Minor in Latin America & Caribbean Studies

This minor provides students with a foundation of knowledge about Latin America & the Caribbean to complement their primary area of expertise. Haitian Creole, Kaqchikel Maya, K'iche' Maya, Miskitu, Portuguese, and Spanish are all offered at KU.

Minors can pursue one of two options:

• The General Latin American & Caribbean Studies option is for students interested in building knowledge of Latin America & the Caribbean in such areas as anthropology, art history, business, film, geography, history, indigenous studies, literature, journalism, politics, and theater.
• The Indigenous Studies in Latin America (ISLA) option is for students interested in indigenous people of Latin America and who wish to study an indigenous language.

Besides access to quality instruction and content, our students have access to the amazing international resources that put KU on the top shelf for international education.

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.

In addition, KU has a nationally-ranked Study Abroad Program, instruction in 40 foreign languages, and local, national, and international internship opportunities.

Option 1. General Latin American & Caribbean Studies

LAC Core Knowledge and Skills (6 hours). Minors must take two of the following:

• LAC 100 Latin American Culture and Society
• LAC 300 Interdisciplinary Themes in Latin American Studies
• LAC 332 Language and Society in Latin America
• LAC 334 Indigenous Traditions of Latin America
• ANTH 379 Indigenous Traditions of Latin America

Additional upper-division LAC electives (12 hours):

• Satisfied by taking any upper-division LAC course or its cross-listed number
• If a student would like to apply a non-LAC (or cross-listed) course with at least 25% Latin American and/or Caribbean content (which may include assignments), they can seek approval from the GIST Director of Undergraduate Studies by sharing the syllabus. No more than 2 such courses may count toward the minor.

Option 2. Indigenous Studies in Latin America (ISLA)

LAC Core Knowledge and Skills (6 hours). Minors must take two of the following:

• LAC 100 Latin American Culture and Society
• LAC 300 Interdisciplinary Themes in Latin American Studies
• LAC 332 Language and Society in Latin America
• LAC 334 Indigenous Traditions of Latin America
• ANTH 379 Indigenous Traditions of Latin America

Latin American indigenous language courses (6 hours):

• LAC 302 Topics in Latin American Area Studies:_____
• LAC 602 Topics in Latin American Studies: _____
• KQKL 110/LAC 602 Elementary Kaqchikel Maya I
• KQKL 114 Elementary Kaqchikel Maya II
• KQKL 230 Intermediate Kaqchikel Maya I
• KQKL 234 Intermediate Kaqchikel Maya II
• KQKL 350 Advanced Kaqchikel Maya I
• KQKL 360 Advanced Kaqchikel Maya II
• KQKL 500 Directed Studies in Kaqchikel Maya
• Other indigenous Latin American languages may be substituted with approval of the GIST Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Additional Upper-division LAC electives (6 hours):

• Students may take any upper-division LAC course or its cross-listed number as an elective.
• A minimum of 12 credit hours must be taken at the 300+ level to complete the minor.
• If a student would like to apply a non-LAC (or cross-listed) course with at least 25% Latin American and/or Caribbean content (which may include assignments), they can seek approval from the GIST Director of Undergraduate Studies by sharing the syllabus. No more than 2 such courses may count toward the minor.

Minor Hours & GPA:

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

Minor Hours:

• Satisfied by 18 hours of minor courses.

Minor Hours in Residence:

• Satisfied by a minimum of 9 hours of KU resident credit in the minor.

Minor Junior/Senior Hours:

• Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the minor.

Minor Graduation GPA:

• Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in all departmental courses (300+) in the minor.
• GPA calculations include all courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses.
• See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.

Brian Lagotte

Director, GIST Undergraduate Studies

lagotte@ku.edu

785-864-6251

Bailey Hall, 215

Nicholas Pellett

Academic Advisor, GIST Undergraduate Program

Jayhawk Academic Advising

npellett@ku.edu

785-864-3500

Bailey Hall, 205D

KU's Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies has a rich 50-year history of sharing knowledge and resources with the KU community. We encourage students to engage with CLACS to learn more about study abroad in the region, scholarships for language study, and events pertaining to Latin America and the Caribbean.

We are happy you are interested in our program. We encourage you to contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Brian Lagotte, at lagotte@ku.edu to speak about the program and your interests. If you are ready to declare a minor, please make an appointment with GIST Academic Advisor, Nicholas Pellett, at npellett@ku.edu.