Overview

The interdisciplinary Latin American studies minor features classes in history, economics, geography, political science and sociology. As a LAS student, you'll also participate in at least one off-campus program. The minor pairs well with a variety of majors, including international development, Spanish and political science.

Careers in Latin American Studies

As a graduate of this program, you might find work as a:

• Social Worker
• Historian
• International Businessperson
• Teacher

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Study in Honduras or Mexico; help plan the student-led Faith and International Development Conference; intern with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee; participate in Rangeela; apply for the Grassroots Living-Learning Community or the on-campus Spanish House.

Course Requirements 2011-12

Latin American Studies minor

(27 semester hours)

• Participation in one off campus interim or semester program in Latin America
• One contextual studies course from:
• HIST-238 Latin American History
• HIST-338 Mexico and the Americas
• STHO-210 Exploring a Third World Society
• One social science course from:
  • ECON-237 Regional Economies of the World (when offered as Latin American Economies)
  • GEOG-240 Latin America
  • POLS-276 Latin American Politics
  • SPHO-205 Poverty and Development
  • STHO-211 The Problem of Poverty
• One literature or culture course taught in an appropriate language
• Eighteen semester hours of elective credit from the following: Electives must reach a minimum of 18 total semester hours to be chosen in consultation with the advisor (no more than three courses in the entire minor may be in the same discipline)
  • Off campus interim
    • SPAN-W80 interim in the Yucatan
    • Off-Campus interim courses with relevant focus on Latin America
  • On Campus Elective Courses:
    • ARTH-243 Art of the Americas
    • ECON-237 Regional Economies of the World (when offered as Latin American Economies)
    • GEOG-240 Latin America
    • HIST-238 Latin American History
    • HIST-338 Mexico and the Americas
    • POLS-276 Latin American Politics
    • SPAN-308 Introduction to the Hispanic World I
    • SPAN-309 Introduction to the Hispanic World II
    • SPAN-310 Hispanic Culture in the United States
    • SPAN-361 Colonial Latin American Literature
    • SPAN-362 Latin American Literature from Pre-Modernism to 1945
    • SPAN-363 Contemporary Latin American Literature
    • SPAN-370 Advanced Cultural Topics (Latin America)
    • on campus interim courses with relevant focus on Latin America
  • Off Campus Elective Courses:
    • SPHO-205 Poverty and Development
    • SPHO-308 Introduction to the Hispanic World
    • SPHO-309 Introduction to the Hispanic World II
    • SPHO-315 Engaging Honduran Culture
    • SPHO-342 Language and Culture in August in Honduras
    • SPHO-364 Central American Authors
    • SPHO-393 Independent Ethnographic Study
    • STHO-210 Exploring a Third World Society
    • STHO-211 The Problem of Poverty
    • STHO-212 Development Theory in Practice
    • Appropriate courses taken at the Universidad Pedag?gica in Tegucigalpa may serve as electives or, in certain cases, as substitutes for required courses.
  • Latin American Studies Program Semester
    • Appropriate courses taken as part of the Calvin-approved LASP in Costa Rica
  • Approved language courses in Portuguese or indigenous languages

Scholarships

New students are automatically considered for general academic scholarships ranging from $1,000-15,000 based on a careful review of their application materials.

For a complete listing of departmental scholarships available to first-year students, use the Scholarship Search ».

Faculty

Sandra Clevenger Professor Department of Spanish clev@calvin.edu (616) 526-6358 Roland Hoksbergen Professor Department of Economics hoksro@calvin.edu (616) 526-6369 Olga Leder Assistant Professor Department of Spanish ledero@calvin.edu (616) 526-8617 Henry Luttikhuizen Professor Department of Art and Art History lutt@calvin.edu (616) 526-6327 Daniel Miller Professor Department of History mill@calvin.edu (616) 526-6196 Edward Miller Professor Department of Spanish emiller@calvin.edu (616) 526-6359 Amy Patterson Professor, department chair Department of Political Science apatters@calvin.edu (616) 526-7028

Cynthia Slagter Associate Professor Department of Spanish cslagter@calvin.edu (616) 526-6426 Dwight TenHuisen Associate Professor Department of Spanish dtenhuis@calvin.edu (616) 526-6638 Alisa Tigchelaar Associate Professor Department of Spanish atigchel@calvin.edu (616) 526-7108 Evert Van Der Heide Professor Department of Economics evheide@calvin.edu (616) 526-6099 Kurt Ver Beek Professor Department of Sociology kverbeek@calvin.edu Pablo Villalta Assistant Professor Department of Spanish pvillalt@calvin.edu (616) 526-7717