Latin American Studies (B.A.) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
Admission Requirements
Degree Requirements
- Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog.
- Co-op or internship credit cannot be used in this major without previous approval by the program director.
- Students must earn at least a “C”(2.0) in each required course.
- Students should consult with the program director or advisor.
- Program Residency Requirement consists of at least 18 semester hours of regularly scheduled 3000-4000 level courses taken at UCF.
- Courses designated in General Ed Program and Common Program Prerequisites are usually completed in the first 60 hours.
General Education Program (GEP) (36 Credit Hours)
Communication Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- COM 1000 - Introduction to Communication Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Cultural and Historical Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
- HUM 2020 - Encountering the Humanities Credit Hours: 3 (Suggested)
- ARH 2050 - History of Western Art I Credit Hours: 3 (Suggested)
- Select additional course from Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1 Credit Hours: 3
Mathematical Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
- MGF 1107 - Explorations in Mathematics Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- Select one course from Mathematical Foundation, Area 2 Credit Hours: 3
Social Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
- ANT 2000 - General Anthropology Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- AMH 2020 - U.S. History: 1877-Present Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Science Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
- Select 1 course from group Science Foundation, Area 1 Credit Hours: 3
- ANT 2511 - The Human Species Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Common Program Prerequisites (CPP)
Core Requirements: Basic Level (3 Credit Hours)
- LAS 3002 - Topics in Latin American Studies Credit Hours: 3
Core Requirements: Advanced Level (9 Credit Hours)
- LAH 3200 - Modern Latin America Credit Hours: 3
- LAS 3101 - Latin American Popular Culture Credit Hours: 3
- LAS 4023 - African Caribbean Experience Credit Hours: 3
Restricted Electives (24 Credit Hours)
- Select no more than nine (9) credit hours of courses within the same department.
- Note that this is not an exhaustive list of course options. Other courses with a focus on either Latin America or the Caribbean can be accepted with prior written authorization from the Program Director.
- A list of approved restricted elective courses is found in the myKnight audit.
Anthropology
- ANT 3160 - Americas Before Columbus Credit Hours: 3
- ANT 3161 - Ancient Mexico: Aztec to Zapotec Credit Hours: 3
- ANT 3163 - Mesoamerican Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
- ANT 3164 - Ancient Incas Credit Hours: 3
- ANT 3165 - Archaeology of South America Credit Hours: 3
- ANT 3168 - Maya Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
- ANT 3330 - Anthropology of the Amazon Credit Hours: 3
- ANT 4340 - Caribbean Cultures Credit Hours: 3
- ANT 3177 - Archaeology of Caribbean Piracy Credit Hours: 3
- ANT 4332 - People and Cultures of Latin America Credit Hours: 3
History
- LAH 3130 - Latin American History I Credit Hours: 3
- LAH 3400 - History of Mexico and Central America Credit Hours: 3
- LAH 3470 - History of the Caribbean Credit Hours: 3
- LAH 4136 - Colonial Florida Credit Hours: 3
- LAH 4512 - Modern Argentina Credit Hours: 3
- LAH 4461 - History of Puerto Rico Credit Hours: 3
- LAH 4480 - History of Cuba Credit Hours: 3
- LAH 4780 - Poverty and Development in Latin America Credit Hours: 3
Art History
- ARH 2051 - History of Western Art II Credit Hours: 3
- ARH 3670 - 20th Century Latin American Art Credit Hours: 3
- ARH 3674 - Latin American Popular Visual Culture Credit Hours: 3
- ARH 4653 - Meso American Art Credit Hours: 3
English
- AML 3615 - Harlem, Haiti, and Havana Credit Hours: 3
- AML 3682 - Ethnic Literature in America Credit Hours: 3
- AML 4630 - Latino/Latina Literature Credit Hours: 3
- LIT 3192 - Caribbean Literature Credit Hours: 3
- LIT 3381 - Women Writers of Color Credit Hours: 3
- LIT 3823 - Hispanic Women Writers Credit Hours: 3
- LIT 3368 - Magical Realism in Literature Credit Hours: 3
Humanities
- HUM 3460 - Latin American Humanities Credit Hours: 3
Latin American Geography and Culture
- GEA 4405 - Geography of Latin America Credit Hours: 3
- GEA 3403 - Human Geography of Latin America Credit Hours: 3
- GEA 3404 - Migration Trends in Latin America Credit Hours: 3
- GEA 3455 - Geography of Brazil Credit Hours: 3
- LAS 3320 - Brazilian Culture Credit Hours: 3
Politics
- CPO 3034 - Politics of Developing Areas Credit Hours: 3
- CPO 3103 - Comparative Politics Credit Hours: 3
- CPO 4074 - Political Economy Credit Hours: 3
- CPO 4794 - Indigenous Politics and the Environment Credit Hours: 3
- CPO 4303 - Comparative Latin American Politics Credit Hours: 3
- INR 4074 - Immigration Policy Credit Hours: 3
- INR 4076 - Global Drug Policy Credit Hours: 3
- INR 4243 - International Politics of Latin America Credit Hours: 3
- POS 4074 - Latino Politics Credit Hours: 3
- PUP 3314 - Minorities in American Politics Credit Hours: 3
Modern Languages and Literatures
- Students can choose from the extensive listing of 3000-4000 of upper level Spanish, French, and/or Portuguese (SPN, SPW, SPT, FRE, and/or POR, POW prefixes) courses offered by the Modern Languages Department. The student should give preference to those courses related to Latin American culture and civilization.
Communication
- MMC 4303 - Hispanics in Media in the US Credit Hours: 3
- JOU 3951 - Knightly Latino Credit Hours: 3
Capstone Requirements (3 Credit Hours)
Select 1 (3 Credit Hours)
- LAS 4910 - LAS Capstone Credit Hours: 3
- LAS 4949 - Cooperative Education Credit Hours: 3
- LAS 4955 - Study Abroad Credit Hours: 3
Electives
- Variable
- Select primarily from upper level courses after meeting with the program advisor. Courses may be outside the department.
Foreign Language Requirements
Admissions
- Foreign Language Requirement: (0 -11 hrs)
- LAS majors will have a proficiency equivalent to three semesters of college instruction in a single foreign language taught by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. Spanish or Portuguese preferred, although other Latin American languages may be acceptable with prior written consent of the LAS program director. Standardized examinations for foreign languages may be used to meet the requirement.
Graduation
Additional Requirements
- Signature Experience requirement is met by successful completion of the following course(s):
- LAS 4910 - LAS Capstone Credit Hours: 3 or
- LAS 4949 - Cooperative Education Credit Hours: 3 or
- LAS 4955 - Study Abroad Credit Hours: 3
Required Minors
- LAS majors cannot minor in Latin American Studies. A second major can satisfy the minor requirement with prior consent of program director or advisor. The LAS minor will continue to be available to non-LAS majors.
- Students will select a minor in consultation with the LAS program director or advisor. No more than six (6) hours can overlap between the major and the minor.
Departmental Exit Requirements
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- A 2.0 UCF GPA
- 48 semester hours of upper division credit completed
- 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.
Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120
Additional Information
Honors In Major
- Students interested in completing Honors in the Major should contact their program advisor. More information about Honors in the Major can be found at http://research.honors.ucf.edu/honors-in-the-Major.
Related Programs
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Political Science (B.A.)
- Art, History Track (B.A.)
- Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A./B.S.)
- Advertising/Public Relations (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- Human Communication (B.A.)
- Humanities and Cultural Studies (B.A.)
- Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A./B.S.)
- International and Global Studies (B.A.)
- Journalism (B.A.)
- Radio - Television (B.A.)
- Religion and Cultural Studies (B.A.)
- Spanish (B.A.)
Certificates
Related Minors
- International and Global Studies Minor
- International Business Minor
- Journalism Studies Minor
- Mass Media Minor
- Sociology Minor
Advising Notes
Transfer Notes
- Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
- Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit. The student must provide all supporting information.
Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses
Program Academic Learning Compacts
- Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm
Plan of Study
Freshman Year - Fall (16 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Foreign Language Elementary I (SPN, POR, or FRE) Credit Hours: 4
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Spring (16 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Foreign Language Elementary II (SPN, POR, or FRE) Credit Hours: 4
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Foreign Language Intermediate I (SPN, POR, or FRE) Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)
- LAS 3002 - Topics in Latin American Studies Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Summer (3 Credit Hours)
- Upper Level Elective, suggest LAS 3955: Study Abroad Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- LAS 4023 - African Caribbean Experience Credit Hours: 3
- Upper Level Major Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Upper Level Major Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Upper Level Major Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Required Minor Course Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- LAH 3200 - Modern Latin America Credit Hours: 3
- LAS 3101 - Latin American Popular Culture Credit Hours: 3
- Upper Level Major Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Upper Level Major Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Required Minor Course Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Fall (12 Credit Hours)
- Upper Level Major Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Upper Level Major Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Required Minor Course Credit Hours: 3
- Required Minor Course Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Spring (16 Credit Hours)
- LAS 4910 - LAS Capstone Credit Hours: 3
- Upper Level Major Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Required Minor Course Credit Hours: 3
- Required Minor Course Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 4
