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Academics: Latin American Studies

Minor in Latin American studies
(18 hours)

Do you want to live and work in Latin America? Or simply live and work with Latino people in North America? The Latin American studies minor will prepare you by offering a chance to discover truths about the history, culture, language, and contemporary realities of Latin America.

Program overview
  • Choose six courses - three required and three electives.
  • No more than three courses may come from a single discipline/department.
  • At least two courses must be at the 300 level.
  • You must participate in an off-campus semester or interim program in Latin America.
  • Competence in either Spanish, Portuguese, or French is required - as must be demonstrated by completing a literature or culture class in the 300 level in one of the above languages.
  • For more information about this program, contact the advisor, Professor TenHuisen.
Course requirements

Choose one course from each of the following categories for your three required classes:

  • One contextual studies course:
    • History 238, 338
    • Study in Honduras 210
  • One social science course:
    • Economics 237 (when offered as Latin American Economies)
    • Geography 240
    • Political Science 276
    • Study in Honduras 205, 211
  • One literature or culture course taught in an appropriate language (Spanish, Portuguese, or French)

Choose from the following courses for your three electives:

  • On campus elective options:
    • Art History 243
    • Economics 237 (when offered as Latin American Economies)
    • Geography 240
    • History 238, 338
    • Political Science 276
    • Spanish 308, 309, 310, 361, 362, 363, 370 (when the focus is on Latin America)
    • On-campus interim courses with relevant focus on Latin America
  • Off campus elective options:
    • Study in Honduras 205, 210, 211, , 212, 308, 309, 313, 342, 363, 370 (when the focus is on Latin America)
      *Note: Appropriate courses taken at the Universidad Pedagogica in Tegucigalpa may serve as electives or, in certain cases, as substitues for required courses.
    • Spanish W80 Interim in the Yucatan
  • Other
    • Appropriate courses taken as part of the Calvin-approved Latin American Studies program in Costa Rica
    • Off campus interim courses with relevant focus on Latin America
    • Approved language courses in Portuguese or indigenous languages

Study abroad

Check out our off-campus programs to decide where you want to go to study the peoples and culture of Latin America!