BA with a Major in Latin American and Latino Studies

Degree Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete university, college, and program degree requirements. The Department of Latin American and Latino Studies degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

Summary of Requirements
Major Requirements33-36
Prerequisite and Collateral Courses4
General Education and Electives to reach minimum Total Hours80-83
Total Hours120

General Education

See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.

Major Requirements

For the Bachelor of Arts, 33 semester hours are required as distributed below. For the Bachelor of Arts with highest academic distinction, 36 semester hours are required as distributed below:

Required Courses
LALS 101Introduction to Latin American Studies a,b3
LALS 102Introduction to Latino Studies b,c3
Three 200-level courses9
LALS 301Research Methods in Latin America and Latino Studies d3
One additional 100- or 200-level course3
Two additional 300-level courses6
LALS 491Topics in Latin American Studies3
LALS 495Topics in Latino Studies3
LALS 403Interdisciplinary Research Methods in Latin American and Latino Studies (required for highest departmental distinction only)3
Total Hours33-36
a

This course is approved for the Exploring World Cultures General Education category. 

b

This course is approved for the Understanding the Past General Education category.

c

This course is approved for the Understanding U.S. Society General Education category. 

d

LALS 301 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement. 

Prerequisite and Collateral Courses

Courses
SPAN 104Intermediate Spanish II4
or SPAN 114 Spanish for Heritage Speakers II
Total Hours4

Recommended Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
Elective 4
Quantitative Reasoning 3-5
General Education Requirement course 3-5
 Hours13-17
Spring Semester
ENGL 161 Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research 3
LALS 101
Introduction to Latin American Studies
or Introduction to Latino Studies
3
Elective 4
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course 3-5
 Hours16-18
Second Year
Fall Semester
LALS 101
Introduction to Latin American Studies
or Introduction to Latino Studies
3
Elective 3
LALS 2xx or LALS 1xx b 3
General Education Requirement course 3-5
General Education Requirement course 3
 Hours15-17
Spring Semester
LALS 1xx or 2xx b 3
LALS 2xx b 3
SPAN 104
Intermediate Spanish II a
or Spanish for Heritage Speakers II
4
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course 3
 Hours16
Third Year
Fall Semester
LALS 2xx b 3
Select one of the following: 3
LALS 3xx b
 
Research Methods in Latin America and Latino Studies  
General Education Requirement course/Elective 3-5
General Education Requirement course/Elective 3
Electives 3
 Hours15-17
Spring Semester
LALS 301 Research Methods in Latin America and Latino Studies 3
LALS 3xx b 3
Electives 9
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
LALS 491 Topics in Latin American Studies 3
Electives 12
 Hours15
Spring Semester
LALS 495 Topics in Latino Studies 3
Electives 12
 Hours15
 Total Hours120
a

SPAN 104 or SPAN 114 is a required collateral course for the major. Students may place out of this requirement with an appropriate score on the Spanish Language Placement Exam. 

b

Students are required to take three 200-level courses, two 300-level courses, and one additional 100- or 200-level course.