rica) | 1-12 |
| BIO SCI 497 | Study Abroad: (Ecology of Tropical Streams in Costa Rica) | 1-12 |
Comparative Literature
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMPLIT 135 | Experiencing Literature in the 21st Century: (Women and War in Latin America and the Caribbean) | 3 |
| COMPLIT 230 | Literature and Society: (Cowboys, Gauchos, and Other Narratives of the Frontier) | 3 |
| COMPLIT 232 | Literature and Politics: (Gender and the Historical Novel or Women and War) | 3 |
| COMPLIT 350 | Topics in Comparative Literature: (Literary and Artistic Perspectives on Prostitution) | 3 |
| COMPLIT 360 | Seminar in Literature and Cultural Experience: (Narratives in Torture) | 3 |
| COMPLIT 365 | Literatures and Cultures of the Americas: (Comparative Caribbeans) | 3 |
Conservation and Environmental Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CES 297 | Study Abroad: (Ecology of Tropical Streams in Costa Rica) | 1-12 |
| CES 497 | Study Abroad: (Ecology of Tropical Streams in Costa Rica) | 1-12 |
Dance
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DANCE 370 | World Movement Traditions: (Argentinian Tango) | 2-3 |
Economics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 193 | First-Year Seminar: (Prosperity, Poverty, and Economic Justice) | 3 |
| ECON 353 | Economic Development | 3 |
English
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGLISH 297 | Study Abroad: ("Mexico and Cuba - Comparative Globalization" subtitle) | 1-12 |
| ENGLISH 316 | World Cinema: | 3 |
Subtitles: | ||
Caribbean Cinema | ||
Latin American Cinema | ||
Mexican Cinema | ||
Latina and Latin American Women Directors | ||
Mexican and Cuban Cinema | ||
| ENGLISH 320 | Studies in Film Authorship: (Cuban and Mexican Filmmakers) | 3 |
| ENGLISH 366 | Non-Fiction Prose: (Caribbean Nonfiction) | 3 |
| ENGLISH 463 | Writers in African-American Literature: (Caribbean Literature) | 3 |
| ENGLISH 497 | Study Abroad: (Mexico and Cuba - Comparative Globalization) | 1-12 |
| ENGLISH 625 | Seminar in Literary History: (Caribbean Literary History) | 3 |
Film Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FILMSTD 316 | World Cinema: | 3 |
Subtitles: | ||
Caribbean Cinema | ||
Latin American Cinema | ||
Latina and Latin American Women Directors | ||
Mexican Cinema | ||
Mexican and Cuban Cinema | ||
Geography
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 297 | Study Abroad: (Urban Environmental Changes in Guatemala) | 1-12 |
| GEOG 421 | Geography of Latin America | 3 |
| GEOG 462 | Cultural Geography of Latin America | 3 |
| GEOG 497 | Study Abroad: (Urban Environmental Changes in Guatemala) | 1-12 |
| GEOG 654 | Tropical Field Course: (Belize; Panama) | 3 |
History
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 180 | Latin American Society and Culture | 3 |
| HIST 393 | History of Mexico | 3 |
| HIST 400 | Topics in Latin American and Caribbean History: | 3 |
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LACS 101 | Introduction to Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
Political Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POL SCI 320 | Politics of Developing Countries | 3 |
| POL SCI 325 | Latin American Politics | 3 |
| POL SCI 326 | Brazilian Politics and Society | 3 |
| POL SCI 346 | U.S.-Latin American Relations | 3 |
Portuguese
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PORTUGS 103 | First-Semester Portuguese | 4 |
| PORTUGS 104 | Second-Semester Portuguese | 4 |
| PORTUGS 110 | Accelerated Portuguese I | 3 |
| PORTUGS 192 | First-Year Seminar: (History of Brazil) | 3 |
| PORTUGS 203 | Third-Semester Portuguese | 3 |
| PORTUGS 204 | Fourth-Semester Portuguese | 3 |
| PORTUGS 225 | Understanding Brazil: | 3 |
| PORTUGS 297 | Study Abroad: (The African Presence in Brazil) | 1-12 |
| PORTUGS 299 | Ad Hoc: (Accelerated Portuguese) | 1-6 |
| PORTUGS 310 | Advanced Composition and Conversation | 3 |
| PORTUGS 360 | Luso-Brazilian Culture: | 3 |
| PORTUGS 380 | Luso-Brazilian Literature in Translation: | 3 |
| PORTUGS 457 | Seminar in Luso-Brazilian Literature | 3 |
| PORTUGS 497 | Study Abroad: (The African Presence in Brazil) | 1-12 |
| PORTUGS 499 | Ad Hoc: (Brazilian History and Culture) | 1-6 |
Spanish
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPANISH 192 | First-Year Seminar: | 3 |
Subtitles: | ||
Virgins/Whores - Myths, Legends, and Women of the Hispanic World | ||
Latin American Women Writers and Feminism | ||
| SPANISH 203 | Third-Semester Spanish | 3 |
| SPANISH 204 | Fourth-Semester Spanish | 3 |
| SPANISH 308 | Advanced Writing and Reading | 3 |
| SPANISH 315 | Spanish Immersion Experience | 1 |
| SPANISH 318 | Advanced Speaking and Listening | 3 |
| SPANISH 319 | Advanced Speaking and Listening for Heritage Speakers | 3 |
| SPANISH 332 | Business and Legal Spanish I | 3 |
| SPANISH 338 | Spanish for Health Professionals | 3 |
| SPANISH 341 | Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 |
| SPANISH 342 | Business and Legal Spanish II | 3 |
| SPANISH 348 | Introduction to Translation: English to Spanish | 3 |
| SPANISH 350 | Introduction to Literary Analysis | 3 |
| SPANISH 391 | Social and Historical Issues in the Hispanic World: (Latin America - Past and Present) | 3 |
| SPANISH 443 | Spanish Phonetics and Phonology | 3 |
| SPANISH 444 | Spanish Syntax and Morphology | 3 |
| SPANISH 446 | Hispanic Sociolinguistics | 3 |
| SPANISH 470 | Survey of Hispanic Literature and Civilization | 3 |
| SPANISH 472 | Survey of Spanish-American Literature and Civilization | 3 |
| SPANISH 491 | Topics in Hispanic Culture: | 3 |
Subtitles: | ||
The Spanish Renaissance and its Cultures, 16th and 17th Centuries | ||
Exotic Stories from the Hispanic World - The Pleasure of Words | ||
| SPANISH 507 | Seminar in Spanish-American Literature: | 3 |
| SPANISH 541 | History of the Spanish Language | 3 |
| SPANISH 571 | Seminar in Spanish-American Colonial Literature and Civilization: | 3 |
| SPANISH 575 | Seminar in 18th & 19th Century Spanish-American Literature & Civilization: | 3 |
| SPANISH 577 | Seminar in Modern Spanish-American Literature and Civilization: | 3 |
Urban Planning
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| URBPLAN 692 | Special Topics in Urban Planning: (Latino Cities) | 1-3 |