Chair: Israel Reyes
Professors R. Bueno-Chávez (Spanish and Portuguese), J. M. Carey (Government), D. L. Nichols (Anthropology), T. Padilla (History), B. Pastor (Spanish and Portuguese), S. D. Spitta (Spanish and Portuguese), K. L. Walker (French and Italian), R. A. Wright (Geography); Associate Professors L. Baldez (LALACS, Government), R. E. Biron (Spanish and Portuguese), R. A. Franconi (Spanish and Portuguese), I. Reyes (Spanish and Portuguese); Assistant Professors F. M. A’Ness (Spanish and Portuguese), M. K. Coffey (Art History), M. Dorsey (Environmental Studies), A. Gómez (Spanish and Portuguese), L. Gutiérrez Nájera (LALACS, Anthropology), S. L. Mollett (Geography), S.A.M.Vásquez (English); Senior Lecturer D. J. Moody (Spanish and Portuguese); Lecturer S. Díaz (LALACS, Spanish and Portuguese), R. Galemba (LALACS), J. Lirot (LALACS, Spanish and Portuguese), J. G. Smolin (LALACS); Visiting Assistant Professor C. Gómez (LALACS); Visiting Instructor V. Dickerson (LALACS).
Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies (LALACS) is an interdisciplinary program.
The standard major and minor in LALACS offer students the option of focusing their studies on Latin America and the Caribbean (LACS), Latino Studies (LATS), or a combination of both.
The LACS/LATS major and minor are designed to ensure both a broad exposure to Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Studies and the theoretical and empirical rigor of study in a single discipline or area of scholarship. The standard major consists of ten (10) courses, not counting the prerequisite.
PREREQUISITE: REQUIREMENT FOR THE LACS/LATS MAJOR
Language Competency—Demonstrated competency in Spanish or Portuguese equivalent to Spanish 3 or Portuguese 3. This requirement must normally be satisfied before the end of the sixth term. Students are strongly encouraged to study a second language, preferably Portuguese, Spanish, or French. Students planning to take a Foreign Study Program (FSP) must fulfill departmental requirements.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LACS/LATS MAJOR
A. Two of the three survey courses: LACS 1, LACS 4, or LATS 3
B. Seven LACS and/or LATS courses including associated courses from our list
1. Of the seven courses, at least two must be from the Social Sciences and at least two must be from the Humanities
2. Four of the seven courses must constitute a concentration that reflects a disciplinary or scholarly focus that can combine courses from one or more departments and programs. All four-course concentrations must be approved by the LALACS Chair
C. A culminating experience, consisting of one of the following
1 A LACS or LATS Senior Seminar
2 An approved independent study with a LALACS professor
3 A senior honors thesis in LACS or LATS
Students may fulfill their Humanities requirement by taking the Spanish FSP in Argentina or the Portuguese FSP in Brazil. Of the three FSP credits, two may be counted towards the major.
COURSES COUNTING TOWARD A LACS/LATS MINOR
Students wishing to pursue a minor in LALACS must take two of the survey courses (LACS 1, LACS 4, or LATS 3) plus a total of four additional courses, normally from two different regions and two different disciplines.
MODIFYING ANOTHER MAJOR WITH LACS/LATS
Students wishing to modify another major with LACS/LATS must take one of the survey courses (LACS 1, LACS 4, or LATS 3) and four additional courses from at least two different disciplines.
HONORS PROGRAM
Senior Honors Thesis Prerequisite and Application Process:
1. Determine that you have successfully completed two of our survey courses before the end of your junior year: LACS 1, LACS 4, or LATS 3.
2. Determine that you meet the minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 for all Dartmouth courses, and 3.3 in the LACS/LATS major.
3. Obtain a faculty advisor.
4. Write a thesis proposal, have it signed by your faculty advisor, and submit it to the LALACS Program Administrator, Sheila Laplante, by May 15 of the junior year.
5. Enroll in LACS/LATS 98 in the fall of your Senior year, and LACS/LATS 99 in the winter. If necessary, LACS/LATS 99 may be taken again in the spring. A grade of “Ongoing” will be assigned for LACS 99/LATS 99 for the winter term, and the final grade will be assigned at the end of the spring term.
6. At the end of Fall term students will write a five- to seven-page thesis prospectus. The prospectus should be presented to the LALACS Program Office no later than the first week of winter term to be approved by the LALACS Steering Committee.
7. Theses must be completed by the eighth week of spring term of the senior year. Students missing this deadline may be liable to lose eligibility for honors.
GEORGETOWN PROGRAM
During their junior year, LACS/LATS majors may attend a summer program offered by Georgetown University at the Georgetown Center for Latin American Studies in Santiago, Chile. Applications for the program may be obtained from the LALACS office. These summer courses carry Georgetown credit. Students may apply for transfer credit from this program by contacting the registrar’s office for transfer application forms. All transfer terms and credit must be pre-approved by the Committee On Off-Campus Activities. The deadline for COCA transfer applications is one term in advance of the transfer term.
Students who take this program may apply to Georgetown to matriculate the summer after they graduate from Dartmouth. These students may be able to complete a Masters degree in Latin American Studies in two semesters instead of three.
For additional information contact Sheila Laplante in the LALACS office.