LAS A305: Theology of Liberation, 3 crs
This course is a study of the historical development of the theology of liberation in Latin America and explores the relevance of its themes to the current situation in the region and in Latino communities in the US. This course is cross-listed with RELS-A305: Students only receive credit for successfully completing the first instance of the course/s.
LAS A335: Postcolonial Literatures, 3 crs
This course is a survey of postcolonial literatures from Africa, India, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Postcolonial literature largely emerged in the second half of the twentieth century, after people across the global South gained political independence from Western colonizers. Readings focus on both the counter-narratives of history, memory, and identity that were central literary concerns after independence and more recent literary trends that explore globalization, cosmopolitanism, multilingualism, and migration.
Prerequisites: ENGL T122 or ENGL A205; sophomore standing
LAS A336: Indigenous Literatures of the Americas in Translation, 3 crs
This course examines the literary and cinematic works of indigenous authors across the Americas. In this writing intensive course, students learn how to read, think and write critically about literature while exploring the historical and cultural realities of indigenous peoples in the Americas. The study of this literature adds nuance to the anthropological, sociological and historical “facts” to these different groups and their literatures. A focus on translation theory as the point of departure allows students a critical approach to these texts. This course is cross-listed with ENGL-A336: Students only receive credit for successfully completing the first instance of the course/s.
Prerequisite: ENGL T122 or ENGL A205
LAS A480: Latin American Studies Senior Capstone, 1 cr
Required of all LAS majors: Students work independently on a research paper in conjunction with a regular advanced course, and under the supervision of a professor. The capstone course reflects the skills and knowledge the student has acquired as a Languages and Cultures major.
LAS A495: Special Topics, credits vary
Students work independently on a research paper or directed readings project under the supervision of a professor.
LAS A497: Internship/Practicum, 3 crs
The LAS internship is an experiential learning placement in a Latin American-related community project or institution that is approved and coordinated by LAS faculty.
LAS A499: Independent Study, credits vary
Work done independently under professorial supervision.
LAS N200: WAL: Latin American Literature, 3 crs
Knowledge-Values Courses: Writing About Literature
This course offers readings, discussions and textual analysis of selected works, including narrative, drama and poetry by a variety of Latin American authors. As a writing intensive course, students will learn how to read, think and write critically about literature while exploring the historical and cultural realities of Latin American worlds.
Prerequisite: ENGL T122 or ENGL A205
LAS N238: WAL: Central American Revolutions - A Literary Look, 3 crs
Knowledge-Values Courses: Writing About Literature
This course offers readings, discussion and textual analysis of selected works, including novels, short stories, drama, poetry and film by Central American authors during periods of revolution. In this writing intensive course, students learn how to read, think and write critically about literature while exploring the historical and cultural realities of Central America revolutions. The study of literature adds nuance to the sociological and historical “facts” of these events rather than seeing these revolutionary movements as monolithic. Students learn how to write about these nuances in meaningful ways.
Prerequisite: ENGL T122 or ENGL A205
LAS N302: WAL: Borderlands Identity: Literature and Film, 3 crs
Knowledge-Values Courses: Writing About Literature
This course handles novels, short stories, drama, poetry, essays, and films by authors situated either geographically or culturally in a borderland between the US and Latin American countries. In this writing-intensive course, students learn to read, think and write critically about literature while explorign the historical and cultural realities of Chican@/Latin@ peoples in the borderlands of the US from the 19th to the present day.
Prerequisite: ENGL T122 or ENGL A205
LAS O200: Introduction to Contemporary Latin American Culture, 3 crs
Knowledge-Values Courses: Creative Arts and Culture
This introduction to Latin American Studies focuses on the rich cultural heritage that has come to form part of the Latin American identity. Using literature, film, music and visual arts, both produced by and about Latin America, students study the issues that have had an impact on Latin America and its people throughout its recent history. This is an interdisciplinary course that allows students to understand Latino communities through different academic lenses.
LAS O263 Creating Spanish America, 3 crs
Knowledge-Values Courses: Creative Arts and Cultures
This course examines creative forms incuding myth, architecture, ceramics, weaving, film, fiction, literature and ethics in Spanish America from the pre-Colombian past to the beginning of the 19th century. The juxtaposition of these artifacts and issues bring to the fore the diverse and predominant trends of each period and their interaction with historical and social forces.
LAS O310 Latin American Cinema, 3 crs
Knowledge-Values Courses: Creative Arts and Cultures
Latin American Cinema examines through film some aspects of Latin American colonization and the effects of political, patriarchal, and gender-politics domination.
LAS T121 First-Year Seminar, 3 crs
Foundation Courses: First-Year Seminar
The gateway course to the Loyola Core is the First-Year Seminar (FYS). This issues-based, interdisciplinary seminar introduces students to college-level thinking and learning as well as Jesuit values at the core of a Loyola education. This FYS has a specific topic within the scope of Latin American Studies. A full list of currently offered FYS courses can be found on the Loyola Online Records Access (LORA) system.
LAS X220 Education and Social Change in Latin America, 3 crs
Knowledge-Values Courses: Social Science
This course introduces students to the notion of curriculum as the educational product of contending forces within the society out of which it emerges. It relies heavily on the work of Paulo Freire and his sharp critique of the banking approach to education where knowledge is simply deposited and withdrawn. It explores the forces by which learners are induced or seduced to comply with the dominant ideologies and social practices related to authority, behavior, morality and/or spirituality. It imagines possibilities where all citizens participate freely and fully in the creation and recreation of meaning and values that make democracy healthy.
LAS X225 Ecuador and Andean Societies, 3 crs.
Knowledge-Values Courses: Social Science
This course focuses on Ecuador in a comparative perspective with the Andean countries (Peru, Bolivia and Colombia). Students develop a good understanding of historical processes that have had an impact on contemporary issues, such as gender issues, indigenous and mestizo identity, urbanization and informal sector, migration, popular uprising, and political regimes in particular different types of populisms.
Major Courses in Other Disciplines
Latin American Studies (LAS) is an interdisciplinary program: A number of courses from other departments and programs can be included in the LAS major or minor. A list of these courses can be found on the Latin American Studies program website, as well as on the degree program course listing (DPCL) and minor tracking sheet.