Major Requirements

Click here to download a blank Latin American Studies Major Planner form.

Required Courses (28 credits)

1. One Required Introduction Course (4 credits)
   • Preferred course:
     • LAS 200, “Introduction to Latin American Studies”*
   • Substitution options for current major:
     • PS 330, “Governments & Politics in Latin America”
2. One Additional Required 200-Level Course (4 credits)
   • Preferred courses options:
     • LAS 211, “Latin American Humanities: [Topic]” (course title varies)
     • LAS 212, “Latin American Social Sciences: [Topic]” (course title varies)
   • Substitution options for current major:
     • PHIL 342, “Introduction to Latin American Philosophy”
3. One Required 400-Level Course (4 credits)
   • Preferred course:
     • LAS 407, “Seminar: [Topic]” (course title varies)
   • Substitution options for current major:
     • GLBL 446, “Development & Social Change in Latin America”
     • SPAN 490, “20^th-Century Latin American Literature: [Topic]” (course title varies)
4. Two Required Hispanic Cultures through Literature SPAN Courses (8 cr.)
   • Take two of the following courses to satisfy this requirement:
     • SPAN 342, “Hispanic Cultures through Literature II”*
     • SPAN 343, “Hispanic Cultures through Literature III”*
     • SPAN 344, “Hispanic Cultures through Literature IV”
   • Substitution options for current major (exceptionally granted – not encouraged):
     • ENG 363, “Chicano and Latino Writers”
     • SPAN 341, “Hispanic Cultures through Literature”*
     • SPAN 348, “Latinx Culture and Society”
5. Two Required Latin America History Courses (8 cr.)
   • Take two of the following courses to satisfy this requirement:
     • HIST 380, “Latin America”*
     • HIST 381, “Latin America”*
     • HIST 382, “Latin America”
   • Substitution options for current major (exceptionally granted – not encouraged):
     • HIST 480, “Mexico”*
     • HIST 483, “Latin America: [Topic]” (course title varies)

*Note: These courses satisfy the LAS Major “Pre-1800 Requirement”

Elective Courses (20 credits)

Take four or more of the courses listed as approved Electives on the program website. When picking courses, students should keep in mind breadth requirements outlined below as well as upper-division course requirements.

Language Requirement (Third-year level proficiency in a related language)

In addition to the minimum of 48 credits in required and elective courses, all majors are required to demonstrate a third-year level of proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, or an Indigenous language from [the LAS] area of study.

This will entail completing (with a grade of C– or better or P):

A) The basic two years of college-level language courses

and

B) Taking at least four 300-level courses taught in the respective foreign language. Examples of courses that would satisfy this for the Spanish language include the following:

• SPAN 301, “Cultura y Lengua: Identidades Hispanas”
• SPAN 303, “Cultura y lengua: expresiones artisticas”
• SPAN 305, “Cultura y lengua: cambios sociales”
• SPAN 343, “Hispanic Cultures through Literature III”
• SPAN 344, “Hispanic Cultures through Literature IV”

Note: Upper-division language courses are not pre-approved as Electives for the LAS major. Upper-division language courses may be considered as substitutions on an exception basis for Elective credit for the LAS major if the student has already completed their language requirement. Global Connections Advisors are authorized to review, consider, and approve, when applicable, such substitution requests.

Other Latin American Studies Major Requirement Notes:

• 48 credits total are required for the Latin American Studies major
• 40 of the 48 credits must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C- or better. (Up to 8 credits may be taken pass/no pass.)
• 36 of the 48 credits must be upper-division (300 or 400-level).
• 28 of the 48 credits must be taken at the University of Oregon’s campus in Eugene, OR.

• Additional Parameters (limitations and allowances) on LAS Major Credits:
  • Limit on Multiple Department Credits: No more than 16 credits from any single department can count toward the major.
  • Limit on LAS Credits Focused on United States Topics: No more than 16 credits in courses related to United States Latino studies or US Hispanic culture or society can count toward the major.
  • Social Science Credits Required: 8 of the 48 credits must be from the Social Sciences, other than History and LAS (ANTH, EC, ENVS, ES, EURO, GEOG, GLBL, PS, SOC, WGS).
  • Pre-1800s Credits Required:  A minimum of 8.00 credits must be earned through completion of a course or courses whose focus is on Pre-1800s Latin America. Take one of the following courses to satisfy this requirement: LAS 200*, HIST 380*, HIST 381*, HIST 480, HIST 482, SPAN 341, SPAN 342*, or SPAN 343*.
    • *NOTE: If any of these courses are taken as required courses for the LAS major, they cannot also apply towards Elective total credits, though they may be used to satisfy the Pre-1800s Latin America requirement.
  • Limit on Individualized Study Credits: 8 credits maximum may be independent study or internship credit

Steps for Declaring & Completing a Major in Latin American Studies

Step 1: Start to familiarize yourself with the major requirements and courses available. Look over approved course lists and review past course offerings. Consider your academic and career goals and how a major in Latin American Studies might help you achieve those goals.

Step 2: Meet with a Global Connections Advisor to put together a Planner. Your Planner will help you map out how you can meet major requirements. Click here to download a blank Latin American Studies Major Planner form.

Step 3: Fill out and submit the “Add Major” form on our website.

Step 4: Sign up for classes and complete the degree requirements! Here are some tips to guide you on your way:

• Take LAS 200 and other required courses as soon as makes sense for your schedule.
• Get started early on your language courses.
• Carefully read departmental communications regarding course offerings. (If you’re not getting e-newsletter communication every other week during Fall, Winter, and Spring terms from the LAS program, make sure you sign up for the listserv here.)
• Make sure you enroll in upper-division (300 or 400-level courses) – 36 out of 48 credits for the Latin American Studies major need to be upper division courses.
• Review our “Courses” page for course lists each term.
• Reach out if you have questions! See our Advising page for details on connecting with an advisor for your Latin American Studies major. Meet with an advisor once a term or at least once a year to go over any questions you have.