Latinx & Latin American Studies Major

Latinx and Latin American Studies (LLAS) is an interdisciplinary major in which students critically examine the diverse histories and cultures of Latin America, the Caribbean, and U.S. Latinxs. Students in the major gain breadth and depth of learning through courses in the humanities and the social sciences that situate these histories and cultures within local, national, regional, hemispheric, and global contexts over time. Practical experiences, such as community projects and study abroad, provide opportunities to apply this learning in transformative ways.

Major Program:  LLAS majors need to complete nine courses: seven courses as described below, plus two additional electives to be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.

  • LLAS 200: Major Debates in Latinx and Latin American Studies. LLAS 200 might not be taught every year, therefore students should plan to take it in their first or second year at Amherst. 
  • One course on U.S. Latinxs in any department.
  • One course on Latin America in any department.
  • One course on the Caribbean in any department.
  • Two courses taught in one of the languages spoken in Latin America and the Caribbean, other than English.
  • These courses may focus on the development of language skills, and/or they may be content courses on a subject relevant to the Major.
  • A research or methods seminar in any department, with completion of a substantive written research project (usually 20+ pages) on a topic relevant to LLAS. In order to ensure that the research will be on a topic relevant to LLAS, the student must get approval from the department to apply the particular research or methods seminar. The student also must get permission from the course instructor to apply the course toward the LLAS major and to write their final research project for the course on an LLAS-related topic.

While completing the nine courses toward the major, as described above, the student must fulfill the following distribution requirements:

  • A concentration with at least three courses in one of the following areas: U.S. Latinxs, Latin America, or the Caribbean.
  • At least two courses in the humanities and at least two in the social sciences.
  • Coursework in at least three departments.
  • Residency Requirement: At least five of the nine courses must be taken at Amherst College.
  • Capstone Requirement: Each senior is required to complete an academic portfolio. In consultation with your advisor, you will assemble a portfolio that demonstrates your intellectual and personal journey through the major, introduced by a reflective essay that addresses how the interdisciplinary nature of your coursework has informed your short- and long-term interest in particular questions and/or issues. You then publicly share these reflections with peers and the LLAS faculty during an LLAS Major Capstone Symposium.

LLAS majors who are also pursuing a second major, are permitted to count up to three-course toward their completion of both majors. If the other major has a lower limit, that lower limit will take precedence.

Each LLAS major tracks their progress through the major using the following online LLAS Major Worksheet: 

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LLAS Major worksheet 194.12 KB