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Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies
Affiliated Faculty
The following Binghamton faculty have expertise in Latin American and/or
Caribbean area studies. Most teach LACAS-related courses on a regular basis.
Africana Studies
Carole B. Davies
Anthropology
Carmen Ferradas
Hans Hoffmann
Michael M. Horowitz
William H. Isbell
Randall H. McGuire
H. Stephen Straight
Art and Art History
Oscar Vázquez
Comparative Literature
Brett Levinson
History
Adalberto López
Tiffany Patterson
LACAS
María Lugones, director
Management
George H. Westacott
Music
David Brackett
Sociology
Juanita Díaz
Ramon Grosfoguel
James F. Petras
Kelvin Santiago-Valles
Dale W. Tomich
Romance Languages and Literatures
Horacio Xaubet
Carrol Coates
Library
Rachelle Moore
Other contributing departments:
Geography
Undergraduate
Programs
The Latin American and Caribbean area studies (LACAS) program offers an
interdisciplinary approach to the study of Latin America, the Caribbean,
and Latinos in the U.S. By combining interdisciplinary coursework with field
work in Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the U.S., students are
prepared for careers of teaching and research in the Latin American, Caribbean,
or U.S. Latino fields, careers in international, social service, educational
or political organizations engaged in promoting the economic, social, and
cultural life of the peoples of Latin America, the Caribbean, and U.S. Latinos.
Information on study abroad opportunities can be obtained by contacting
the International Programs Office. Students who plan to major in LACAS are
advised to discuss the field project early in their majors with the director
of the LACAS Program.
LACAS Major
The undergraduate major in Latin American and Caribbean area studies is
a well established program that began in 1973.
To qualify for the major, students must:
1. Complete a minimum of 10 courses selected from among offerings approved
by the committee on LACAS. The following stipulations apply:
a. Four courses are to be either Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos
in the U.S.
b. At least one course to be taken in each of three separate departments.
c. One course in library research.
d. One course is to be a literature course in one of the original languages
approved by the committee on LACAS.
e. Three of the courses are to be advanced courses. One course must be a
400-level course.
f. No more than half of the courses may be taken outside Binghamton.
2. Show a proficiency in a language relevant to the area of specialization.
Proficiency will include written as well as oral proficiency, taking into
account the differences in fluency between those formally and those informally
educated in the languages. Those informally educated will be expected to
have an intermediate level of reading comprehension. Those formally educated
will be expected to have an intermediate level of verbal fluency. Students
will be formally evaluated by two members of the LACAS committee.
3. Complete the field study requirement. Each student will design a field
project to be carried out either abroad in Latin America or the Caribbean
or in Latino/Chicano/Caribbean communities in the U.S. The student will
be expected to write a report on the results of the field work. The student
will design the field project in consultation with at least one member of
the LACAS faculty. Students will receive two credits for designing the project
and two credits to complete their report and the results of the field work.
Honors Program
To earn honors in the Latin American and Caribbean area studies program
(LACAS), a student majoring in LACAS must earn a grade point average of
3.5 or above in major courses and a 3.3 or above overall and must complete
an honors independent study course that results in a research paper that
is judged to be of honors quality (grade of A). The work will be evaluated
by a committee designated by the LACAS committee. Contact the director of
LACAS for more information.
Cross-Disciplinary
LACAS Minor
The undergraduate cross-disciplinary minor in LACAS is designed for undergraduates
unable to fulfill the requirements for the major but who wish to graduate
with formal recognition for course work in the field. Students who complete
the requirements for the cross-disciplinary minor in LACAS receive recognition
of completion upon graduation.
To qualify for this minor, a student must:
1. Meet the same language requirement as for the major (see above).
2. Complete a minimum of six courses selected from among offerings approved
by the committee on LACAS. The following stipulations apply:
a. Three courses in either Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the
U.S.
b. At least one course must be a 300-level course and at least one course
must be a 400-level course.
c. No more than half the courses may be taken outside Binghamton.
Any student interested in pursuing a LACAS minor should meet with a member
of the LACAS committee or the director to discuss the requirements, and
then meet with the director to formulate a plan of study.
Some Clarification and
Recommendations
Students interested in the major or the cross-disciplinary minor should
keep the following in mind:
1. The main difference between the major and the cross-disciplinary minor
are that the major requires a minimum of 10 courses and the cross-disciplinary
minor a minimum of six, and that the major includes the design and execution
of a field project.
2. Depending on the nature of the courses, some courses taken in Latin American
and/or Caribbean universities may be used to fulfill part of the requirements
for the major and/or the cross-disciplinary minor.
3. It is strongly recommended (but not required) that students interested
in the LACAS major combine that major with a major in a regular department.
This insures the recognition of a traditional discipline by employers and
graduate schools, as well as providing students with further background
in a related field.
4. In accordance with normal Harpur College policy, students may use the
same course(s) to fulfill part of the course requirements for both their
regular major and the major or cross-disciplinary minor in LACAS.
Course Offerings/
Undergraduate
LA&C 105. INTRO TO LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES/Fall
Explores the history, culture, and current issues of Latin America and the
Caribbean.
LA&C 106. LATINOS IN THE UNITED STATES/Spring
Explores the history, cultures, and current condition of Chicanos, Puerto
Ricans, Dominicans, Cubans and others in the United States.
LA&C 226. (also ANTH 226) WOMEN IN LATIN AMERICA
Examines women's changing roles in various social formations, using case
studies from Pre-Columbian, Colonial, Post-Revolutionary, and contemporary
Latin America to examine how the variables of class, gender, race, and ethnicity
affect women's status.
LA&C 240. (also SOC 240) WOMEN OF COLOR IN THE U.S.
Examination of the diverse struggles (political, economic, social, legal,
etc.) of Asian, Native American, African American, and Latina/Chicana women
in the U.S. and the ways in which public institutions and agencies (federal,
state, local) deal with women of color.
LA&C 244. (also SPAN) INTRODUCTION TO HISPANIC LITERATURE: LITERARY
ANALYSIS
Analysis of representative works of Peninsular and Latin American literature
(poems, plays, essays, narratives), emphasis on study of basic literary
concepts and terminology. Recommended for students planning to take SPAN
360 and/or 370/372. Prerequisite: SPAN 215 or four or more years of high
school Spanish.
LA&C 252. (also SOC 252) SOCIAL CHANGE IN PUERTO RICO
Development of capitalism in Puerto Rico since 1898. Interrelationship of
economic, political, and class structures. Process of industrialization,
changes in form of local state after 1945.
LA&C 255. (also ANTH 255) INDIANS OF SOUTH AMERICA
Economic and social structure of Inca empire. Evolution of Andean deities.
Hydrology of the Amazon Basin. War, blow guns, and hallucinogens among jungle
tribes. Male-female interactions among the savanna tribes: men's houses
and female associations.
LA&C 271. LIBRARY RESEARCH ON LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Resources and information skills primarily associated with electronic forms
of information for research and study of Latin America, the Caribbean, and
Latinos. The Internet is introduced through demonstrations and hands on
exercises. Assignments focus on historical and contemporary issues.
LA&C2 313 (also SOC2 313). SLAVERY, RACE, AND CULTURE
Sociological analysis of slavery as process of social and cultural change
and of redefinition of social groups within the world economy. Draws on
materials from United States, the Caribbean, and Brazil. Different experiences
of slavery, impact on populations of African origin, response of these populations
to slavery. Methodological and theoretical problems entailed in analyzing
slavery.
LA&C 321. (also SOC 321) RACE AND CULTURAL RELATIONS IN THE WORLD COMMUNITY
Historic identity as important factor in social development in multi-ethnic
and multi-racial world community. Selected communities from Africa, Asia,
and Europe.
LA&C 330 (also SOC 330). LATIN AMERICAN WOMEN AND THEIR COMMUNITIES
Examination of the political, social, and economic role of women in their
communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Emphasis place on post-World
War II developments.
LA&C 340 (also SOC 340) WOMEN AND THE U.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Focuses on the interrelationship between gender, race/ethnicity, class,
and sexual orientation, and on how these influence the crimes for which
women are arrested and institutionalized. Examines the punishment women
receive and the conditions they face once imprisoned.
LA&C 363 (also ANTH 363) ANTHROPOLOGY OF DEVELOPING NATIONS
Social, political, and economic change in the Third World. Articulation
of rural production systems with world market. Analysis of rural and urban
development, famine, population, poverty, inequality, and powerlessness.
Economic and environmental impacts of United Nations, World Bank, and other
development organizations.
LA&C 370 (also SPAN 370). SURVEY OF LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE
Selected readings reflecting historical developments of Latin American literature
from colonial to contemporary period. Prerequisite: SPAN 244, or 250 or
251, or equivalent.
LA&C 371 (also SOC 371). THEORIES OF SOCIAL CHANGE
How social theorists analyze large scale social change, conceptions of origins,
structure, development of modern social systems, classes and social groups,
the state and bureaucracy, problems of rationalization and technology, problems
of theory and method.
LA&C 372 (also SPAN 370). SURVEY OF LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE
Selected readings reflecting historical developments of Latin American literature
from colonial to contemporary period. Prerequisite: one from SPAN 244, 250,
or 251, or equivalent.
LA&C 474 (also SPAN 474). LATIN AMERICAN SHORT STORY
Principal development from Independence to present. Prerequisite: SPAN 244
and 370 or equivalent.
LA&C 483 (also SPAN 483). SPECIAL TOPICS IN LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE
Significant period, literary movement, or group of authors. Specific subject
to be announced. Prerequisites: SPAN 244 and 370, or equivalent. May be
repeated for credit.
LA&C 523. FOLK/POPULAR EDUCATION
Different theories and practices of folk education. Will compare and connect
Antonio Gramsci's and Paulo Freire's work, and look at the relation between
folk education and radical social change. Focus will be on the folk education
movement in Latin America and the communities of color in the U.S.
Graduate Programs
The certificate program in Latin American and Caribbean area studies offers
an opportunity for graduate students to receive special recognition for
work in Latin American and Caribbean area studies. The requirements of the
program are above and beyond those of a specific department, although work
in the program may usually be used to satisfy a number of departmental requirements.
In general, it is expected that candidates for the certificate need not
complete more than two or three courses beyond the number required by their
department for the advanced degree.
Those who receive the certificate in effect have two credentials: the MA
or PhD in an established discipline and a certificate in Latin American
and Caribbean area studies. Admission to the program requires previous admission
to a department of study and approval by the committee on Latin American
and Caribbean area studies.
Certificate Requirements
To qualify for a graduate certificate in Latin American and Caribbean area
studies, students must:
1. Take a minimum of four graduate courses directly relevant to Latin America
and the Caribbean area in at least two departments.
2. Show evidence of proficiency in a language relevant to the Latin American
and Caribbean area other than English (Spanish, Portuguese, French, or another
language where primary interests indicate a need). In practice, this level
of proficiency includes a basic competence in reading, speaking, and understanding
the spoken language.
Students who wish more information should contact the director of the Latin
American and Caribbean Area Studies Program.
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