Latinos/as/x are the largest and fastest growing culturally diverse population in the United States, representing dynamic and thriving American realities.
U.S. Latino/a Studies at Iowa State University is a cross-disciplinary, coalition-building program that offers well-structured and creative coursework to students interested in the arts, cultures, economies, histories, politics, religions, and literatures of Latino/a/x communities throughout the United States. It facilitates the study of a vast array of communities and individuals with roots in the Caribbean and Latin America, and long-established U.S. citizen communities such as Chicanos/as, Mexican Americans, Tejanos, Californios, Cuban-Americans, Dominican-Americans, and Puerto Ricans on the island and on the mainland.
The program aims to serve as a hub that connects classes, service and outreach opportunities across colleges, schools, and departments. Consequently, students can discover a stimulating field of critical and academic research, engage in an exciting platform on which to link different fields of study, and become part of outreach/community networks in which they will grow to become outstanding, conscientious leaders in their respective careers.
The Program in U.S. Latino/a Studies is well suited to careers in Education, Psychology, History, Sociology, Business, Journalism, Spanish Language and Cultures, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Agriculture. A U.S. Latino/a Studies minor, or a double major with a Latino/a Studies track in Interdisciplinary Studies, strengthens student profiles as they compete for jobs on the global market because they have attained an in-depth experience of local and global experiences of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as a sophisticated understanding of diversity and inclusion.
The US LS Program offers course work that meets the ISU U.S. Diversity requirement and also offers a 15 credit Minor.
Interdisciplinary Studies Major, Track in U.S. Latino/a Studies
In addition to meeting the general requirements for the Interdisciplinary Studies major, students wishing to complete a track in U.S. Latino/a Studies must complete a minimum of 36 credits in the area of U.S. Latino/a Studies including US LS 211 (Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Studies) and an experiential learning course (US LS 325 or US LS 499). At least 15 of the 36 credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above and 6 credit hours must be earned at the 400-level. Students must also meet the upper-level communication proficiency requirement by taking English 302 or 314. Students can work with the US LS program director and an Interdisciplinary Studies advisor to explore options within this individualized major program.
Required Courses (36 credits)
| US LS 211 | Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Studies | 3 |
| One Experiential Learning course in US LS | ||
| US LS 325 | Culture and Community: Iowa and Midwest Latino/as | 3 |
| or US LS 499 | Internship in US Latino/a Studies | |
| Two of the following Historical Foundations of US LS | 6 | |
| Latina/o History | ||
| History of Latin America I | ||
| History of Latin America II | ||
| Two of the following Social Science Foundations of US LS | 6 | |
| Latin American Government and Politics | ||
| U.S. Latino/a Psychology | ||
| Civil Rights and Ethnic Power | ||
| Topics in Latin American Anthropology | ||
| The Latino/Latina Experience in U.S. Society | ||
| Latin American Civilization | ||
| Latin America Today | ||
| Two of the following Literature and Language in US LS | 6 | |
| Religion and U.S. Latino/a Literature | ||
| U.S. Latino/a Literature | ||
| Spanish for Global Professionals | ||
| Seminar on the Literatures and Cultures of Latin America | ||
| And twelve additional credits from any US LS, US LS cross-listed, or other course listed above | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Notes
- The list of acceptable courses may include courses not currently listed. Contact the Director of US Latino/a Studies for information on eligible courses.
- The student must have an average grade of C in courses applied to the major.
- Fulfillment of the world language requirement with Spanish is strongly recommended, but not required. Students pursuing multiple majors can apply up to nine (9) credits of approved Spanish courses (304, 322, 324,445) to both the US LS and their other major.
U.S. Latino/a Studies Minor
The minor in US Latino/a Studies requires a minimum of 15 credit hours including US LS 211 (Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Studies) and an experiential learning course (US LS 325 or US LS 499). University policy indicates that minors must include at least 9 credits that are not applied to any other degree requirement.
Required course work
| US LS 211 | Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Studies | 3 |
| US LS 325 | Culture and Community: Iowa and Midwest Latino/as | 3 |
| or US LS 499 | Internship in US Latino/a Studies | |
| And nine credits from any US LS or US LS cross-listed course | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Notes:
- A limit of six (6) credits of approved Spanish courses (304, 322, 324, 445) may be substituted for US LS courses.
- A maximum of 3 credit hours of US LS 490 (Independent Study) may applied toward the minor.
Courses
Courses primarily for undergraduates:
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
History and current lives of the Latino/a peoples in the United States, including Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and South and Central Americans, as well as information specific to Iowa Latino/as, will be covered. Through readings, class discussions, writing assignments, and guest speakers, students will acquire accurate information and a solid understanding of the US Latino/a population and cultural perspectives. Elements of Latino/a culture to be covered include historical, sociological, educational, psychological, economic, and political facets.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with SPAN). Cr. 3.
Prereq: Native or Heritage Speaker or Permission of Instructor.
Intensive study and application of grammar concepts in the development of writing and reading skills in a dynamic cultural context centered on Hispanics in the U.S. Designed for native or heritage Spanish speakers with oral proficiency in Spanish but with little or no formal academic training in the language. Taught exclusively in Spanish.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits. S.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306 recommended
Exploration of key contemporary and historical issues in Latin American Anthropology; discussion of current anthropological approaches to studying Latin American social issues in a global context. Topics vary each time offered.
(Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits. S.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306 recommended
Exploration of key contemporary and historical issues in Latin American Anthropology; discussion of current anthropological approaches to studying Latin American social issues in a global context. Topics vary each time offered.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits. S.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306 recommended
Exploration of key contemporary and historical issues in Latin American Anthropology; discussion of current anthropological approaches to studying Latin American social issues in a global context. Topics vary each time offered.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits. S.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306 recommended
Exploration of key contemporary and historical issues in Latin American Anthropology; discussion of current anthropological approaches to studying Latin American social issues in a global context. Topics vary each time offered.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits. S.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306 recommended
Exploration of key contemporary and historical issues in Latin American Anthropology; discussion of current anthropological approaches to studying Latin American social issues in a global context. Topics vary each time offered.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306 recommended
Exploration of key contemporary and historical issues in Latin American Anthropology; discussion of current anthropological approaches to studying Latin American social issues in a global context. Topics vary each time offered.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Cross-listed with SPAN). Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: US LS 211
Analysis and discussion of interdisciplinary texts examining the local and regional Latino/a immigration experience. Exploring Latino/a culture through participation in a community project. Assessed service learning component.
(Cross-listed with RELIG). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered odd-numbered years.
A study of the religious behavior and attitudes expressed in the literature of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans and other groups of people living in the U.S. who trace their ancestry to the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with POL S). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Political institutions, processes, and contemporary issues. Selected countries examined intensively to illustrate generalizations. Role of parties, military, church, human rights, women, environmental issues, interest groups, ideology, and globalization.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Cross-listed with PSYCH). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Two courses in Psychology including PSYCH 101
Historical, political, and social contexts of psychological and mental health constructs in terms of their validity and utility for use with Latino/a people in the U.S. Unique aspects of psychological functioning particular to Latino/a people in the U.S.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with HIST). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: 3 credits of 200-level HIST at Iowa State and sophomore classification.
History of the Mexican American community in the U.S. from the 1820s to the present. Topics include community development, employment, social marginalization, racism/discrimination, depression and world wars, civil rights, ethnic power and politics.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with HIST). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Historical and cultural heritage of Latinas/os in the United States. The histories of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and other Latin American peoples in the U.S. emphasizing political and cultural convergence and congruencies.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with EDUC). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: EDUC 405 or EDUC 406
Introduction to research on bilingualism and examination of the social, historical, and political contexts of Spanish/English education in the U.S. Attention to policy environment, school program structure, mode of classroom instruction, family and community context, and attainment of bilingualism and biculturalism for Latinx youth.
(Cross-listed with AF AM, HIST). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
Comparative history of the civil rights and ethnic power movements (African American, Chicano, American Indian, Puerto Rican, among others) in the U.S. from World War II to the present. Topics include institutional foundations, leadership, gender and racial dynamics, and the convergences and divergences of these differing ethnic struggles for rights.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits.
Prereq: permission of instructor
Independent study under supervision of instructor.
No more than 3 credits may count towards the U.S. Latino/a Studies certificate.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits. F.S.SS.
Prereq: US LS 211 or permission of program director.
Supervised practice working with US Latino/a communities in the public or private sector, combined with academic work under faculty supervision.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only. Up to 3 credits may apply toward US LS minor.