• UNM Catalog 2022-2023
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• >College of Arts and Sciences
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Undergraduate Program

College of Arts and Sciences and Latin American Studies Program Undergraduate Admission Requirements

A minimum of 26 credit hours; 23 credit hours must be in courses acceptable toward graduation.

A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 on all work.

• Transfer students must have a 2.00 transfer GPA.
• Continuing UNM students must have a 2.00 institutional GPA.

Demonstrated academic achievement by satisfying the following:

• Completion of General Education Curriculum: Communication.
• Completion of General Education Curriculum: Mathematics and Statistics.
• Completion of General Education Curriculum: Second Language.

Completion of Latin American Studies Program admission course work with a grade of "C" or better:

• HIST 1170 or HIST 1180.

Degree Offered

• Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies (B.A.)

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Latin American Studies offers students the opportunity to explore the cultures, languages, history, and societies of Latin America. The program provides students access to a large and diverse faculty, offering courses in both traditional and interdisciplinary fields of study across the arts, humanities, social and natural sciences. The program provides a strong foundation in Latin American language skills and an interdisciplinary lenses to analyze complex issues that build skillsets that are increasingly valuable in business, public service or further professional training.

Major Study Requirements

The undergraduate major in Latin American Studies consists of a minimum of 36 credit hours outlined below. Students work closely with the program advisor in planning their program of study and must take courses with at least 40% Latin American Studies content. The Latin American Studies program reviews the approved course list each semester, selecting content drawn from over thirty departments and nine Colleges/Schools at UNM. 

A. Major core: LTAM 360; HIST 1170, 1180 (9 credit hours).

B. Languages of Latin America (up to 12 credit hours): LAS majors must demonstrate language proficiency in one Latin American language through the intermediate (second-year) level. Students have the option of studying Spanish, Portuguese, or a Latin American indigenous language. Credits used to fulfill the language requirement may also be used to fulfill the general education foreign language requirement. Students who come to the major with third-year or higher level of proficiency are strongly encouraged to study a second Latin American language, but they are not required to do so. Students who demonstrate language proficiency may take additional electives to complete the required 36 credit hours of the major.

• Spanish focus: SPAN 2110/SPAN 2210 & 2120/SPAN 2220
• Portuguese focus: PORT 2110 & PORT 2115 or PORT 2120 for Spanish Speakers
• Indigenous language focus: LING 401 (Intermediate I) and LING 402 (Intermediate II)

C. Area of focus (12 credit hours): Students select Latin American content courses from one of the following areas of focus:

• Arts, literature and cultural studies
• Conflict, peace and rights
• Environmental governance and resilience
• History and society
• Indigeneity in the Americas
• Markets and development

D. Electives (minimum of 3 credit hours) with Latin American content as needed to complete 36 credit hours. Students may take additional LAS-focused elective courses in lieu of language courses if they demonstrate proficiency through the second-year level as described above. Electives may be drawn from any Latin American Studies course offerings.

E. Of the courses completed for the Latin American Studies major, at least 18 credit hours must be at the 300-level or higher.

F. At least half of the required credit hours for the major must be taken in residence at UNM. The program advisor may approve substitutions on a case-by-case basis.

G. Students must submit to the program advisor a paper written after the completion of 24 credit hours toward the major. The paper, written for a course completed toward the major, should have at least 40% Latin American content, relate to the student’s chosen area of focus, present an analytical argument based on data or texts, and be at least 5 pages in length. Students are strongly encouraged to submit a paper written for LTAM 360.

Second Major Study Requirements

Students that select Latin American Studies as a second major to their undergraduate degree must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours outlined below. Students work closely with the program advisor in planning their program of study and must take courses with at least 40% Latin American Studies content. The Latin American Studies program reviews the approved course list each semester, selecting content drawn from over thirty departments and nine Colleges/Schools at UNM.

A. Second major core: LTAM 360; HIST 1170 or 1180 (6 credit hours).

B. Languages of Latin America (up to 6 credit hours): Students are required to achieve proficiency in one Latin American language, choosing from Spanish, Portuguese, and any Latin American Indigenous language offerings.  Students who demonstrate language proficiency may take additional Latin American-content courses to complete the required 24 credit hours of the second major.

• Spanish focus: SPAN 2110/SPAN 2210 & 2120/SPAN 2220
• Portuguese focus: PORT 2110 & PORT 2115 or PORT 2120 for Spanish Speakers
• Indigenous language focus: LING 401 (Intermediate I) and LING 402 (Intermediate II)

C. Area of focus (12 credit hours): Students select Latin American content courses from one of the areas of focus identified in the Major Study Requirements section above.

D. Of the courses completed for the Latin American Studies major, at least 12 credit hours must be at the 300-level or higher.

E. At least half of the required credit hours for the second major must be taken in residence at UNM. The program advisor may approve substitutions on a case-by-case basis.

F. Students must submit to the program advisor a paper written after the completion of 18 credit hours toward the second major. The paper, written for a course completed toward the second major, should have at least 40% Latin American content, relate to the student’s chosen area of focus, present an analytical argument based on data or texts, and be at least 5 pages in length.

Minor Study Requirements

The undergraduate minor in Latin American Studies consists of a minimum of 18 credit hours outlined below.

• LTAM 360 (3 credit hours);
• Language requirement (up to 6 credit hours): Students choose from one of three Latin American language options to complete 6 credit hours. Students who demonstrate language proficiency may take additional Latin American-content courses to complete the required 18 credit hours of the minor.
  • Spanish focus: SPAN 2110/SPAN 2210 & 2120/SPAN 2220
  • Portuguese focus: PORT 2110 & PORT 2115 or PORT 2120 for Spanish Speakers
  • Indigenous language focus: LING 401 (Intermediate I) and LING 402 (Intermediate II)
• Area of focus (minimum of 9 credit hours): Students select Latin American content courses from one of the areas of focus identified in the Major Study Requirements section above.

Departmental Honors

Students seeking honors in Latin American Studies should consult with the Associate Director and submit a formal letter of application during their junior year. Honors candidates must register for 6 credit hours of LTAM 497 and 499 and complete a Senior Honors Thesis which must be orally defended.