School of Arts and Humanities
Latin American Studies (BA)
Students who complete the major in Latin American Studies will explore the region through three main avenues of study: (1) history; (2) economics, political science, and business; and (3) literature, language, and culture. Students are encouraged to specialize in one of these pillars while incorporating the program's multidisciplinary perspective.
Since the following catalog course descriptions are very general, students are urged to consult the detailed course descriptions available on the web site for the School of Arts and Humanities. At least one-half of the semester credit hours for a major must be taken at UT Dallas.
Courses in Latin American Studies are open to all students in the University.
Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: Enric Madriguera, Rene Prieto, Rainer Schulte
Associate Professor: Charles Hatfield, Monica Rankin
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours2
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication
RHET 1302 Rhetoric
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist
MATH 1314 College Algebra
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses (see advisor and degree requirements)
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
HUMA 1301 Exploration of the Humanities
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses (see advisor)
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Choose two courses from the following: (see advisor)
HIST 1301 U.S. History Survey to Civil War
HIST 1302 U.S. History Survey from Civil War
HIST 2301 History of Texas
HIST 2330 Themes and Ideas in American History
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses (see advisor)
Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
GOVT 2305 American National Government
GOVT 2306 State and Local Government
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Option courses (see advisor)
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses (see advisor)
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses (see advisor)
II. Major Requirements: 60 semester credit hours
Introduction to Latin America Preparatory Requirement: 3 semester Credit Hours
HIST 2350 Latin American Civilizations
Foreign Language Requirement: 12 semester credit hours of Approved Language
The language requirement is 12 semester credit hours, or equivalent, of the same language, usually Spanish, or another approved language of relevance to Latin American Studies. Students can petition the Program Head for exceptions. If the language credit is obtained without taking classes, twelve additional semester credit hours of Free Electives (upper-division or lower-division) can be taken by student.
Latin American Studies Major Core Courses: 18 semester credit hours
HIST 3398 Colonial Latin American History
HIST 3399 Modern Latin American History
IPEC 4304 Political Economy of Latin America
or PSCI 4332 Latin American Politics
LATS 3301 Latin American Literature
SPAN 4315 Study Abroad in Spanish (or approved equivalent)3
HIST 3397 Study Abroad in Latin America (or approved equivalent)3
Latin American Studies Major Electives: 27 credit hours
All students are required to take at least six credit hours from each of the three thematic pillars in Latin American Studies, plus nine additional free electives.
History Electives
All students are required to take at least six semester credit hours of approved courses. May not overlap with major core requirements.
HIST 3391 Modern Mexico
HIST 4369 Topics in Borderlands History
HIST 4359 Topics in Latin American History
HIST 3397 Study Abroad in Latin America (may be repeated as topics vary)3
Politics and Economics Electives
All students are required to take at least six semester credit hours of approved courses. May not overlap with major core requirements.
CRIM 3319 Comparative Justice Systems4
GEOG 2302 The Global Environment4
GEOG 3304 Principles of Geospatial Information Sciences4
GEOG 3359 Human Migration and Mobility: Global Patterns4
GEOS 2321 Geology, Resources, and Environment of Latin America
IMS 3091 Regional Management Area Studies: Latin America
or IMS 3V91 Regional Management Area Studies: Latin America
IPEC 4304 Political Economy of Latin America
PSCI 4331 Mexican Politics
PSCI 4332 Latin American Politics
PSCI 4347 The War on Drugs
Cultural Studies Electives
All students are required to take at least six semester credit hours of approved courses. May not overlap with major core requirements.
LANG 4348 Advanced Topics in Language4
SPAN 3363 Spanish Composition and Style
SPAN 3365 Advanced Spanish I
SPAN 3366 Advanced Spanish II
SPAN 4301 Advanced Spanish Conversation
SPAN 4302 Spanish Conversation and Community
SPAN 4364 Advanced Spanish Culture
SPAN 4315 Study Abroad in Spanish (may be repeated as topics vary)3
Latin American Studies Free Electives
Select any 9 semester credit hours from the History Electives, Political and Economics Electives, and Cultural Studies Electives. May not overlap with major core requirements.
III. Elective Requirements: 18 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 18 semester credit hours
Both upper-and lower-division courses may be used as electives, but students must complete at least 51 semester credit hours of upper-division courses to qualify for graduation.
Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of ARHM 1100.1
1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.
2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
3. A total of six semester credit hours of immersion study abroad in Latin America are required for the major. Study abroad courses, including those offered by other UT Dallas schools/programs, such as the Naveen Jindal School of Management, must be approved by program director.
4. Topics courses, CRIM 3319, GEOG 2302, GEOG 3304, GEOG 3359, and PSCI 4348 must be approved by the School of Arts and Humanities before enrolling to ensure that the course subject matter is predominantly Latin American.