Majors: Learning Goals and Objectives

Upon completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, a student will be able to do the following:

Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Bachelors

Goal I: Understand Latin American and Caribbean cultures through an appreciation for the diversity of Latin America and the Caribbean

Objectives

• Explain the role of migration in the formation of Latin America and the Caribbean’s diverse cultures
• Compare and contrast the historical development of Latin America and the Caribbean
• Explain the economic forces impacting the Latin American and the Caribbean economies
• Critically analyze the Latino/a experience in terms of significant issues, theories, current problems, and solutions

Goal II: Conduct original research on a current important issue facing Latin America

Objectives

• Incorporate ideas from sources and use them appropriately
• Develop a well-written thesis
• Analyze various viewpoints
• Support evidence applying historically-based and culturally-informed arguments as indicated by the instructor in each discipline covered by the program: history; politics; anthropology; literature/the arts

Goal III: Explain the main developments in Latin American history and culture, from the colonial period to the present

Objectives

• Explain the main historical periods
• Analyze how political transformations shaped Latin America and the Caribbean
• Analyze the role of migration in Latin America and the US
• Explain the major belief-systems of Latin America and the Caribbean

Goal IV: Show competence in the artistic expressions of Latin America and the Caribbean

Objectives

• Demonstrate an understanding of at least one of the major artistic expressions of Latin America: music, film, visual art, performance art, and literature
• Demonstrate knowledge of Latin American and Caribbean art’s political and historical contexts
• Analyze the role of the arts in Latin American and Caribbean societies

Goal V: Demonstrate competence in Spanish

Objectives

• Read works in Spanish for a research paper
• Read major works of literature in Spanish
• Write one brief essay in Spanish with correct punctuation, basic grammatical competence, and a basic conceptual grasp of the Spanish language

Latino Studies, Bachelors

Upon completion of a BA degree in Latino Studies, a student will be able to do the following:

Goal I: Understand Latino communities and cultures through simultaneous appreciation of their grounding in Latin America and the Caribbean and their relationship to the United States.

Objectives

• Explain the economic forces impacting the Latin American and Caribbean economies from the colonial period to the present.
• Critically analyze the economic, political, social, and other dynamics contributing to the formation of diasporas in Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican and/or other nations of origin for many Latino people in the United States.
• Show knowledge of the history, political life, and culture of Latino communities in the United States
• Compare and contrast the Latino migratory experience to the United States, using the critical concepts of race and identity.

Goal II: Conduct original research on current important issues facing Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico and/or other US Latino communities.

Objectives

• Incorporate ideas from sources and use them appropriately.
• Develop a well-written thesis.
• Analyze various viewpoints.
• Support evidence applying historically based and culturally informed arguments.

Goal III: Show competence in the artistic expressions of Latino communities to the United States.

Objectives

• Show competence in at least one of the major artistic expressions of Latinos in the US: music, film, visual art, performance art, and literature.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Latino arts and cultural expressions in their historical, social, and political contexts.
• Analyze the role of the arts in Latino communities  in the United States.