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. Cultures and Communities 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 USLS 2110 (Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Studies) and an experiential learning course (USLS 3250 or USLS 4990). At least 15 of the 36 credits must be in courses numbered 3000 and above and 6 credit hours must be earned at the 4000-level. Students must also meet the upper-level communication proficiency requirement by taking English 3020 or 3140. Students can work with the USLS program director and an Interdisciplinary Studies advisor to explore options within this individualized major program.

Required Courses (36 credits)

USLS 2110	Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Studies	3
One Experiential Learning course in USLS		3
USLS 3250	Culture and Community: Iowa and Midwest Latino/as
USLS 4990	Internship in US Latino/a Studies
Two of the following Historical Foundations of USLS		6
USLS 3720	Latina/o History
HIST 3400	Colonial Latin America
HIST 3410	Modern Latin America
Two of the following Social Science Foundations of USLS		6
USLS 3430	Latin American Government and Politics
USLS 3470	U.S. Latino/a Psychology
USLS 3600	Latinas and Victimization
USLS 4730	Civil Rights and Ethnic Power
ANTHR 3230A	Latin American Anthropology: Violence and Memory	3
or ANTHR 3230B	Latin American Anthropology: Social movements and Democracy
or ANTHR 3230C	Latin American Anthropology: Race, Class and Gender
or ANTHR 3230D	Latin American Anthropology: Regional Focus
or ANTHR 3230E	Latin American Anthropology: Culture and Sport
SOC 3320	The Latino/Latina Experience in U.S. Society
SPAN 3220	Latin American Civilization
SPAN 3240	Latin America Today
Two of the following Literature and Language in USLS		6
SPAN 3040	Spanish for Global Professionals
SPAN 3050	Spanish for Heritage Speakers
SPAN 4450	Seminar on the Literatures and Cultures of Latin America
And twelve additional credits from any USLS, USLS cross-listed, or other course listed above		12
Total Credits		39

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 (3040, 3220, 3240, 4450) to both the USLS 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 3000/4000 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. cultures and communities 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 USLS 2110 (Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Studies) and an experiential learning course (USLS 3250 or USLS 4990). University policy indicates that minors must include at least 9 credits that are not applied to any other degree requirement.

Required course work

USLS 2110	Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Studies	3
One of the following:		3
USLS 3250	Culture and Community: Iowa and Midwest Latino/as
USLS 4990	Internship in US Latino/a Studies
And nine credits from any USLS or USLS cross-listed course		9
Total Credits		15

Notes:

1. A limit of six (6) credits of approved Spanish courses (SPAN 3040, SPAN 3220, SPAN 3240, SPAN 4450) may be substituted for USLS courses. 
2. A maximum of 3 credit hours of USLS 4900 (Independent Study) may applied toward the minor.