Latin American Studies
Academic Program Introduction
Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary program. Over 20 faculty in 14 departments teach courses and conduct research on Latin America and its diaspora. With a faculty advisor, students can design a major or minor that draws upon courses from across the social sciences and the humanities. The major equips students with a breadth of knowledge about the region—including one of its major languages—and develops their abilities to evaluate Latin American topics from more than one disciplinary perspective.
Learning goals
Comprehend and speak either Spanish or Portuguese at an advanced level, as detailed in the ACTFL proficiency guidelines.
Demonstrate foundational knowledge of Latin America’s history, cultures, economies, and literatures.
Demonstrate specialized knowledge in at least one discipline of the social sciences and one discipline of the humanities.
Compare and critique the modes of inquiry—including theories, methods, and/or data—used by Latin Americanists in at least three disciplines of the social sciences and humanities.
In at least two disciplines, apply modes of inquiry to evaluate existing research, synthesize its findings, and carry out new research on Latin American topics.
Programs of Study
Latin American studies major and minor
Students explore Latin America’s history, cultures, economies, and literature.
Course Highlights
The course is a survey of economic development in Latin America, with an emphasis on public policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality. How can we define and measure development? How did Latin American governments pursue development over the 20th century and into the 21st? How does contemporary social and education policy contribute to the reduction of poverty and inequality? The course introduces students to policy evaluation, with a focus on understanding and writing about field experiments in Latin America.
(ECON 241 and LAST 241 are cross-listed courses.)-
Art and anthropology museums tell stories about the past and its relevance to the present, but what stories they tell, who gets to tell them, and which objects should—or should not—be considered are not always self-evident. In this writing-intensive seminar, you will learn how texts—wall labels, press releases, exhibition reviews—engage audiences within and beyond the museum’s walls. The course consists of writing assignments related to artworks made in the Americas before Independence, from the ancient Maya to colonial Peru, many on exhibit at the Davis Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Through these case studies, we will learn how to convert visual images and academic arguments into appealing, jargon-free prose. In keeping with the structure of the Calderwood seminar, weekly deadlines in this class are firm so as to allow classmates time to reflect on such arguments and comment on each other’s ideas. Take on the role of museum curator and learn how texts help us navigate controversies over the acquisition, provenance, and display of artworks from distant cultures and places. (ARTH 378 and LAST 378 are cross-listed courses.)
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One of the most unique aspects of Cuba is its incredible diversity as a result of a long history of encounters between Europe, Africa and Asia. The hybrid nature of Cuban identity can be manifested through a number of forms, such as art, music, literature and religion. As Cuba begins a new phase in history, a comprehensive understanding of its cultural heritage is more pressing than ever. Rather than focus on political issues, this course will use on-site visits to explore different experiences of cultural intersections or syncretism (known as “transculturation”) on the island. A strong command of Spanish is required as the bulk of the course will be taught in the target language in order to better understand Cuban history and culture. Some of the student activities include preliminary readings, lectures, videos, interviews, and a travel log.
Research highlights
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Professor Evelina Gužauskytė’s second book (working title: Imperial Gaze, Local Narratives: The Politics of Female Fashion in Eighteenth-century New Spain casta Paintings) studies the depictions of women’s garments and bodies in 18th-century casta paintings of New Spain. The book explores female clothing and body as a juncture between the lived experience, the artist’s mind, and the politics and the rhetoric of fashion.
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Professor Kaleb Goldschmitt’s research focuses on the role music plays in audiovisual media such as film, television, advertising, video games, and TikTok. Goldschmitt’s publications have explored Brazilian music in a Nike ad for the 2006 World Cup, mobile music distribution in the Brazilian music industry, and samba and funk in Brazilian gangster films.
Opportunities
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Wellesley-in-Chile
In Wellesley-in-Chile, students enroll in one of seven Chilean universities in either Santiago or Valparaíso. They live and study with Chileans and involve themselves in the community through volunteer work, internships, and extracurricular activities. They can choose to follow certain tracks offered at specific universities, including human rights, social movements, and applied studies in health.
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Study abroad
Students can apply to other Wellesley-approved study abroad programs. These include 22 programs in which the language of instruction is either Spanish or Portuguese.
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Internships
Students learning Portuguese can apply to study and complete internships in Brazil, Portugal, and Cabo Verde.
Beyond Wellesley
Beyond Wellesley
Many of our graduates pursue careers in nonprofit organizations, law, higher education, and environmental goods and services. Recent employers include Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Universidad del Desarrollo in Chile, Amigos de las Americas, and Munger, Tolles & and Olson.
Recent Employers
Latin American Studies Program
106 Central Street
Wellesley, MA 02481