Minor Requirements

The Latino and Latin American Studies minor integrates interdisciplinary course work to advance students' understandings of diverse Latino and Latin American experiences, cultures and concerns. The 18-credit-hour minor complements many majors.

College policy requires half of the credit hours in a minor to be taken at SUNY Cortland. Students must complete a minor with a 2.0 or higher grade point average in order for the minor to be recorded in their official transcript.

A. Core Courses: 9 credit hours

Core courses in social sciences focus on Latinos and/or Latin America and advance students’ understanding of key historical and/or current issues, including in the realms of ideology, culture, social issues, and political economy.

B. Comparative/conceptual courses: 6 credit hours

Comparative/conceptual courses provide a framework for understanding issues of globalization, development, and culture and identity relevant to Latino and Latin American experiences. 

C. Electives: 3 credit hours

Electives, many of them foundational courses, prepare students for course work in the above categories by introducing them to various disciplinary approaches to key issues, or enhance Spanish language skills important for advanced understanding of Latin American cultural productions. 

A. Latino/Latin American Core: 9 credit hours

Focus on Latinos and/or Latin America

• ANT 313 - Maya Culture (3 cr. hr.)
• ANT 314 - Peoples of Latin America (3 cr. hr.)
• ECO 312 - Economic Development of Latin America (3 cr. hr.)
• GRY 482 - The Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean (3 cr. hr.)
• HIS 325 - Colonial Latin America (3 cr. hr.)
• HIS 326 - Modern Latin America (3 cr. hr.)
• HIS 327 - Latin American Revolutions in the 20th Century (3 cr. hr.)
• HIS 402 - History of Latin American-U.S. Relations (3 cr. hr.)
• HIS 422 - History of U.S. Latinos (3 cr. hr.)
• ICC 201 - Introduction to the Literature of U.S. Latinos (3 cr. hr.)
• PHI 301 - Philosophy of the Aztecs, Maya, Incas (3 cr. hr.)
• PHI 302 - Contemporary Latin American Philosophy (3 cr. hr.)
• POL 264 - Comparative Politics: Latin America (3 cr. hr.)
• POL 455 - International Politics in Latin America (3 cr. hr.)
• SPA 313 - Survey of Spanish-American Literature (3 cr. hr.)
• SPA 319 - Latin American Civilization (3 cr. hr.)
• SPA 422 - Spanish-American Literature (3 cr. hr.)

B. Globalization/Development/Culture and Identity: 6 credit hours

Comparative and conceptual courses, most including Latino/Latin American case studies

In addition to the Category B courses below, students may satisfy this category with any Latino/Latin American core courses (Category A) not applied toward Category A.

• ANT 201 - World Cultures (3 cr. hr.)
• ANT 230 - Prejudice and Discrimination (3 cr. hr.)
• ANT 352 - U.S. Ethnic Identity and Conflict (3 cr. hr.)
• ECO 305 - Political Economy of Globalization (3 cr. hr.)
• ECO 311 - Economic Development (3 cr. hr.)
• IST 200 - Foundations of the International System (3 cr. hr.)
• IST 210 - The Making of the Modern World (3 cr. hr.)
• IST 301 - Globalization, Culture and Society in the Modern World (3 cr. hr.)
• PHI 270 - Race and Racism (3 cr. hr.)
• POL 101 - Introduction to World Politics (3 cr. hr.)
• POL 110 - Politics and Multiculturalism (3 cr. hr.)
• POL 250 - International Relations (3 cr. hr.)
• POL 292 - Race and Politics in America (3 cr. hr.)
• POL 362 - Politics of Developing Nation States (3 cr. hr.)
• POL 450 - International Law (3 cr. hr.)

C. Electives (including internships): 3 credit hours

Choose from any courses not used to fulfill Categories A or B or from the list below.

Includes introductory courses that are prerequisites and/or General Education courses.

• ANT 102 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3 cr. hr.)
• ECO 105 - Political Economy and Social Thought (3 cr. hr.)
• FSA 103 - Gender, Race and Class Issues in Education (3 cr. hr.)
• FSA 525 - Teaching the Inner City Child (3 cr. hr.)
• GRY 120 - Cultural Geography (3 cr. hr.)
• GRY 125 - Human Geography and Global Development (3 cr. hr.)
• GRY 370 - Will the World Provide? A Research Experience for Students (3 cr. hr.)
• HIS 100 - The World to 1500 (3 cr. hr.)
• HIS 101 - The World Since 1500 (3 cr. hr.)
• PHI 140 - Prejudice, Discrimination and Morality (3 cr. hr.)
• PHI 240 - Social and Political Philosophy (3 cr. hr.)
• POL 405 - Discrimination Law (3 cr. hr.)
• SPA 306 - Advanced Spanish Conversation (3 cr. hr.)
• SPA 307 - Advanced Spanish Grammar (3 cr. hr.)
• SPA 308 - Advanced Spanish Composition (3 cr. hr.)

Additional Course Choices

The Latino and Latin American Studies coordinator may approve other courses as course substitutions on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with the Latino and Latin American Studies Committee. This approval will determine how the course may be applied to any of the listed categories.

Examples of courses for which minors may request Latino and Latin American Studies Committee evaluation:

• Special topics courses in ANT, AAS, ECO, ICC, IST, GRY, HIS, POL, SOC, SPA.
• Study abroad courses (credit hours may vary)
• Internships

• SPA 317 - Literary Types in Spanish (3 cr. hr.) when focusing on Latino or Latin American literature
• SPA 423 - Themes in Literature (3 cr. hr.) when focusing on Latino or Latin American literature

Total Credit Hours Required for the Minor: 18