Global & International Studies Bachelor’s Degree

Latin American & Caribbean Concentration

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Core Knowledge and Skills (9 Hours):

  • GIST 220 Introduction to Global and International Studies           
  • LAC 100 Latin American Culture and Society
  • LAC 300 Interdisciplinary Themes in Latin American Studies
    or LAC 310 Topics in LAC - Anthropology: _____
    or LAC 332 Language and Society in Latin America
    or LAC 334 Indigenous Traditions of Latin America

Additional Language (3-5 Hours):

Satisfied by completion of one additional foreign language course (3 hours) beyond the 4th semester proficiency language requirement (300 level or above) or any available additional language course (3-5 hours). All language study must be in Latin American Caribbean languages (e.g. Spanish, Portuguese, or Indigenous Latin American Languages).

Capstone Coursework (6 Hours):

Satisfied by the completion of the following two courses, with a senior project specifically focused on a a Latin American and Caribbean topic.

  • GIST 610 Interdisciplinary Methods for Global Contexts 
  • GIST 698 Capstone Seminar or GIST 699 Capstone Seminar, Honors

Upper-Division Latin American and Caribbean Electives (9 Hours):

Satisfied by taking three LAC (or crosslisted) courses at the 300-level or above (this can include LAC 300, 310, 332, or 334).

Upper-Division Interdisciplinary Electives (6 Hours):

Satisfied by taking two courses focusing on the Latin American and Caribbean region from related departments at the 300-level or above. The following list shows examples of commonly taught approved electives; speak with the Undergraduate Advisor for GIST for a complete list of approved courses.

  • AAAS 301 Haiti: Culture and Identity      
  • AAAS 333 Introduction to Caribbean Literature  
  • AAAS 574 Slavery in the New World       
  • ANTH 379 Indigenous Traditions of Latin America            
  • ANTH 380 Peoples of South America      
  • ANTH 382 People and the Rain Forest    
  • ENGL 339 Introduction to Caribbean Literature  
  • FMS 316 Cinemas of the Southern Cone: Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay 
  • GEOG 591 Geography of Latin America  
  • HIST 365 Invention of the Tropics           
  • HIST 368 A History of Afro-Latin America             
  • HIST 575 The Many Faces of Mexico       
  • PORT 300 Brazilian Culture         
  • PORT 471 Studies in Brazilian Culture and Civilization: _____       
  • PORT 565 Studies in Brazilian Film: _____            
  • SPAN 346 Transatlantic Hispanic Cultures            
  • SPAN 447 Latin American Cultures: _____           
  • SPAN 475 Studies in Latin-American Literature and Culture: _____           
  • SPAN 560 Colloquium on Latin American Film    

Additional Requirements

Major Hours & Major GPA:

While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the
following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:

Major Hours:

Satisfied by 11 units (minimum of 33 credit hours) of major courses.

Overlapping Courses:

Students in the GIST major can overlap relevant coursework with other programs;
however, in order to ensure interdisciplinary breadth, they can only take up to 5 courses offered or cross-listed by any single other academic program.

Major Hours in Residence:

Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.

Major Junior/Senior Hours:

Satisfied by a minimum of 21 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.

Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA:

Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and
repeated courses. To calculate GPA, see the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.

Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies (CLACS) has a rich 50-year history of sharing knowledge and resources with the KU community. CLACS was established in 1961 and is a federally funded National Resource Center. Students are encouraged to engage with CLACS! Learn about faculty who specialize in the region, study abroad programs, scholarships for language study, special lectures, and events pertaining to Latin America and the Caribbean. Contact Robert Schwaller, Associate Director if you have questions about faculty and scholarships.