LAS 195 - Special Topics in Latin American Studies: Interdisciplinary Explorations of Culture and Identity

Credits: 5
Provides an in-depth exploration of rotating topics that highlight key issues, narratives, and cultural expressions in Latin America. Each quarter, the course offers a new thematic focus, enabling the examination of diverse subjects ranging from visual and popular cultures, literature, and media to social and historical movements. Possible topics include Latin American comics, photography, folklore, “monstrous” representations, indigenous narratives, and Afro-Latin American identities. By integrating interdisciplinary methods and perspectives, students will engage critically with topics that reflect Latin America’s complex cultural landscapes, including identity formation, indigenous and Afro-Latin American traditions, transnationalism, and the representation of marginal voices. Through readings, discussions, and multimedia resources, students will deepen their understanding of Latin American experiences and cultural dynamics.

Enrollment Requirement: Eligible for ENGL 99 - Introductory Composition or instructor consent.

Satisfies Requirement: Diversity
Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Identify key cultural, historical, or social themes relevant to the selected topic of the quarter in Latin American Studies.
Analyze how interdisciplinary perspectives (such as cultural studies, visual studies, etc.) contribute to a nuanced understanding of Latin American issues.
Critically evaluate primary and secondary sources to examine Latin American identity, representation, and socio-cultural transformations.

Program Outcomes
Analyze cultural perspectives and values of a multicultural world.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning - Quantitative Reasoning encompasses abilities necessary for a student to become literate in today’s technological world. Quantitative reasoning begins with basic skills and extends to problem solving.
Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.
Diversity and Equity - In order to advance equity and social justice, students will be able to examine their own and others’ identities, behaviors, and/or cultural perspectives as they connect to power, privilege, and/or resistance.