The Minor Program in Latin American and Latino Studies is designed for students interested in the language, history, politics, and culture of Latin America. The core offerings at MIT largely concentrate on those areas formerly colonized by Spain, although students are not required to focus their study exclusively on these areas. They are encouraged to develop a program that is both international and comparative in perspective and that takes into account the heterogeneous cultural experiences of people living in the vast territory loosely termed Latin America, as well as of those people living in the United States who identify themselves as Latino.
The Minor Program in Latin American & Latino Studies consists of six subjects (at least three of which must be MIT subjects, including required subject 17.55J/21A.430J/21F.084J Introduction to Latin American Studies) arranged into four areas of study:
Area I: Language
Area II: Humanities and the Arts
Area III: Social Sciences
Area IV: Historical Studies
As with all HASS Minors, only five of the six minor subjects may be counted toward the 8-subject Institute HASS Requirement. Of these five, at most one (1) shall count toward satisfaction of the HASS Distribution Requirement.
AREA I: LANGUAGE
Levels III and IV (the equivalent of two subjects), either in Spanish or Portuguese. MIT offers Levels III and IV of Spanish every semester, and Levels III and IV of Portuguese every year. Students who can demonstrate language competence beyond Level IV may either take two intermediate language subjects (highly recommended), or two more subjects from Areas II, III and IV.
Language subjects offered at MIT
21F.703 Spanish III {21F.773}, HASS-H, HASS-D Language Option
21F.704 Spanish IV {21F.774}, HASS-H, HASS-D Language Option
21F.711 Advanced Spanish Conversation and Composition: Perspectives on Technology and Culture, HASS-H
21F.712 Spanish Conversation and Composition {21F.792}, HASS-H
21F.713 Advanced Communication in Spanish: Film, Visual Arts, and Fiction, HASS-H
21F.714 Spanish for Bilingual Students, HASS-H
21F.803 Portuguese III, HASS-H
21F.804 Portuguese IV, HASS-H
Areas II, III IV: Four subjects to be selected from at least two areas, including the required subject 17.55J, Introduction to Latin American Studies, from Area III - Social Sciences. No more than one subject focused on the Iberian Peninsula. (Please note that a student may choose not to take a subject focused on the Iberian Peninsula.)
AREA II: HUMANITIES AND THE ARTS
(IN ENGLISH)
21F.074 Topics in Portuguese Popular Culture, HASS-H
21L.019 Introduction to European and Latin American Fiction, HASS-H, HASS-D Cat.1, CI-H
(IN SPANISH)
21F.716 Introduction to Contemporary Hispanic Literature and Film, HASS-H, HASS-D 1
21F.721 The Novelist as Witness: Science and Imagination in 20th-Century Spain, HASS-H
21F.730 Hispanic America: One Hundred Years of Literature and Film, HASS-H
21F.735 Advanced Topics in Hispanic Literature and Film, HASS-H
21F.738 Literature and Social Conflict: Perspectives on Modern Spain, HASS-H
21L.640J The New Spain: 1977-Present [21F.740J], HASS-H
(IN PORTUGUESE)
21F.820 Topics in Modern Portuguese Literature and Culture, HASS-H
AREA III: SOCIAL SCIENCES
3.982 The Ancient Andean World, HASS-S
3.983 Ancient Mesoamerican Civilization, HASS-S
17.145 Political Economy of Technology and Development in Latin America, HASS-S
17.55J Introduction to Latin American Studies (Required) [21A.130J, 21F.084J] , HASS-S, HASS-D 4, CI-H
AREA IV: HISTORICAL STUDIES
21H.171 Latin America: Revolution, Dictatorship, and Democracy, 1850 to Present, HASS-H
Students are also encouraged to take appropriate history subjects at Harvard University or Wellesley College. In general students are encouraged to consult the Harvard Catalogue to familiarize themselves with Harvard's rich and varied offerings in Latin American Studies.
Students who have taken the following subjects that are no longer offered can count these subjects toward their minor:
17.507 Democratization and Democratic Breakdown
17.554 Political Economy of Latin America
21A.441 The Conquest of America
21F.028J Sex Roles in Fiction: Europe and Latin America
21F.080 Masterpieces of Hispanic Culture
21F.705 Oral Communication in Spanish
21F.717 Introduction to Spanish Culture
21F.731 Creation of a Continent: Representations of Hispanic America, 1492-1898, in Literature & Film
21F.736 The Short Story in Spain and Hispanic America
[ ] Jointly listed subjects
{ } Subject meets with
(G) Graduate subjects which are open to qualified undergraduates, with the permission of the instructor
‡ Subject offered on a variable schedule, please check with department
Additional information may be obtained from the Minor Advisor:
Professor Elizabeth Garrels, 14N-323, x3-9688
Or from the Foreign Languages & Literatures Office, 14N-305, x3-4771
Massachusetts Institute of Technology