Latin american and latino/a studies

The Minor in Latin American and Latino/a Studies is designed for students interested in the languages, history, politics, and cultures of Latin America and in its presence in the United States. Students are encouraged to develop a program that is both international and comparative in perspective, and that takes into account the heterogeneous cultural experiences of people living in the vast territory encompassed by the term Latin America, as well as of those living in the United States who identify themselves as Latino/a. The minor consists of six subjects (at least three of which must be MIT subjects, including required subject 17.55[J] Introduction to Latin American Studies), arranged in four areas of study: Subjects in Latin American and Latino/a Studies are also available from Harvard University and Wellesley College through cross-registration. Students must receive permission from the minor advisor prior to registering for a class at another institution. Five of the six subjects taken for the minor may be counted toward the eight-subject HASS Requirement. Of these five, at most one may count toward the distribution component of the HASS Requirement. Of the six subjects required for the minor, at least four cannot be counted toward a major or another minor. Two language subjects beginning at Levels III and IV, either in Spanish or Portuguese, satisfy the Area I language requirement. MIT offers Levels III and IV of Spanish every semester and offers Level III of Portuguese every fall semester and Level IV every spring semester. Students who demonstrate competence beyond Level IV may either take two advanced language subjects (highly recommended) or two more subjects from Areas II, III, and IV. For students who are not required to take Area I subjects and opt not to take advanced language subjects (see footnote 1 above), all six subjects for the minor must be taken from Areas II, III, and IV, with at least one subject from each area . ...