U.S. Latino/a Studies Program

Overview

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 U.S. Latino/a Studies Minor.

U.S. Latina/o/x Studies Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of their program of study, students with an interdisciplinary studies major in U.S. Latino/a/x Studies will demonstrate proficiency in four goal areas: Communication, Cross-Cultural Literacy, Critical Thinking, and Lifelong Learning Skills.

1. Communication: Key communication skills, including written, oral, and digital. Understanding textual and media sources and ability to apply media literacy to cross-cultural analysis. Working knowledge of social scientific and/or humanistic approaches in the field.
2. Cross-Cultural Literacy: Ability to communicate across communities and acknowledge different communicative styles and languages including Spanish, Portuguese, and Indigenous.
3. Critical Thinking: Ability to analyze from a transnational/transborder/translocal perspective and to objectively examine the interconnections between Latinx, Caribbean, and Latin American communities. Developing key skills, such as finding and understanding sources, comparing arguments, proposing solutions to discussed problems within an expansive historical perspective that includes class, ethnicity, gender, and race.
4. Lifelong Learning Skills: Acquisition of practical hands-on skills in community engagement, extension and outreach service, in different settings such as urban, rural, and international.

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		3
US LS 325	Culture and Community: Iowa and Midwest Latino/as
US LS 377X	Latina/o/x Life Stories: Memoirs and Oral History
US LS 499	Internship in US Latino/a Studies
Two of the following Historical Foundations of US LS		6
US LS 372	Latina/o History
HIST 340	History of Latin America I
HIST 341	History of Latin America II
Two of the following Social Science Foundations of US LS		6
US LS 343	Latin American Government and Politics
US LS 347	U.S. Latino/a Psychology
US LS 360	Latinas and Victimization
US LS 473	Civil Rights and Ethnic Power
ANTHR 323	Topics in Latin American Anthropology
SOC 332	The Latino/Latina Experience in U.S. Society
SPAN 322	Latin American Civilization
SPAN 324	Latin America Today
Two of the following Literature and Language in US LS		6
SPAN 304	Spanish for Global Professionals
SPAN 305	Spanish for Heritage Speakers
SPAN 445	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

1. The list of acceptable courses may include courses not currently listed. Contact the Director of US Latino/a Studies for information on eligible courses.
2. The student must have an average grade of C in courses applied to the major.
3. 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.

As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.

LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 300/400 level. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement and career proficiency requirement.

Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. diversity and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check (http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html) for a list of approved courses. Discuss with your advisor how the two courses that you select can be applied to your graduation plan.

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
One of the following:		3
US LS 325	Culture and Community: Iowa and Midwest Latino/as
US LS 377X	Latina/o/x Life Stories: Memoirs and Oral History
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:

1. A limit of six (6) credits of approved Spanish courses (SPAN 304, SPAN 322, SPAN 324, SPAN 445) may be substituted for US LS courses. 
2. A maximum of 3 credit hours of US LS 490 (Independent Study) may applied toward the minor.