Latin American Studies (LAST)

James Frank Horton
Chair of Studies
605 Kimpel Hall
575-2951

Courses in the Latin American studies program are offered by the following faculty: James F. Horton (foreign languages, coordinator); professors Britton (economics), DuVal (English), Hehr (geography), McCartney (anthropology), Murray (economics), Pritchett (foreign languages), Purvis (journalism and political science), Williams (foreign languages); associate professors, Montgomery (journalism), Neuse (political science); and assistant professors Bell (foreign languages), Restrepo (foreign languages), and Ryan (political science).

Students interested in Latin America, and wishing to maximize their potential for academic, business, professional, or government careers related to the area, may earn a combined major in Latin American Studies together with a major in another discipline in Fulbright College. Advice on appropriate combinations of Latin American Studies with other majors as well as individual approval of such combinations may be obtained from the LAST program director. New students in this program must officially declare the combined major and notify the LAST program director. Degree checks must also be cleared with the program director. Freshmen and sophomores considering this program are advised to begin their study of Spanish as early as possible.

Program Requirements

Language Competence: The student must complete SPAN 2013 (or equivalent) or PORT 2013 (or equivalent). Subject to the four conditions for elective credit specified below, students with language competence in one language (Spanish or Portuguese) may, with the approval of the Department of Foreign Languages, choose competence level courses in the other language. Further functional work in Spanish and Portuguese as well as study and residence in a Latin American nation can serve to strengthen language competence and are therefore encouraged. Provisions are available for recognition of language skills gained by other means than formal course work taken at the University of Arkansas: See information under the entry for the Department of Foreign Languages.

Colloquium: The student must complete at least three hours in the interdepartmental colloquium, LAST 4003.

Electives: The student must complete 18 hours, in addition to the LAST Colloquium, in courses with specific Latin American content, or individualized study options under instructors teaching Latin American studies. These possibilities are summarized in the list below, but subject to the following four conditions of distribution:

1. courses must be selected from at least three different departments;

2. a maximum of nine hours may be submitted from courses taken in any one department;

3. a maximum of six hours may be submitted from courses taken in the department of the student's principal academic major; and

4. a course counted toward departmental major requirements may not also be counted toward requirements for the major in Latin American studies.

The following courses and individualized study options may be counted toward elective course work requirements for a combined major in Latin American studies (for detailed descriptions please see the listings under the individual departmental headings):

Requirements for the minor: 15 semester hours including LAST 4003 and 12 hours selected from the list below. Included in the 12 hours may be 3 additional hours of LAST 4003 provided the topic is different.

Anthropology

ANTH 3233, Prehistoric Peoples/Cultures of Mexico and Central America

ANTH 448V, Individual Study in Anthropology

Economics

ECON 3843, Economic Development English

ENGL 5043, Writing Workshop in Translation

Geography

GEOG 4013, Latin America

GEOG 410V, Special Problems in Geography

History

HIST 3203, History of Latin America

HIST 4403, Modern Latin America

Political Science

PLSC 3573, Governments and Politics of Latin America

PLSC 394V, Readings in Political Science

PLSC 4873, Inter-American Politics

PLSC 5573, Political Change/Latin Amer

Spanish

SPAN 4133, Survey of Spanish-American Literature I

SPAN 4223, Latin American Civilization

SPAN 475V, Special Investigations

SPAN 5123, Latin American Culture and Civilization

SPAN 5363, Spanish American Literature (1492-1900)

SPAN 5373, Twentieth Century Spanish- American Novel and Short Story

SPAN 5383, Twentieth Century Spanish- American Poetry

LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES (LAST) COURSES:

LAST4003 Latin American Studies Colloquium (SP) An interdepartmental colloquium with an annual change in subject of investigation, required of all Latin American studies majors. May be repeated for 6 hours. Prerequisite: sophomore standing for Latin American studies majors and honors students.

LAST4003H Latin American Studies Colloquium (SP) An interdepartmental colloquium with an annual change in subject of investigation, required of all Latin American studies majors. May be repeated for 6 hours. Prerequisite: sophomore standing for Latin American studies majors and honors students.

LAST470V Special Topics (1-6) (IR) An examination of pertinent issues in Latin America. May be repeated.