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Major in LAC Studies

Program Director: Pablo Piccato, 324 Fayerweather
Student Affairs Coordinator: Eliza Kwon-Ahn, 827 International Affairs Building

The major on Latin American and Caribbean Studies stresses knowledge of a dynamic, historically deep and extensive region, but it also focuses on social, political and cultural phenomena that transcend physical boundaries. The major thus reflects multidisciplinary dialogues that are transnational yet remain anchored in the common historical experience of Latin American societies. Thanks to the broad range of courses on Latin America offered in different departments of instruction and centers at Columbia, the major provides a multidisciplinary training on politics, history, culture, economy and society.

The Institute of Latin American Studies coordinates the major and offers access to research support, study abroad options, and linkages and credits toward the MA program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

For a Major in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
(Download the form to declare an undergraduate major in Latin American and Caribbean Studies here)

Up to 12 credits for requirements 4 and 5 can be earned through study abroad. Students are strongly encouraged to explore study abroad options before their junior year. Upon return, they should submit syllabi and all coursework related to each course taken abroad for approval by the director of undergraduate studies.

The major requires a minimum of 31 points as follows:

1. Two Department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures courses: one of two Latin American humanities courses, SPAN W3490 or SPAN W3491, or equivalent courses offered through the Department or the Global Core, plus another non-language course in the same department.

2. Two of the following three History courses, or similar lecture courses: 

3. POLS W4461 Latin American politics, or another course in the Department of Political Science.

4. LACV C1020 Primary Texts of Latin American Civilization may substitute for one of the above course on items 1, 2 or 3. 

5. A specialization consisting of four courses in a discipline or theme of choice with substantive focus on Latin America. One of these courses must be a seminar. Students whose disciplines of choice are History or Latin American and Iberian Cultures must replace one of these courses with a course which focuses on Latin America from another department, for a total of five courses on their specialization plus a course in another field or discipline. The director of undergraduate studies advises students on areas of specialization and must approve courses with substantial Latin American or Caribbean contents not included in the list of eligible courses.

6.  One course on Spanish, Portuguese, or an indigenous language at the intermediate or advanced level. If students can demonstrate advance knowledge of one of these languages they can replace this course with a course on other languages at any level.

Disciplines and Themes for Specialization

The courses that can fulfill requirements include those listed here and include any courses offered by faculty affiliated to ILAS or courses with substantive Latin American content in the departments of Latin American and Iberian Cultures, History, Political Science, Anthropology, Sociology, Economics, or English and Comparative Literature; or in the centers for the Study of Ethnicity and Race or Comparative Literature and Society; or in the institutes for Research on Women's and Gender Studies and Latin American Studies.

Students are able to concentrate on one discipline from the departments listed above or a field of study defined in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. Examples of these fields are gender, race and ethnicity, the environment, migration, crime and security, international relations.

For a Concentration in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
(Download the form to declare a concentration in Latin American and Caribbean Studies here) 

Up to 6 credits for requirements 4 and 5 can be earned through study abroad. Students are strongly encouraged to explore study abroad options before their junior year. Upon return, they should submit syllabi and all coursework related to each course taken abroad for approval by the director of undergraduate studies.

The concentration requires a minimum of 18 points as follows:

1. One of two Latin American humanities courses, SPAN W3490 or SPAN W3491, or equivalent course offered through the Department or the Global Core.

2. One of the following three history courses, or equivalent lectures:

3. POLS G4461 Latin American politics, or another course in the Department of Political Science.

4. LACV C1020 Primary Texts of Latin American Civilization may substitute for one of the above courses on item 1, 2 or 3.

5. A specialization consisting of two courses in a discipline or theme of choice with substantive focus on Latin America. Students whose disciplines of choice are History or Latin American and Iberian Cultures must replace one of these courses with a course which focuses on Latin America from another department. The director of undergraduate studies advises students on areas of specialization and must approve courses with substantial Latin American or Caribbean contents not included in the list of eligible courses.

6. One course on Spanish, Portuguese, or an indigenous language at the intermediate or advanced level. If students can demonstrate advance knowledge of one of these languages they can replace this course with a course on other languages at any level.

The Institute of Latin American Studies coordinates the major and offers access to research support, study abroad options, and linkages and credits toward the new MA program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

Current students should become familair with the requirements and policies of Columbia College found here.