Latin American Studies
Goals
Latin American Studies encourages students to learn more about the importance of Latin American social, cultural, political, and economic systems. Because the faculty members belong to many departments at Niagara University, students in this minor will gain an interdisciplinary perspective on Latin American issues as well as direct cultural contact with Latin American scholars. Because Latin America is an area of growing importance to the United States, the opportunity of experiencing the culture is invaluable.
If you are taking any course at the university that includes any content of Latin America, you can receive credits toward the Latin American Studies minor. You need to contact Dr. Esteban Mayorga to talk about this specific issue.
For the Spanish majors: three courses inside the major count toward the LAS minor. Students need to take three courses outside the Spanish major; for example LAS 100 Introduction to Latin American Studies, LAS 200 Popular Culture in Lat America, LAS 201 Latin American Art or any of the free electives for the LAS minor.
Students can also take a challenge exam for the lower levels of Spanish if you need those courses for your LAS minor. Students can take a challenge exam of SPA 101 Elem Spanish I, SPA 102 Elem Spanish II, SPA 103 Intermediate Spanish I, SPA 104 Intermediate Spanish II etc.
The LAS courses can also count toward the GENET requirements.
For other students in other majors including students of Education and Spanish emphasis: students can take three courses inside the Spanish concentration that can count toward the minor in LAS, and three outside the Spanish concentration from the LAS free electives.
Niagara University has study-abroad programs in Ecuador and the Galápagos; Córdoba, Argentina; Havana, Cuba; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santiago, Chile; Lima and Cuzco, Perú; and Monterrey, México.
Courses
This course will introduce students to the richness of Latin America from their inception to the present, studying the culture and civilization related to contemporary times. Students will have lectures about specific topics from speakers abroad using the LDC* at NU. The course will also study the Chicano Culture in the USA.
An introduction to Latin American history, geography, economy, and culture from Pre-Columbian times to the 1800s. With an interdisciplinary approach, through video-conference and web technologies, specialized scholars from universities abroad present topics designed to portray Latin America from a Latin American point of view. This course is taught in English.
Students will be given the unique experience of creating an exhibition of works by Latin American artists in the Castellani's collection from the initial selection process through the various components of publicizing the show, thus introducing the full behind the scenes activities of museum work. The rich stylistic history of the 20th century Latin American art will be introduced week by week as students delve deeper into researching the artwork and museum procedures to display and explain it. This course is taught in English.
This course provides a survey of major cultural issues in Latin America and the Caribbean. It aims to familiarize students with contributions and interactions of African-descended populations with the language, people, and customs of South America and the Caribbean.
Students will examine a range of political, economic, cultural, and literary topics with experts in Latin American Studies. The specific topic will be determined on a semester-to-semester basis, based upon the availability and expertise of faculty.
A student having a declared minor in Latin American Studies, and having attained advanced proficiency in Spanish, will lead weekly discussion sessions or other class activities in LAS 100, LAS 200, or LAS 300 under the direct supervision of the course professor. With a pedagogical supervisor, the student will examine various learning strategies while preparing a cumulative teaching portfolio.
A junior or senior work-study program providing employment experience. Registration will occur at the beginning of the experience. The objective of the program is to integrate classroom theory and practical work experience, thus lending relevancy to learning and providing the student with a realistic exposure to career opportunities. Students interested in taking a co-op or internship should talk to their adviser.