Participating Faculty: Michael Aronna (Hispanic
Studies), Mario Cesareo (Hispanic Studies), Colleen Cohen
(Anthropology), Brian Godfrey (Geography), Mihai
Grünfeld (Hispanic Studies), Katherine Hite (Political
Science), Lucy Lewis Johnson (Anthropology), Leslie Offutt
(History), Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert (Hispanic
Studies).
The Latin American Studies Program provides a
multidisciplinary approach to the study of the history,
geography, politics, economics, cultures, and literatures of
the vast, diverse, and increasingly influential world region
of Latin America.
Requirements for Concentration: 12 units,
including Latin American Studies 105, work above the
introductory level in at least three departments and a
competency in Spanish or Portuguese through the third-year
level (Hispanic Studies 217 or Portuguese 310-311, or their
equivalent). Maximum of 6 units of language instruction may
count toward the concentration, not including intermediate-
and advanced-level literature courses. History 262 and 263
are required as common introductory courses. In the senior
year, each student must write a multidisciplinary thesis
under the co-direction of two thesis advisors, one of whom
must be drawn from the participating faculty. In fulfillment
of the program, each student should elect 12 units from the
following list, according to these guidelines: no more than
2 units at the 100-level; and at least 3 units at the
300-level, including a 1-unit graded senior thesis, the
Latin American Studies Program senior seminar, and a seminar
by an instructor other than the one responsible for the
senior seminar. Students interested in Latin American
Studies are encouraged to consult with the director or
participating faculty members as early as possible to
discuss their program of study. Some study in Latin America
(either during summers or the junior year) is strongly
recommended for all Latin American Studies majors.
Requirements for the Correlate Sequence: 6 units,
including Latin American Studies 105, (1) either History 262
or History 263; (2) a minimum of four other courses in at
least three different departments. At least two courses at
the 300-level, including the Latin American Studies senior
seminar and a seminar taught by an instructor other than the
one responsible for the senior seminar, are required; these
must be taken at Vassar. Ungraded work done in Latin America
may be counted. One year of college-level study or the
equivalent in either Spanish or Portuguese must be
demonstrated. Students should prepare a proposal for the
correlate sequence in Latin American Studies after
consulting the courses listed in the catalogue and
discussing the sequence with an adviser in the program, as
there may be other appropriate courses which are not
currently listed. All proposals should include some
discussion of the focus of the coursework and must be
approved by the program. One course can be "double counted"
for a major and a correlate sequence.
For descriptions and timing of the courses in the listing
below, please consult not only department listings in this
catalogue, but also an updated Schedule of Classes.
Additional courses may be approved for the major upon
petition to program faculty.
Course Offerings:
105. Introduction to Latin American Studies
(1)
An introduction to the basic concepts, theories, and
methodologies necessary for the multidisciplinary study of
Latin American societies. The focus of the course varies
from year to year according to the topic selected by the
instructor.
Topic for 2001b: Resistance and Struggle in Latin
America. Ms. Hite.
282a. Cities and Urbanization in Latin America
(Same as Geography, Sociology and Urban Studies 282)
283b. The Urban Informal Economy in Latin America
(1)
(Same as Sociology/Urban Studies 283)
Reading Courses
297.01. Testimonial Narrative
(1/2)
297.02. Indigenous Mexico
(1/2)
297.03. Chronicles of the Conquest
(1/2)
297.04. Latino Writings
(1/2)
297.05. Socio-Political Thought in Latin America
(1/2)
297.06. Latin American Cinema
(1/2)
297.07. The Politics of Regional Integration
(1/2)
297.08. Syncretic Religions of the Caribbean and
(1/2)
Latin American
297.09. The Legacy of the Plantation in Caribbean and
(1/2)
Latin American Literature
297.10. Cultures of the Amazon
(1/2)
297.11. Native Peoples of the Andes
(1/2)
300-301. Senior Thesis
(1/2)
389b. Senior Seminar (1)
(Same as Hispanic Studies 389b) Required of all senior
majors. Sponsoring department, instructor, and agenda will
vary from year to year, but will display a multidisciplinary
character through selection of materials and possible use of
guest seminar leaders from other participating
departments.
Topic for 2000/01: Popular Culture in Latin America.
Ms. Paravisini-Gebert.
One two-hour meeting.
Approved Courses
Africana Studies 211. Religions of the Oppressed and
Third (1)
World Liberation Movements
Anthropology 240. Area Studies in Ethnography: (1)
Ethnography of the Caribbean.
Anthropology 245. The Ethnographer's Craft (1)
Economics 102. Introduction to Marxian Economics (1)
Economics 248. International Trade and the World (1)
Financial System
Economics 260. The Economics of Imperialism (1)
Economics 268. Economic Development in (1)
Less Developed Countries
Geography 240. Latin America: Population, Development
(1)
and Environment
Geography 242. Brazil: Continuity and Change in (1)
Portuguese America
Hispanic-Studies 105-106. Elementary Spanish Language
(1)
Hispanic-Studies 205. Intermediate Spanish (1)
Hispanic Studies 207. Reading and Writing about (1)
Latin American Culture
Hispanic Studies 217. Methods in Interdisciplinary
Analysis: (1)
Latin America
Hispanic Studies 227. Colonial Latin America (1)
The Invention of America
Hispanic Studies 229. Postcolonial Latin America: (1)
Latin America and Modernity
Hispanic Studies 387a. Latin American Seminar (1)
Latin American Cinema
Hispanic Studies 387b. Latin American Seminar (1)
The Indigenous Experience in Latin America
History 162a. Latin America: The Aftermath of Encounter
(1)
History 251a. A History of America Foreign Relations
(1)
History 262a. Early Latin America to 1750 (1)
History 263b. Latin America in the Nineteenth Century
(1)
History 363b. Revolution and Conflict in Twentieth-
Century Latin America (1)
Political Science 258. Latin American Politics (1)
Political Science 267. NGOs and Global Society (1)
Political Science 354. Seminar on the Politics of
Religion in (1)
Africa and the Diaspora
Portuguese. First, Second and Third Year of Spoken
Language (1)
(Self-Instructional Language Program)
Religion 211. Religions of the Oppressed and
Third-World
Liberation Movements (1)
|