Minor in Latino Studies

The minor in Latino studies consists of fifteen (15) credit hours, including a required gateway course (3 credits), practicum course (3 credits), and nine (9) credit hours of elective course work. Although there is no language requirement for the minor, students are encouraged to study and acquire fluency in Spanish.

Introductory 'Gateway' Course

3 credit hours at the 200 or 300 level, required for Latino studies minor, fall offering only; open to all Notre Dame students

ILS 20701 Introduction to Latinos in American Society. This course will examine the sociology of the Latino experience in the United States, including the historical, cultural, and political foundations of Latino life. We will approach these comparatively; thus, attention will be given to the various experiences of a multiplicity of Latino groups in the United States.

Practicum Course
3 credit hours, required for Latino studies minor

In this course, usually taken during their senior year, students will complete a practicum that will include directed research/reading on an Institute project, class discussion, and experiential work in the Latino community.

Elective Courses
9 elective credit hours

Students must take two out of three courses at the 300–400 level unless they receive special permission from their faculty advisor. In addition, students must choose their electives from within at least two major subjects in Latino studies, e.g., health, business, social science, theology, literature, and visual arts, except for the following two cases: Students who are pursuing Spanish language proficiency (not minor or major) may replace one elective (3 credit hours) with a 200-level Spanish course. Students may also replace one elective (3 credit hours) from a field comparable to Latino studies (e.g., gender studies, Latin American studies, or African American studies), as long as at least forty percent of the course content includes Latino studies.

Supplementary Major in Latino Studies

The supplementary major in Latino studies consists of twenty-four (24) credit including the completion of the gateway course ILS 20701 (3 credits), senior seminar (3 credits), twelve (12) credit hours of six Latino studies coursework, and six (6) credit hours of open electives.

Three of six open open elective credit hours must be chosen from Latino studies courses. The three remaining credit hours may be a Spanish language course. This open elective will give students the opportunity to further develop their Spanish language skills (non-Spanish majors only) or, with the approval of the faculty advisor in Latino studies, they may elect a course from a field comparable to Latino studies (e.g., gender studies, Latin American Studies, or African American Studies).

Although there is no Spanish language requirement, all Latino studies majors will be strongly encouraged to learn to speak, read, and write Spanish or strengthen their Spanish language skills as well as to participate in study abroad programs in Spanish-speaking countries.

Introductory 'Gateway' Course
ILS 20701 - 3 credit hours, required for Latino studies minor and major; open to all Notre Dame students

Senior Seminar in Latino Studies
3 credit hours; required for Latino studies supplementary major

The senior seminar is a capstone course for the supplementary major in Latino studies. The centerpiece of the course is a seminar paper that students research and write on a subject and discipline of their choice or possibly a topic among the Institute’s research projects. The course will include directed, independent study and research with a T&R Latino studies faculty member resulting in a substantial and original research paper of fifteen to twenty pages. The students will participate in an annual symposium where they will present their work.

Required Courses
12 credit hours of 300-400 level Latino studies courses

These required courses must be distributed in four major components: history, literature, social science, and theology courses. 

Open Elective Courses
6 credit hours

The remaining 6 credit hours are considered open electives. Three credit hours must to be taken from Latino studies courses. The three remaining credit hours may be in Spanish (non-Spanish majors only) or, with the approval of the faculty advisor in Latino studies, students may elect a course from a field comparable to Latino studies (e.g., gender studies, Latin American studies, or African-American studies).