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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| Major Requirements | 33-36 | |
| Prerequisite and Collateral Courses | 4 | |
| General Education and Electives to reach minimum Total Hours | 80-83 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| LALS 101 | Introduction to Latin American Studies a,b | 3 |
| LALS 102 | Introduction to Latino Studies b,c | 3 |
| Three 200-level courses | 9 | |
| LALS 301 | Research Methods in Latin America and Latino Studies d | 3 |
| One additional 100- or 200-level course | 3 | |
| Two additional 300-level courses | 6 | |
| LALS 491 | Topics in Latin American Studies | 3 |
| LALS 495 | Topics in Latino Studies | 3 |
| LALS 403 | Interdisciplinary Research Methods in Latin American and Latino Studies (required for highest departmental distinction only) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 33-36 | |
- 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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | ||
| SPAN 104 | Intermediate Spanish II | 4 |
| or SPAN 114 | Spanish for Heritage Speakers II | |
| Total Hours | 4 | |
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3-5 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3-5 | |
| Hours | 13-17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| LALS 101 or LALS 102 |
Introduction to Latin American Studies or Introduction to Latino Studies |
3 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3-5 | |
| Hours | 16-18 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| LALS 101 or LALS 102 |
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 | |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| LALS 1xx or 2xx b | 3 | |
| LALS 2xx b | 3 | |
| SPAN 104 or SPAN 114 |
Intermediate Spanish II a or Spanish for Heritage Speakers II |
4 |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| LALS 301 | Research Methods in Latin America and Latino Studies | 3 |
| LALS 3xx b | 3 | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| LALS 491 | Topics in Latin American Studies | 3 |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| LALS 495 | Topics in Latino Studies | 3 |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 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.