Latin American and Latinx Studies, Culture and Society Emphasis, Major

Latin American and Latinx Studies, Culture and Society Emphasis, Major, B.A.a 

The following is a sample degree plan, based on the current catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.

To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Liberal Education (LE) Core.  LE Core course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as LE-K1, LE-S2, LE-R3, and LE-I1 to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of their liberal education course work.  Please click here for a description of the Liberal Education Core outcomes and requirements. Note that the LE Core may be completed through both course and non-course experiences.

Students in this major have the option to pursue either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.  The degrees are distinguished by foreign language competency for the B.A. and a higher level of mathematics competency for the B.S.

(Plan assumes language placement into SPAN 201 level.)
FIRST YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
SPAN 201Intermediate Spanish I (LE-S1 through placement; LE-R2)4
SECOND SEMESTER
SPAN 202Intermediate Spanish II (LE-S1 through placement; LE-R2)4
SOME TIME IN THE FIRST YEAR
LAS 150Introduction to Latin American and Latinx Studies (LE-R2, LE-I1)3
WRIT 114Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1)5
OR
WRIT 116
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1)
LE Option as needed3
LAS 222Introduction to U.S. Latino History and Culture (LE-K3, LE-R1, DDIV)3
LE Option: Skills 2 (LE-S2) Mathematics b, c 4
LE Option: Knowledge 2 (LE-K2) Social Sciences, w/lab d4
TOTAL FIRST YEAR30
SOME TIME IN THE SECOND YEAR
Second program or LAS Elective e18
LE Option - select as needed3
LE Option: Knowledge 1 (LE-K1) Natural Sciences6
LE Option: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities f3
TOTAL SECOND YEAR30
SOME TIME IN THE SECOND OR THIRD YEAR (SUGGESTED TIMING)
Complete immersion experience. See major requirements and consult with LAS advisor.
SOME TIME IN THE THIRD YEAR
Second program or LAS Elective e9
LE Option - select as needed3
LE Option: Integration (LE-I1) b, g3
LE Option: Knowledge 2 (LE-K2) Social Sciences3
LE Option: Skills 3 (LE-S3) Creativity3
LE Option: Knowledge 4 (LE-K4) Fine Arts b, h3
LE Option: Responsibility 1 (LE-R1, DDIV) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity with Design for Diversity b, i3
LE Option: Responsibility 3 (LE-R3) Civic and Environmental Issues j3
TOTAL THIRD YEAR30
FOURTH YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
LAS 450Capstone for Latin American and Latinx Studies *1-3
SOME TIME IN THE FOURTH YEAR
Second program or LAS Elective e12
Second program or LAS Elective e15
TOTAL FOURTH YEAR28-30

Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 credits

*This course can be taken for variable credit (1-3 credits)

The “SECOND PROGRAM or LAS ELECTIVE” courses above are placeholders. Students with a standard major are required to have a second program (second major, a minor, or a certificate). Each major, minor or certificate has its own requirements beyond the number of credits, and it is the student’s responsibility to investigate those and to be sure to have fulfilled those requirements. The total number of credits in this plan sums up to 121-123. Please take care to keep track of your overall credit total. You need a total of 120 credits to graduate; remedial level courses such as  MATH 10 , and MATH 20 do not count towards the overall credit count. Electives need to be carefully selected to ensure that a student’s degree comprises at least 39 credits of upper division courses (300-400 level). Taking some courses during the summer or winterim will help you to spread out your course load, which may help you do better in classes while still graduating within four years. Any Honors course focused on Latin America or Latinx/Hispanic related topics can be petitioned to count as an  LAS Humanities and Social Sciences elective.

a

For program combinations involving Latin American and Latinx Studies programs, students must earn a minimum of 48 unique credits for purposes of meeting graduation requirements for first and second degree programs.

b

A number of specific LE core elective courses are suggested throughout this plan because they are courses from the English language LAS electives (of which you have to take at least 12 credits for the LAS Culture and Society Emphasis Major) that also help you meet your LE learning outcomes; choosing these courses will help you graduate sooner. However, you are free to choose any other course to meet these LE learning outcomes.  

c

Suggested LAS elective for this LE outcome (S2): MATH 107 Mathematics in Latin American Cultures (S2). 

d

Suggested LAS elective for this LE outcome (K2L): ENV 101 Sustainability Basics and Beyond (K2, K2L; R3). 

e

The LAS Culture and Society Emphasis Major is a standard, 36 credit major which consists of 15-17 credits of required courses and at least 19 credits of elective courses, which can be fulfilled completely from a list of LAS Humanities and Social Sciences electives offered in English in other departments and programs but can include an optional maximum of 9 credits from a selected list of courses in Spanish. The courses mentioned in these notes to fulfill the LE requirements add up to more than the the required 19 elective credits. You should therefore prioritize this placeholder elective space to take courses that satisfy the requirements of your second program (second major, minor, or certificate). Please consult the latest catalog for the most complete lists of courses from which to choose. While students are encouraged to take additional courses in LAS, electives beyond program requirements can be selected from any discipline as long as the student meets the course prerequisites.

f

The following courses have no prerequisites and fulfill both the K3 and R3 learning outcomes: LAS 324 Latinx Health and Migration to the U.S., CJ 207 Introduction to Rhetoric and Society, PHIL 120 Ethical Reasoning, and WGSS 210 Contemporary Feminisms. PHIL 320 Environmental Ethics also fulfills both K3 and R3 but has some restrictions (see catalog for details). If a course is taken that meets only K3 or R3, the other learning outcome must be met through another course or experience. Inquire with the respective departments as to when each course is offered. Of the courses above, only LAS 324 and PHIL 320 count as LAS Humanities and Social Sciences electives. 

g

Suggested LAS electives for this LE outcome (I1): PH 225/NRSG 225 Introduction to Public Health (I1; R1 + DD) or GEOG 178 Planet Earth: Conservation of the Environment (I1; K1); the latter has a prerequisite.

h

Suggested LAS electives for this LE outcome (K4): ARTH 335/AIS 335 Ancient Art and Architecture of Mexico and Central America (K4) or ARTH 337/AIS 337 Art of Tawantinsuyo (K4).

i

Suggested LAS electives for this LE outcome (R1 + DD): ANTH 315 Language in Culture and Society, PH 225/NRSG 225 Introduction to Public Health (I1; R1 + DD); ES 385 Social Foundations: Human Relations (R1 + DD); SOC 312 Race and Ethnicity in the US (R1 + DD) or SOC 314 Social Class and Inequality (R1 + DD), WGSS 100 Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, or WGSS 315 Women of Color Feminisms. SOC 312, SOC 314 and WGSS 315 all have prerequisites. NRSG 389 also has an R1 + DD designation and counts as one of the English language LAS electives; it is typically offered online in Summer and Winterim. HNRS 132 and ENGL 268 carry R1 + DD and when focused on Latinx/Hispanic related topics can be petitioned to count as LAS Humanities and Social Sciences elective.

j

Suggested LAS electives for this LE outcome (R3): ENV 101 Sustainability Basics and Beyond (K2, K2L; R3), ENV 140 Water Problems, Water Solutions (K2, R3), ENV 378/GEOG 378 International Environmental Problems and Policy (I1; R3), LAS 324 Latinx Health and Migration to the U.S. (K3; R3), or PHIL 320 Environmental Ethics (K3;R3). See footnote G above for courses that do not count as LAS Humanities and Social Sciences electives but which satisfy both the K3 and R3 learning outcomes. If a course is taken that meets only K3 or R3, the other learning outcome must be met through another course or experience. HNRS 187 carries R3 and when focused on Latin American related topics can be petitioned to count as an LAS Humanities and Social Sciences electives. 

Note:  All students must complete the 30-hour Service-Learning Requirement via a non-credit or credit option (see University Graduation Requirements). 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs)
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices. The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study Abroad, Intercultural Immersion, Internship, and/or Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire.

Liberal Education (LE) Core Guidance

Liberal Education Core (LE Core) 

The LE Core comprises 17 learning experiences across 11 learning outcomes. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the LE Core. 

  • K1 – Natural Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K2 – Social Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K3 – Humanities; two experiences. 

  • K4 – Fine Arts; one experience. 

  • S1 – Written and Oral Communication; two experiences (one experience must satisfy the University writing requirement). 

  • S2 – Mathematics; one experience (must satisfy the University math competency requirement). 

  • S3 – Creativity; one experience (can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • R1 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity; two experiences (one experience must meet the UW System Design for Diversity (DD) requirement). 

  • R2 – Global Perspectives; one experience. 

  • R3 – Civic and Environmental Issues; one experience. 

  • I1 – Integration; two experiences (one experience can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • SL—Service Learning; 30 hours 

Additional LE Core Information 

  • Most LE Core learning experiences are course based, and many courses meet more than one learning outcome (e.g., K3 and R2 or K1 and R3). 

  • Some learning experiences can also be met outside of a traditional course (e.g., undergraduate research (S3), study abroad (I1)). 

  • S1 – An English placement score that fulfills the University writing requirement fulfills one S1 experience. 

  • S1 – A foreign Language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 102 level satisfies one S1 experience. 

  • S1, R2 – A foreign language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 202 level satisfies one experience in S1 and the R2 experience. 

  • S2 – A math placement score that qualifies the student to enter Math 111, 112, 113 or 114 fulfills the S2 experience. 

  • S3 – Completion of two credits from any approved music ensemble fulfills the S3 experience. 

  • I1 – Any semester long study abroad program can fulfill one I1 experience.