Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies

Chair: Matthew J. Garcia  

Professors: R. Biron (Spanish and Comparative Literature), R. Bueno (Spanish and Portuguese), M. K. Coffey (Art History and LALACS), M. Garcia (LALACS and History), G. Germunden (Comparative Literature, Film and German), D. L. Nichols (Anthropology), B. Pastor (Spanish and Portuguese), S. Spitta (Spanish and Portuguese), R. Wright (Geography); Associate Professors: C. Kivland (Anthropology), S. Diaz (Spanish and Portuguese), D. Garcia (LALACS), C. Minchillo (Spanish and Portuguese), L. Ogden (Anthropology), I. Reyes (Spanish and Portuguese), A. Santana (Spanish and Portuguese and Theatre); Assistant Professors: J. Cuellar (LALACS), M. DiBlasi (LALACS), C. Kivland (Anthropology), E. Morsi (AMEL), P. Voekel (History); Visiting Professor: P. DeShazo (LALACS and Government); Visiting Assistant Professor: C. Gómez (LALACS and Sociology); Senior Lecturer, D. J. Moody (Spanish and Portuguese); Lecturers: T. Almeida, F. A'Ness (WGSS), D. McDonald, M. Greenleaf (Anthropology), K. Kenkel, J. Quintana-Navarette (Spanish and Portuguese) ; Fellows: V. Casteñeda, J. Cortez, M. Plasencia, J. Ramirez-Lopez.

Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies (LALACS) is an interdisciplinary department.

The standard major and minor in LALACS offer students the option of focusing their studies on Latin America and the Caribbean (LACS), Latino Studies (LATS), or a combination of both.

The LACS/LATS major and minor are designed to ensure both a broad exposure to Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Studies and the theoretical and empirical rigor of study in a single discipline or area of scholarship.

To view Latin American and Caribbean Studies courses, click here. 

To view Latino Studies courses, click here. 

Prerequisite: Requirement for the LACS/LATS Major and Modified Major

Language Competency—Demonstrated competency in Spanish or Portuguese equivalent to SPAN 3 or PORT 3. This requirement must normally be satisfied before the end of the sixth term. Students are strongly encouraged to study a second language, preferably Portuguese, Spanish, or French. Students planning to take a Foreign Study Program (FSP) must fulfill departmental requirements.

Requirements for the LACS/LATS Major

1. Two of the four survey courses: LACS 1, LACS 4, LATS 3, or LATS 5
2. Seven LACS and/or LATS courses including associated courses from our list
   1. Of the seven courses, at least two must be from the Social Sciences and at least two must be from the Humanities
   2. Four of the seven courses must constitute a concentration that reflects a disciplinary or scholarly focus that can combine courses from one or more departments and programs. All four-course concentrations must be approved by the LALACS Chair.
3. A culminating experience, consisting of one of the following
   1. A LACS or LATS Senior Seminar
   2. An approved independent study with a LALACS professor
   3. A senior honors thesis in LACS or LATS

Students may fulfill their Humanities requirement by taking the Spanish FSP in Argentina or the Portuguese FSP in Brazil. Of the three FSP credits, two may be counted towards the major.

LALACS Modified Major

The Modified Major consists of six courses in LALACS plus four courses above the prerequisite level in one or more other department(s) or program(s). Of the LALACS courses one must be an introductory survey and another must be a culminating experience. Students wishing to modify their LALACS major must submit a written rationale that makes clear the coherence and purpose of their modified major. This rationale must be reviewed by, and approved by the Chair, and must also be submitted to the Registrar.

Requirements for the LALACS Modified Major

A. One survey course: LACS 1, LACS 4, LATS 3 or LATS 5.

B. Six LACS and/ or LATS courses including associated courses from our list.

C. A culminating experience, consisting of one of the following:

• A LACS or LATS Senior Seminar
• An approved independent study with a LALACS professor
• A senior honor thesis in LACS or LATS

Of the six courses, at least one must be from the Social Sciences and at least one must be from the Humanities.

Courses Counting Toward A LACS/LATS Minor

Students wishing to pursue a minor in LALACS must take two of the survey courses (LACS 1, LACS 4, LATS 3, or LATS 5) plus a total of four additional courses, normally from two different regions and two different disciplines.

Modifying Another Major with LACS/LATS

Students wishing to modify another major with LACS/LATS must take one of the survey courses (LACS 1, LACS 4, LATS 3, or LATS 5) and four additional courses from at least two different disciplines.

Honors Program

Senior Honors Thesis Prerequisite and Application Process:

1. Determine that you have successfully completed two of our survey courses before the end of your junior year: LACS 1, LACS 4, LATS 3, or LATS 5.
2. Determine that you meet the minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 for all Dartmouth courses, and 3.3 in the LACS/LATS major.
3. Obtain a faculty advisor.
4. Write a thesis proposal, have it signed by your faculty advisor, and submit it to the LALACS Program Administrator, Laurie Furch, by May 15 of the junior year.
5. Enroll in LACS/LATS 98 in the fall of your Senior year, and LACS/LATS 99 in the winter. If necessary, LACS/LATS 99 may be taken again in the spring. A grade of “Ongoing” will be assigned for LACS 99/LATS 99 for the winter term, and the final grade will be assigned at the end of the spring term.
6. At the end of Fall term students will write a five- to seven-page thesis prospectus. The prospectus should be presented to the LALACS Program Office no later than the first week of winter term to be approved by the LALACS Steering Committee.
7. Theses must be completed by the eighth week of spring term of the senior year. Students missing this deadline may be liable to lose eligibility for honors.