Professors Benita Sampedro and Brenda Elsey, Co-Directors

Latin American and Caribbean Studies is an interdisciplinary program  that offers a wide array of courses on Latin America, the Caribbean, and related diasporas in the United States. The program coordinates courses from departments throughout the University; it also offers senior seminars and opportunities for independent course work.

By studying the geography, politics, economies, histories, cultures, and literatures of Latin American and Caribbean countries, LACS majors develop a solid knowledge of the region and its relations with the United States, Europe and the rest of the world. This knowledge is indispensable in the modern era of integrated economies and societies increasingly shaped by immigration and the coexistence of diverse cultures. Majoring in Latin American and Caribbean Studies thus prepares students to be more informed and effective citizens. It also prepares them for careers in translation, international business, law, and government, as well as for advanced study in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and in the sub-fields that feed into it, such as geography, history, political science, literature and culture, or communication.