The diverse historical legacy, the cultural richness, and the socioeconomic importance of Latin America make it one of the most fascinating areas of the world to study and explore.

The Latin American Studies (LAS) major at Southwestern University seeks to inspire and develop knowledge and experience of Latin America and the Caribbean across campus. Its scope ranges from history and politics to literature and art, from the Patagonia to Latinos in the United States, from the Pre-Colonial to the postcolonial eras, and from the national to the transnational.

Latin American Studies is the intellectual home for an interdisciplinary community of scholars, students, and visitors, who support a wide spectrum of interests, across the curriculum and across campus.

Students in the major will find thoughtful academic environments and share deep and wide learning experiences through courses, extracurricular events and activities, travels abroad, language learning, and discussions with affiliated faculty and Latin Americanist visitors. Ultimately, students will have a firm grasp on Latin America’s past and present and the region’s uniqueness. Students will also share, with faculty and visitors, the joy of fostering learning in the service of other cultures. It is the firm belief of the faculty that this learning is key to the betterment of our society. The Latin American Studies major brings to Southwestern University the cultural multiplicity, the long and intricate histories, the political, economic, and religious elements, and the racial and ethnic diversity that are Latin America.

Students may pursue a major or minor in Latin American Studies and are required to develop a high degree of fluency in Spanish.

Through a mixture of academic study, specialized training and study abroad, and discussions with affiliated faculty and Latin American visitors, students expand their knowledge of the region and prepare themselves for a myriad of opportunities while at Southwestern and after graduation.