Major and Minors
CLACX offers a major in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies and a minor in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies or Brazilian Studies. A major in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies explores the diversity of histories, languages, and cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean from an interdisciplinary perspective as well as the Latinx experiences, mainly in the United States, as they intersect with other national and geographic boundaries across academic disciplines.
Major and Minors | Declaring a Major or Minor | Honors
LACX Courses Offered
- LACX 1201: Introduction to Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies
- LACX 1202: Introduction to Caribbean Studies: The Origins of the Modern World
- LACX 1210: Contemporary Chicanx Studies
- LACX 1380: Trouble in Paradise: Law, Tourism, and Globalization in the Caribbean
- LACX 1469: Fútbol-Soccer: Latinx, Gender, and Belonging
- LACX 2106W: Cultivating the Americas: Plants and Culture through Vanderbilt’s Latin American Garden
- LACX 2101: Diasporic Remittances: Latinx Markets and the Global Supply Chain
- LACX 3500: Climate Catastrophe: History of Environmental Law in Latin America and the Caribbean
- LACX 3850 Independent Study
- LACX 3880 Internship Training
- LACX Internship Readings and Research
- LACX 3891: Special Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies: Growing Up Latinx
- LACX 4961/5961 Capstone Seminar: Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Literature and Culture
Major in Latin American and Latinx Studies
A major in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies explores an interdisciplinary field of study, providing students the tools that allow them to succeed in a global marketplace—the ability to think comparatively and critically and to engage with the largest demographic populations in the Western Hemisphere.
Requirements
The interdisciplinary major in LACX consists of 36 credit hours.
- LACX 1201: Introduction to Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (3 credit hours)
- LACX 4961: LACX Seminar, which is usually taken in the senior year (3 credit hours)
- Area of concentration in History; Language, Literature, and Art History; or Social Sciences (12 credit hours)
- Complete 6 credit hours of coursework in two categories: History; Language, Literature, and Art History; or Social Sciences (12 credit hours)
- Electives of any additional course with Latin American, Caribbean, or Latinx content (6 credit hours)
Undergraduate students majoring in LACX must also demonstrate advanced language competence in Spanish or Portuguese. This requirement may be satisfied by completing Spanish 3303, Portuguese 3303 or any course with a higher number taught in either language. Students are expected to acquire intermediate knowledge of another Latin American language may be satisfied by successfully completing Spanish 2203, Portuguese 2203, Haitian Creole 2202, or K’iche’ Maya 2202. Language courses can count toward the distribution requirements of the major.
In addition, students must demonstrate their level of language proficiency at the beginning of the second semester of their senior year by way of an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) conducted by a faculty member in that language. This is part of an evaluation of the Center (and not of the individual student) and the results will not affect the fulfillment of student requirements for graduation. Students will be evaluated for proficiency in both their primary and secondary languages.
Classes eligible for LACX credit are listed in the Undergraduate Course Catalog.
The Minor in Latin American and Latinx Studies
Students pursuing the interdisciplinary minor in Latin American and Latinx studies must complete 15 credit hours.
Requirements
- LACX 1201: Introduction to Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (3 credit hours)
- In addition, students must demonstrate intermediate knowledge of one Latin American language by successfully completing Spanish 2203, Portuguese 2203, Haitian Creole 2202, or K’iche’ Maya 2202.
- Courses taken to satisfy the language requirement may not be counted toward the 15 credit hours of coursework. A language evaluation can be used to demonstrate proficiency.
The Minor in Caribbean Studies
Students pursuing the interdisciplinary minor in Caribbean studies must complete 15 credit hours.
Requirements
- LACX 1202: Introduction to Caribbean Studies: The Origins of the Modern World (3 credit hours) or LACX 1201: Introduction to Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (3 credit hours)
- Spanish 2203, Portuguese 2203, or Haitian Creole 2202 (3 credit hours)
- Distribution Requirements (9 credit hours, one course in each area)
- Area I: Caribbean Language and Literature (Haitian Creole, French, or Spanish)
- Area II: Caribbean Society, History, and Cultures
- Area III: The Caribbean in Regional and Global Context.
Proficiency at the intermediate level in a Caribbean language can also be demonstrated through testing. If this option is exercised, students must take 3 credit hours of coursework approved by the director of undergraduate studies in lieu of the 3 credit hours of coursework. Other elective courses, including special topics courses, may be counted toward the minor with the approval of the director of undergraduate studies.
The Minor in Brazilian Studies
Students pursuing the interdisciplinary minor in Brazilian studies must complete 15 credit hours.
Requirements
- LACX 2101: Brazil, Past, Present, and Future; or HIST 2101: Introduction to Brazil (3 credit hours)
- Portuguese 2203: Intermediate Portuguese (3 credit hours)
- Distribution Requirements (9 credit hours, one course in each area)
- Area I: Portuguese Language and Literature
- Area II: Brazilian Society, History, and Cultures
- Area III: Brazil in Regional and Global Context.
Proficiency at the intermediate level in Portuguese can also be demonstrated through testing. If this option is exercised, students must take 3 credit hours of coursework approved by the director of undergraduate studies in lieu of the 3 credit hours of PORT 2203. Other elective courses, including special topics courses, may be counted toward the minor with the approval of the director of undergraduate studies.
Honors Program
An honors program is available but acceptance must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies. Students must have a minimum 3.0 general GPA and a 3.3 GPA in courses that count toward the major to be accepted into the program. The Honors Program requires:
- completion of 6 credit hours;
- writing an honors thesis;
- and passing an oral honors examination.
Interested students should consult their academic adviser during their junior year. For more detailed information please consult the Undergraduate Course Catalog.
