Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx Studies, BA BA
Uniquely UWM, Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx Studies integrates the study of peoples and cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean with the study of Latinx communities in the United States. Most other programs focus on one or the other. Alumni work stateside or abroad in health services, education, nonprofits, business, and government. An accelerated program leads to both the BA and a master’s in translation in five years.
Career Resources and Job Outcomes
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
Listed below are the requirements for the Latin America, Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx Studies major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all university and college general degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. We encourage you to consult your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track towards earning your degree. You can read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Major Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 33 credits in the major, at least 15 of which must be taken at the advanced level (300 and above) in residence at UWM. At least 9 of those credits must represent at least three curricular areas (i.e. one 3-credit course each in three different curricular areas) with no more than 18 credits of approved courses in a singular curricular area. Students are required to complete an e-portfolio for assessment purposes. Students will be assisted in the creation of an e-portfolio, and can ask the LACUSL advisor for direction to an appropriate faculty member.
Study of a language widely spoken in Latin America or the Caribbean is strongly encouraged, but not required. Students are strongly encouraged to pursue a combination of LAC area studies and U.S. Latinx-focused courses.
The College requires that all students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work.
With approval of program coordinator, a relevant course not currently listed below may be substituted.
The following are required:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Introductory courses | ||
| LACS 101 | Introduction to Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| LATINX 101 | Introduction to Latino Studies | 3 |
| Research Requirement | ||
| LACUSL 680 | LACUSL Senior Research Project | 3 |
or one course accepted for the LACUSL major and satisfying the L&S research requirement from table below 1 | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 24 credits from table of LACUSL-approved Electives below | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
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LACUSL 680 is the recommended research requirement course. In semesters when LACUSL 680 is not offered, the student may substitute an existing course from the table below, provided that the major research project undertaken as part of that course has a distinctly LACUSL topic. The student must inform the instructor they wish to fulfill the research requirement in the course.
If neither of these options is viable, students also may complete the research requirement by taking three credits of LACUSL 699, with an appropriate faculty member from the LACUSL associated faculty. L&S guidelines require that students will:
- develop a research question, statement, or problem;
- evaluate research in the field of study and integrate it with their findings; and
- disseminate their findings orally or in writing.
Courses accepted for the LACUSL major and the L&S research requirement
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFRIC 320 | Black Cultures in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| AFRIC 344 | Global Black Social Movements | 3 |
| AFRIC 414 | The Black Woman in America, Africa, and the Caribbean | 3 |
| AFRIC 418 | Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| POL SCI 325 | Latin American Politics | 3 |
| SPANISH 507 | Seminar in Latin-American Literature and Culture: | 3 |
Electives
Electives may be selected from the courses listed below. At least three different departmental curricular codes must be represented among the electives, with no more than 18 credits in any one curricular area. A maximum of 3 credits in an internship (LACS 289, LACS 489, LACUSL 289, LACUSL 489, LATINX 289 OR LATINX 489) may count as an elective for the major.
With approval of program coordinator, a relevant course not listed below may be substituted.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Electives approved for the LACUSL major | ||
| AFRIC 205 | The Poetry of African, African-American, and Caribbean Writers | 3 |
| 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 344 | Global Black Social Movements | 3 |
| AFRIC 414 | The Black Woman in America, Africa, and the Caribbean | 3 |
| AFRIC 418 | Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| AIS 225 | 3 | |
| AIS 310 | Archaeology of Middle America | 3 |
| AIS 311 | The World of the Ancient Maya | 3 |
| ANTHRO 214 | Ancient Civilizations of Latin America | 3 |
| ANTHRO 225 | 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 497 | Study Abroad: 2 | 1-12 |
| ANTHRO 570 | Issues in Bilingualism | 3 |
| ARTHIST 104 | African, New World and Oceanic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 251 | Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Latin America | 3 |
| ARTHIST 270 | Pre-Columbian Art, Myth, and Legacy | 3 |
| ARTHIST 343 | Art and Culture of Spain and Latin America, 1500-1750 | 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 |
| ATM SCI 297 | Study Abroad: 2 | 1-12 |
| ATM SCI 497 | Study Abroad: 2 | 1-12 |
| BIO SCI 297 | Study Abroad: 2 | 1-12 |
| BIO SCI 497 | Study Abroad: 2 | 1-12 |
| COMMUN 350 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 450 | Cross-Cultural Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 550 | International and Global Communication | 3 |
| COMPLIT 365 | Literatures and Cultures of the Americas: | 3 |
| CURRINS 542 | History and Politics of Second Language Education | 3 |
| CURRINS 550 | Using Children's Literature to Explore Latin Am/Latino Cultural Heritage | 3 |
| DANCE 122 | African Dance & Diaspora Technique I | 2-3 |
| DANCE 414 | Dance Composition III | 2-3 |
| ECON 353 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ED POL 212 | 3 | |
| ED POL 460 | The Chicano Experience | 3 |
| ED POL 560 | 3 | |
| ENGLISH 279 | Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Literature: | 3 |
| ENGLISH 316 | World Cinema: | 3 |
| ENGLISH 374 | Survey of U.S. Latino/a Literature | 3 |
| ENGLISH 394 | Theories of Digital Culture: | 3 |
| ENGLISH 404 | Language, Power, and Identity | 3 |
| ENGLISH 523 | Studies in U.S. Latino/a Literature: | 3 |
| ETHNIC 102 | Transnational Migrations: People on the Move | 3 |
| ETHNIC 200 | Racial Minorities in the United States | 3 |
| ETHNIC 245 | Indians, Artists, and Conquistadores: The U.S. Southwest | 3 |
| ETHNIC 255 | Migration and Gender: Starbucks, Sex Trafficking, and Nannies | 3 |
| ETHNIC/LGBT 275 | Queer Migrations | 3 |
| ETHNIC 375 | Global Violence, Disease, and Death | 3 |
| FRENCH 303 | Conversation and Composition: Intermediate Level | 3 |
| FRENCH 325 | Intensive Grammar and Usage | 3 |
| FRENCH 392 | Phonetics | 3 |
| FRENCH 410 | French Immersion: Advanced | 1-2 |
| FRENCH 427 | Advanced Written Expression | 3 |
| HIST 180 | Latin American Society and Culture | 3 |
| HIST 267 | The History of Latinos in the United States | 3 |
| HIST 290 | Topics in Global History: | 3 |
| HIST 372 | Topics in Global History: | 3 |
| HIST 393 | History of Mexico | 3 |
| HIST 400 | Topics in Latin American and Caribbean History: | 3 |
| HIST 404 | Topics in American History: | 3 |
| HIST 436 | Immigrant America Since 1880 | 3 |
| JAMS 450 | Race and Ethnicity in the Media | 3 |
| LACS 289 | Internship in Latin American/Caribbean Studies, Lower Division | 1-3 |
| LACS 489 | Internship in Latin American/Caribbean Studies, Upper Division | 1-3 |
| LACUSL 200 | Special Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx Studies: | 3 |
| LACUSL 201 | Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx Arts and Culture: | 3 |
| LACUSL 289 | Internship-Latin American, Caribbean, & U.S. Latinx Studies, Lower Divison | 1-3 |
| LACUSL 297 | Study Abroad: | 1-12 |
| LACUSL 300 | Advanced Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx Studies: | 3 |
| LACUSL/THEATRE 324 | Theatre in the Americas: Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Theatre | 3 |
| LACUSL 489 | Internship in Latin American, Caribbean, and US Latinx Studies, Upper Level | 1-3 |
| LACUSL 497 | Study Abroad: | 1-12 |
| LATINX 267 | The History of Latinos in the United States | 3 |
| LATINX 289 | Internship in Latino Studies, Lower Division | 1-6 |
| LATINX 301 | Advanced Topics in U.S. Latino Studies: | 3 |
| LATINX 323 | Perspectives on Latino Communities | 3 |
| LATINX 489 | Internship in Latino Studies, Upper Division | 1-6 |
| LATINX 523 | Studies in U.S. Latino/a Literature: | 3 |
| LGBT/ETHNIC 275 | Queer Migrations | 3 |
| LINGUIS 420 | Introduction to Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| LINGUIS 570 | Issues in Bilingualism | 3 |
| POL SCI 215 | Ethnicity, Religion and Race in American Politics | 3 |
| POL SCI 325 | Latin American Politics | 3 |
| POL SCI 374 | Health, Wealth, and Democracy | 3 |
| POL SCI 415 | The Politics of Race, Ethnicity and Immigration | 3 |
| PORTUGS 225 | Understanding Brazil: | 3 |
| PORTUGS 310 | Advanced Composition and Conversation | 3 |
| PORTUGS 313 | Advanced Speaking and Listening | 3 |
| PORTUGS 360 | Luso-Brazilian Culture: | 3 |
| PORTUGS 699 | Independent Reading | 1-3 |
| SOCIOL 224 | Race and Ethnicity in the United States | 3 |
| SOCIOL 323 | Perspectives on Latino Communities | 3 |
| SOCIOL 324 | Race and Ethnicity in Global Contexts | 3 |
| SPANISH 308 | Advanced Writing and Reading | 3 |
| SPANISH 318 | Advanced Speaking and Listening | 3 |
| SPANISH 319 | Advanced Speaking and Listening for Heritage Speakers | 3 |
| SPANISH 332 | Using Spanish in the Business World | 3 |
| SPANISH 333 | Advanced Spanish Grammar | 3 |
| SPANISH 338 | Spanish for Health Professionals | 3 |
| SPANISH 341 | Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 |
| SPANISH 342 | Business and Legal Spanish | 3 |
| SPANISH 348 | Introduction to Translation: English to Spanish | 3 |
| SPANISH 350 | Understanding Literature and Culture | 3 |
| SPANISH 371 | Introduction to Latino Literature in English | 3 |
| SPANISH 388 | Health Issues in the Hispanic World | 3 |
| SPANISH 470 | From the Middle Ages to Modernity: The Rise of the Hispanic World | 3 |
| SPANISH 472 | Contemporary Literature and Culture of Latin America | 3 |
| SPANISH 507 | Seminar in Latin-American Literature and Culture: | 3 |
| SPANISH 541 | History of the Spanish Language | 3 |
| THEATRE/LACUSL 324 | Theatre in the Americas: Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Theatre | 3 |
| WGS 311 | Global Anti-Gender Movements | 3 |
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Study abroad must be in a relevant context, for example, in a Latin American country.
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call -414-229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven’t enrolled in classes yet should call 414-229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.