Latin American and Caribbean Studies

The interdisciplinary Latin American and Caribbean Studies major introduces students to the peoples, cultures, and resources of Latin America and the Caribbean. The major includes studies in anthropology, economics, environmental studies, politics, and Spanish, along with three (3) core courses in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. One of the three (3) core courses is a senior capstone seminar. Proficiency in Spanish language is essential to the successful completion of the major. The Latin American and Caribbean Studies Steering Committee strongly recommends that all majors participate in Rollins' overseas programs in the region. Majors wishing to pursue courses on Latin America or the Caribbean at other institutions may petition the Steering Committee for course acceptance. Coursework in this major prepares students for positions in business, government, library research, international affairs, and other professions. 

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Twelve (12) courses are required: at least eight (8) of these must be completed at Rollins and seven (7) must be at the 300-400 level.

LATIN AMERICAN/CARIBBEAN COURSES (three courses required)

• LAC 200 Foundations of Latin American Culture and Society
• LAC 201 Foundations of Caribbean Culture and Society
• LAC 400 Seminar in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (capstone seminar)

• SPN 302 Spanish for Advanced Communication
• SPN 303 Business Spanish for Non-Native Speakers
• SPN 322 Latin American Life and Society
• SPN 330 Hispanic Literature in the U.S.
• SPN 332/334 Survey of Latin American Literature
• SPN 341 Spanish Film/Cultural Trends
• SPN 432 Masterworks of Spanish-American Literature

Students who do not have "native proficiency" in Spanish, as determined by the Spanish section of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, will be required to take additional courses that are prerequisites to the 300-400 level Spanish courses. According to different levels of preparation and previous courses, students will need to complete a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of five (5) Spanish courses before taking a 300-level course.

In order to take a 300-level course in Spanish, students must complete the following:

• two (2) SPN 200-level courses OR
• one (1) SPN 200-level course and obtain signed consent from professor. (Consent is usually granted with a grade 'B+' or higher in the lower-level course.)

Students may complete some or all of the 100-200 level Spanish courses through immersion programs abroad (in Spain or Latin America) taught entirely in Spanish. The two (2) 300-level courses should be taken at Rollins, and/or at a Rollins-affiliated program.

ANTHROPOLOGY COURSES (two courses required)
Two upper-division Anthropology courses on Latin America or the Caribbean (including courses that have an off-campus experience) from the following offerings are required.

• ANT 305 Topics in Anthropology (focus on Latin America or the Caribbean)
• ANT 315 Women in the Developing World (focus on Latin America)
• ANT 345 Brazilian Amazon: Culture and Environmental Change
• ANT 365 Real and the Supernatural in Latin America
• A 300-400 level equivalent course on Latin America or the Caribbean as approved by the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Steering Committee

ECONOMICS COURSES (one course required)

• ECO 126 Economics and Public Policy
• ECO 203 Principles of Micro- and Macroeconomics (prerequisite ECO 202)
• ECO 254 The Latin American Economies

• ENV 206 Caribbean Environmental History
• ENV 305 Topic: Environmental Issues in Latin America
• ENV 323 Conservation of Biodiversity
• ENV 348 Sustainable Development
• ENV 353 National Parks and Protected Areas (focus on Latin America and the Caribbean)
• ENV 365 Environment and Development in Central America
• ENV 375 Island Economics and Sustainable Development in the Caribbean
• ENV 385 Sustainable Development in the Amazon Basin
• A 300-400 level equivalent on Latin America or the Caribbean as approved by the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Steering Committee

POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES (two courses required)

• POL 317 Latin America and The United States in World Politics
• POL 321 The Politics of Latin America
• A 300-400 level equivalent on Latin America or the Caribbean as approved by the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Steering Committee

Only two (2) courses taken to fulfill requirements in another major or minor from the departments listed above and with a concentration on Latin America or the Caribbean may count toward meeting the requirements of the major in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. These must be approved by the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Coordinator.

MINOR REQUIREMENTS
The minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies is designed to complement a number of existing majors at the College by adding an international dimension. The minor is comprised of seven (7) courses spread among Latin American and Caribbean studies, political science, anthropology, environmental studies, and Spanish.

LATIN AMERICAN/CARIBBEAN COURSES (three courses required)

• LAC 200 Foundations of Latin American Culture and Society
• LAC 201 Foundations of Caribbean Culture and Society
• POL 321 Politics of Latin America 
  • OR a 300-400 level equivalent on Latin America or the Caribbean as approved by the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Steering Committee. It is recommended that the student take LAC 200 prior to enrolling in POL 321.

ANTHROPOLOGY COURSES (one course required)
One (1) upper-division Anthropology course on Latin America or the Caribbean (including courses that have an off-campus experience) from the following offerings.

• ANT 305 Topics in Anthropology (focus on Latin America or the Caribbean)
• ANT 315 Women in the Developing World (focus on Latin America)
• ANT 345 Brazilian Amazon: Culture and Environmental Change
• ANT 365 Real and the Supernatural in Latin America
• A 300-400 level equivalent course on Latin America or the Caribbean as approved by the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Steering Committee

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES COURSES (one course required)
One (1) Environmental Studies course on Latin America or the Caribbean (including courses that have an off-campus experience) from the following offerings.

• ENV 206 Caribbean Environmental History
• ENV 305 Topic: Environmental Issues in Latin America
• ENV 323 Conservation of Biodiversity
• ENV 348 Sustainable Development
• ENV 353 National Parks and Protected Areas (focus on Latin America and the Caribbean)
• ENV 365 Environment and Development in Central America
• ENV 375 Island Economics and Sustainable Development in the Caribbean
• ENV 385 Sustainable Development in the Amazon Basin
• A 300-400 level equivalent on Latin America or the Caribbean as approved by the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Steering Committee

SPANISH COURSES (two courses required)
Proficiency in the Spanish language is essential to a successful completion in the minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. The experience of studying the Spanish Language is essential to the development of cultural sensitivity required for living, working, and understanding the Latin American and/or the Caribbean environment. All minors in Latin American and Caribbean Studies are required to meet a two-course Spanish language requirement as an essential component of the minor.

1. Students must take two (2) courses (eight semester hours) or the equivalent in Spanish beyond the 100 level. These courses must be taught in Spanish and not in translation, and they must provide intensive conversational preparation and basic vocabulary.
2. Students may successfully complete these two (2) Spanish courses in a semester-long (14-16 semester hours) intensive Spanish language program taught entirely in Spanish, whether in the U.S. or abroad.
3. Students may demonstrate proficiency in Spanish at an advanced level by passing a standardized test, administered by the ACTFL Testing Office. Information and application forms can be obtained from the Department of Modern Languages.

Only two (2) courses taken to fulfill requirements in another major or minor from the departments listed above and with a concentration on Latin America or the Caribbean may count toward meeting the requirements of the minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. These must be approved by the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Coordinator.

Course of Study

LAC 200 Foundations of Latin American Culture and Society. Spans Spanish discovery of Americas to present. Considers Indian background, colonial Hispanic foundations, search for Latin American identity, economic dependency and development, governments, U.S.-Latin American diplomatic and international relations, and future of region. Taught in English. 

LAC 201 Foundations of Caribbean Culture and Society: Explores history from 1492 to present: Africa in New World; colonial heritage; slavery; ideological and sociopolitical background of Caribbean society; plantation system; contemporary social structure; ethnicity and ethnic-group relations; major themes of English, Spanish, and French Caribbean literature; folklore and religion; U.S.-Caribbean international relations; and future of region. Taught in English. 

LAC 325 Women in Latin America: Explores women’s experience in Latin America as they negotiate their lives within a context of constraints and opportunities that range from how they conceive of themselves, to their status and role within the family and community, to global influences. Prerequisite: one ANT, LAC, or international relations course. 

LAC 400 Seminar in Latin American and Caribbean Studies: Highlights research on contemporary problems. May delve into health of institutions in light of economic development (and underdevelopment); revolution and radicalization of masses; overpopulation, land scarcity, and hunger; human rights; role of elite in social and political life; social activism of the Catholic Church; and today's revolutions. Taught in English. Prerequisites: second-semester junior or senior standing, LAC 200, and LAC 201. 

LAC 415 Seminar: Women and Health in Latin America: Explores cross-cultural concepts of health and healthcare with an emphasis on the needs of women in Latin America. Examines the effect of poverty, race, social class, economic activities, migration, rural or urban location, diseases enhanced by development projects, sexually transmitted diseases, pollution and environmental degradation, domestic violence, and birth control policies and cultural values about birth control on women’s health in general, and reproduction and life expectancy, in particular. Prerequisite: one ANT or LAC course.