Latin American and Caribbean Studies, B.A.

Requirements for the Major:

Twelve courses with LACS credit, including LAS 101 (Introduction to Latin American Studies), one 300-level language course in Spanish, French, or any other official language of Latin America, or the successful completion of Portuguese during a full term abroad (subject to the approval of the LACS Director), three courses from a concentration, two courses from other area, and a two-term senior thesis. No course from languages and humanities/social science can be counted twice to meet these requirements.

LACS Majors can choose between the following concentrations: 1. Humanities and Arts; 2. Social Sciences; 3. Student Designed Concentration (e.g., Biology, Environmental Studies, Geology, to be designed in consultation with the LACS Director and the student’s academic adviser). Students must take at least three courses for their chosen concentration, and at least two courses from the others. Students must participate in a full-length Term Abroad program in Latin America. Union College offers faculty-run study abroad options, and there are also Independent Study and non-Union programs. Consult with the LACS director for possibilities.

Requirements for Honors in Latin American and Caribbean Studies:

To be eligible for honors, a student must (1) attain a minimum index of 3.50 in courses counted toward the major; (2) a cumulative index of 3.30 or better; (3) a grade of “A minus” or higher on the senior project (a two-term senior project for LACS Majors); and (4) oral exam based on the Senior Project before LACS faculty and an additional presentation of the work at Steinmetz or another public academic venue.

Five-Year Cooperative Degree Program with Georgetown:

Union has entered into an agreement with Georgetown University that enables qualified undergraduate students majoring in Latin American & Caribbean Studies to receive a master’s degree from Georgetown’s Latin American Studies program in one academic year and a summer, rather than in the normal three or four semesters. Students interested in this option should contact the Director of LACS for more information.

Course Selection Guidelines:

Students seeking to double major in LACS and another subject that also requires a two-term thesis must present a proposal and obtain written permission from LACS director and the other department chair.