The Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program is one of the major U.S. centers for research about Latin America. This program is for those who seek a multidisciplinary education on Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, and Portugal. It offers a wide range of courses in fields such as anthropology, business, economics, geography, history, journalism, music, political science, sociology, Spanish and Portuguese, and indigenous languages such as Yucatec Maya or Quechua.
How to Get in
Students should contact the LACIS undergraduate advisor in order to declare the major.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
Mathematics | Complete two courses of 3+ credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level in MATH, COMP SCI, or STAT subjects. A maximum of one course in each of COMP SCI and STAT subjects counts toward this requirement. |
Language | Complete the third unit of a language other than English. |
LS Breadth | Complete: • 12 credits of Humanities, which must include at least 6 credits of Literature; and • 12 credits of Social Science; and • 12 credits of Natural Science, which must include 6 credits of Biological Science and 6 credits of Physical Science. |
Liberal Arts and Science Coursework | Complete at least 108 credits. |
Depth of Intermediate/Advanced Coursework | Complete at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level. |
Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
Total Credits | Complete at least 120 credits. |
UW-Madison Experience | Complete both: • 30 credits in residence, overall, and • 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit. |
Quality of Work | • 2.000 in all coursework at UW–Madison • 2.000 in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UW–Madison |
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Introduction to Latin America (complete one course): | 3 | |
Latin America from 1780 to 1940 | ||
Modern Latin America | ||
The U.S. & Latin America from the Colonial Era to the Present: A Critical Survey | ||
Latin America: An Introduction | ||
Breadth/Interdisciplinary Requirement (Complete one course from each of the following two sequences) | 6 | |
Humanities/Education/Politics (Human-Centered) (Complete one course) | ||
Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas | ||
The Caribbean and its Diasporas | ||
Cut 'n' Mix: Music, Race, and Culture in the Caribbean | ||
Mexican-American Politics | ||
Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change | ||
Race, Ethnicity, and Media | ||
Survey of Latino and Latina Popular Culture | ||
Globalizing Education | ||
Introduction to International Education Development | ||
Globalization and Education | ||
International Migration, Health, and Human Rights | ||
Latinx Feminisms: Women's Lives, Work, and Activism | ||
Introduction to International Studies | ||
Social Movements and Revolutions in Latin America | ||
Spanish Literary Masterpieces in Translation | ||
Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas | ||
Race and Culture in the Americas | ||
Border and Race Studies in Latin America | ||
Topics in Latin American Performance/Visual Studies | ||
Environment/Economy/Health/Agriculture (Environment and Economy) (Complete one course) | ||
The International Agricultural Economy | ||
World Hunger and Malnutrition | ||
Globalization, Poverty and Development | ||
The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy | ||
Rainforests and Coral Reefs | ||
Food, Culture, and Society | ||
Forests of the World | ||
International Development and Gender | ||
Environmental Conservation | ||
World Regions in Global Context | ||
Latin America | ||
People, Wildlife and Landscapes | ||
World Vegetable Crops | ||
Tropical Horticultural Systems | ||
Tropical Horticultural Systems International Field Study | ||
Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective | ||
Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies 1 | ||
Introduction to Public Health | ||
Food, Culture, and Society | ||
Depth/Interdisciplinary Requirement (Complete three courses) | 9 | |
Contemporary African and Caribbean Drama | ||
Economic Problems of Developing Areas | ||
Music, Race, And Culture in Brazil | ||
Elementary Quechua 2 | ||
Elementary Quechua 2 | ||
Intermediate Quechua 2 | ||
Advanced Quechua 2 | ||
First Semester Yucatec Maya 2 | ||
Second Semester Yucatec Maya 2 | ||
Primate Behavioral Ecology | ||
Primate Conservation | ||
Ethnobotany | ||
Chicana/o and Latina/o History | ||
Latino/as and Media | ||
Colony, Nation, and Minority: The Puerto Ricans' World | ||
Ethnicity, Race, and Justice | ||
Latino History and Politics | ||
Immigration, Crime, and Enforcement | ||
Sociodemographic Analysis of Mexican Migration | ||
Border and Race Studies in Latin America | ||
Latinx Digital Publics | ||
Dimensions of Latin@ Mental Health Services | ||
Internationalizing Educational Knowledge | ||
Latin American Economic Development | ||
Chicana/o and Latina/o Literatures | ||
Postcolonial Theatre: Drama, Theory and Performance in the Global South | ||
People, Wildlife and Landscapes | ||
Conservation Biology | ||
The Humid Tropics: Ecology, Subsistence, and Development | ||
Colonial Latin America: Invasion to Independence | ||
American Foreign Relations, 1901 to the Present | ||
Revolution and Conflict in Modern Latin America | ||
Multi-Racial Societies in Latin America | ||
Disease, Medicine and Public Health in the History of Latin America and the Caribbean | ||
Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies 1 | ||
Contentious Politics | ||
Sociology of Developing Societies/Third World | ||
Language & Cultural Studies: Complete three courses. | 9 | |
Elementary Quechua 3 | ||
Elementary Quechua 3 | ||
Intermediate Quechua 3 | ||
Advanced Quechua 3 | ||
First Semester Yucatec Maya 3 | ||
Second Semester Yucatec Maya 3 | ||
Third Semester Portuguese | ||
Fourth Semester Portuguese | ||
Portuguese for Business | ||
Introduction to Luso-Brazilian Literatures | ||
Third Year Conversation and Composition | ||
Third Year Conversation and Composition | ||
Intensive Portuguese | ||
Intensive Portuguese | ||
Fourth Year Composition and Conversation | ||
Fourth Year Composition and Conversation | ||
Portuguese Civilization | ||
Brazilian Civilization | ||
Survey of Portuguese Literature before 1825 | ||
Survey of Brazilian Literature before 1890 | ||
Lusophone African Literature | ||
Survey of Portuguese Literature since 1825 | ||
Survey of Brazilian Literature since 1890 | ||
Topics in Portuguese: Study Abroad | ||
Topics in Luso-Brazilian Literature | ||
Topics in Luso-Brazilian Culture | ||
Introduction to Hispanic Cultures | ||
Introduction to Hispanic Literatures | ||
Lying, Swearing, and Breaking the Rules: An Introduction to the Linguistic Study of Spanish | ||
Intermediate Language Practice with Emphasis on Writing and Grammar | ||
Advanced Language Practice | ||
Spanish for Nursing | ||
Topics in Spanish Language Practice | ||
Survey of Early Hispanic Literature | ||
Advanced Language Practice with Emphasis on Expository Writing | ||
Survey of Modern Spanish Literature | ||
Advanced Conversation | ||
Survey of Spanish American Literature | ||
Spanish for Business | ||
Spanish Business Area Studies | ||
Spanish Civilization | ||
Spanish American Civilization | ||
Survey of Latino and Latina Popular Culture | ||
Literatura de la Edad Media Castellana (ss. XII-XV) | ||
Literatura del Siglo de Oro | ||
Spanish in the United States | ||
Cervantes | ||
Literature of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries | ||
Literature of the Twentieth Century | ||
Literatura Hispanoamericana | ||
The Spanish American Short Story | ||
Spanish American Theater and Drama | ||
Spanish American Poetry and Essay | ||
Topics in Spanish American Literature | ||
US Latino Literature | ||
Topics in Hispanic Culture (The Beautiful Game, Human Rights: Argentina/Chile) | ||
Topics in Latinx Culture | ||
Undergraduate Seminars in Hispanic Literature/Culture/Linguistics | ||
Hispanic Screen Studies | ||
Study Abroad in Spanish Language Practice | ||
Study Abroad in Spanish Linguistics | ||
Study Abroad in Hispanic Literatures | ||
Study Abroad in Hispanic Cultures | ||
Latin American Rock Cultures | ||
Latin American Literature and Human Rights | ||
LACIS Seminar (Complete one course) | 3 | |
Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies (Only topics offered for at least 3 credits may meet this requirement.) 1 | ||
Culture and the Environment in the Luso-Hispanic World | ||
Undergraduate Seminars in Hispanic Literature/Culture/Linguistics | ||
Total Credits | 30 |
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all LACIS and major courses
- 2.000 GPA on at least 15 credits of upper-level work (courses with intermediate or advanced designation) in the major, in residence
- 15 credits in LACIS, taken on the UW–Madison campus
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with the LACIS undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Major Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 University GPA
- Earn a 3.400 GPA for all major courses
- Complete 18 credits, taken for Honors, with individual grades of B or better, to include:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
LACIS Introductory Course, taken for Honors (Complete one course) | 3-4 | |
Latin America: An Introduction | ||
The U.S. & Latin America from the Colonial Era to the Present: A Critical Survey | ||
Latin America from 1780 to 1940 | ||
Modern Latin America | ||
LACIS Seminar, taken for Honors (Complete one course) | 3-4 | |
Topics in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies (Only courses that count for at least 3 credits will meet this requirement.) 1 | ||
Culture and the Environment in the Luso-Hispanic World | ||
Undergraduate Seminars in Hispanic Literature/Culture/Linguistics | ||
A two-semester Senior Honors Thesis, taken for Honors (Complete both courses) | 6 | |
Senior Honors Thesis | ||
Senior Honors Thesis | ||
Additional LACIS courses taken for Honors to achieve 18 credits |
Footnotes
- 1
Can only meet requirements in multiple sections if the topic title is different
- 2
Only one Quechua or Yucatec Maya course may be used to meet this requirement (and may not meet both Depth/Interdisciplinary and Language & Cultural Studies requirement)
- 3
May meet either the Depth/Interdisciplinary or Language & Cultural Studies requirement, but not both.
University Degree Requirements
Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
Learning Outcomes
- (Interdisciplinarity) analyzing contemporary political, economic, and cultural realities in the LACIS regions from multi-disciplinary perspectives, ideally including humanities, social sciences and sometimes natural science approaches.
- (Depth of knowledge) mastering at the undergraduate expert level a particular disciplinary (e.g. history, anthropology etc.) or topical (e.g. poverty, gender, social justice etc.) theme in the LACIS regions by taking five courses in an area of concentration.
- (Historical and cultural grounding) understanding the historical, political, and cultural forces and conditions that have given rise to the unity and diversity in LACIS regions today.
- (Language knowledge) mastering at the undergraduate generalist level a particular facet of life in one or more LACIS regions by studying a foreign language to the advanced (3rd year) level and beyond.
- (Analytical skills) demonstrating the ability to think critically and analytically, the capacity to write clearly and effectively, and the ability to identify and evaluate research methods and outcomes.
Sample Four-Year Plan
This Sample Four-Year Plan is a tool to assist students and their advisor(s). Students should use it—along with their DARS report, the Degree Planner, and Course Search & Enroll tools—to make their own four-year plan based on their placement scores, credit for transferred courses and approved examinations, and individual interests. As students become involved in athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, volunteer experiences, and/or work, they might adjust the order of their courses to accommodate these experiences. Students will likely revise their own four-year plan several times during college.
Freshman | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
Introductory Course for the Major | 4 | Breadth/Interdisciplinary Course | 4 |
Communication A | 4 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
Quantitative Reasoning A | 3 | Biological Science Breadth | 4 |
SPANISH 101 | 4 | SPANISH 102 | 4 |
15 | 15 | ||
Sophomore | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
Breadth/Interdisciplinary Course | Communication B | 4 | |
Elective | 3 | Depth/Interdisciplinary Course | 3 |
INTER-LS 210 | 1 | Physical Science Breadth | 4 |
Quantitative Reasoning B | 4 | SPANISH 204 | 4 |
Science Breadth | 4 | ||
SPANISH 203 | 4 | ||
16 | 15 | ||
Junior | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
Recommend Study Abroad | Recommend Study Abroad and Apply for Summer Internship | ||
Depth/Interdisciplinary Course | 3 | Depth/Interdisciplinary Course | 3 |
Elective | 3 | Spanish, Portuguese, Yucatec Maya, or Quechua language course | 4 |
Science Breadth | 4 | I/A Level Comp Sci, Math, or Stat (if BS) | 3 |
Spanish, Portuguese, Yucatec Maya, or Quechua language course | 4 | Electives | 6 |
14 | 16 | ||
Senior | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
Spanish, Portuguese, Yucatec Maya, or Quechua language course | 4 | Electives | 12 |
I/A Level Comp Sci, Math, or Stat (if BS) | 4 | LACIS Seminar Course | 3 |
Electives | 6 | ||
14 | 15 | ||
Total Credits 120 |
Advising and Careers
Students should contact Sarah Ripp, the LACIS undergraduate advisor, at skripp@wisc.edu to determine which courses may satisfy major requirements.
Students are encouraged to seek the assistance of SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science early in their academic career. Take advantage of all the services offered such as mock interviews, resume and cover letter review sessions, career preparation workshops, and so on.
Students interested in international internships should contact the International Internships Program office.
L&S Career Resources
Every L&S major opens a world of possibilities. SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students turn the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and other coursework into fulfilling lives after graduation, whether that means jobs, public service, graduate school or other career pursuits.
In addition to providing basic support like resume reviews and interview practice, SuccessWorks offers ways to explore interests and build career skills from their very first semester/term at UW all the way through graduation and beyond.
Students can explore careers in one-on-one advising, try out different career paths, complete internships, prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications, and connect with supportive alumni and even employers in the fields that inspire them.
- SuccessWorks
- Set up a career advising appointment
- Enroll in a Career Course - a great idea for first- and second-year students:
- INTER-LS 210 L&S Career Development: Taking Initiative (1 credit)
- INTER-LS 215 Communicating About Careers (3 credits, fulfills Comm B General Education Requirement)
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- INTER-LS 260 Internship in the Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Activate your Handshake account to apply for jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers recruiting UW-Madison students
- Learn about the impact SuccessWorks has on students' lives
People
The Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies (LACIS) teaching staff consists of more than 100 faculty who teach Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian language and area content courses.
LACIS also has a Steering Committee.
Resources and Scholarships
Undergraduate students (from any major or discipline) can apply to receive one-time funds for internships or volunteer programs in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Iberian Peninsula. Domestic programs will be considered if the work is related to the LACIS field of study. The internships and volunteer programs will be carried out in public institutions or well-established NGOs. Students from any nationality and citizenship are eligible to apply. Please note that preference is given to declared LACIS majors. Please check with the LACIS undergraduate advisor, Sarah Ripp, about your plans before submitting an application to ensure it meets our criteria. Read post-internship reports from former grant recipients. We also encourage our students to explore funding options available through the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) Awards Office.