Latin American and Latinx Studies, Language Emphasis, Major

 Latin American and Latinx Studies, Language 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 Core General Education Requirements (CGER).  CGER course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as CGER CL, CGER HA, and CGER NSWL to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of the course.  Please click here for a description of the outcomes and requirements.

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 second language competency for the B.A. and a higher level of mathematics competency for the B.S.

(Plan assumes language placement into SPAN 202 level.)
FIRST YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
WRIT 114Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (CGER CL)5
OR
WRIT 116
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (CGER CL)
SPAN 202Intermediate Spanish II (CGER CL)4
SECOND SEMESTER
SPAN 301Conversation and Composition I4
CGER Option: Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning (MQR) b, c 4
SOME TIME IN THE FIRST YEAR
LAS 150Introduction to Latin American and Latinx Studies (CGER CP) l3
LAS 222Introduction to U.S. Latino History and Culture (CGER CP) l3
CGER Option: Natural Sciences & Wellness with Lab (NSWL) b, d4
CGER Course Option - select as needed b3
TOTAL FIRST YEAR30
SECOND YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
SPAN 302Conversation and Composition II3
SECOND SEMESTER e
SPAN 354Latin American Civilization: Regional Focus3
POLS 319Politics of Latin America f3
SPAN 405Advanced Conversation3
SPAN 410Advanced Grammar3
SOME TIME IN THE FIRST OR SECOND YEAR
CGER Option: Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS) b, g3
CGER Option: Natural Sciences & Wellness (NSW) b, h3
CGER Option: Humanities & Arts (HA) b, i3
CGER Course Option - select as needed b6
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
Upper Division SPAN or Other Language Elective j6
Second program course or LAS Elective k9
CGER Option: Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS) b, g3
CGER Option: Humanities & Arts (HA) b, i3
Second program, LAS Elective or CGER Course Option - select as needed b, k9
TOTAL THIRD YEAR30
FOURTH YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
LAS 450Capstone for Latin American and Latinx Studies1-3
SOME TIME IN THE FOURTH YEAR
Second program, LAS Elective or CGER Course Option - select as needed b, k27
TOTAL FOURTH YEAR28-30

Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 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 118-120. 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 English language elective. This plan assumes a foreign language placement into the 202 level and, though other options exist, it also assumes a semester immersion.

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 CGER courses are suggested throughout this plan because they are courses from the English language LAS electives (of which you have to take at least 9 credits for the LAS Language Emphasis Major) that also help you meet your CGER learning outcomes; choosing these courses will help you graduate sooner. However, you are free to choose any other course to meet these CGER learning outcomes. Inquire with the respective departments as to when each course is offered.

c

Suggested LAS elective for this CGER outcome (MQR): MATH 107.

d

Suggested LAS elective for this CGER outcome (NSWL): ENV 101.

e

Though other options are possible, this plan assumes a second year Spring semester study abroad in the Heredia, Costa Rica program to satisfy the minimum six-week immersion requirement. Course offerings in study abroad programs vary; consult with the Center for International Education and your Latin American and Latinx Studies advisor to choose the program and courses that will work best for you.

f

The POLS 319 Politics of Latin America course counts as one of the LAS English language electives. It is one of numerous courses which count as electives for LAS typically offered in the Spring semester program in Heredia, Costa Rica.

g

Suggested LAS electives for this CGER outcome (SBS): GEOG 111, PH 115.

h

Suggested LAS electives for this CGER outcome (NSW): GEOG 178.

i

The following courses fulfill this CGER outcome (HA): LAS 314, ARTH 335/AIS 335, or ARTH 337/AIS 337. ENGL 268 Survey of American Ethnic Literature (HA), when focused on Latinx/Hispanic related topics, can be petitioned to count as an LAS English language elective.

j

The LAS Language Major is a standard, 36 credit major which consists of 17-19 credits of required courses, a minimum of 9 credits from a selected list of courses in Spanish (or any other language suitable to Latin American and Latinx Studies in which proficiency is being sought), and a minimum of 9 credits from a list of LAS English language electives offered in English in other departments and programs. If you do the Spring semester in Costa Rica after having taken SPAN 302 as this plan assumes, you can take SPAN 354/LAS 354, SPAN 405, and SPAN 410 in Costa Rica and will need no more courses from the list of LAS Spanish electives to reach the 9-credit minimum, though it is wise to keep taking courses in the language to maintain proficiency. Please keep in mind that study abroad programs change and that there are many ways to fulfill your immersion experience; consult with an LAS advisor to find what works best in your case.

k

The LAS Language Major is a standard, 36 credit major which consists of 17-19 credits of required courses, a minimum of 9 credits from a selected list of courses in Spanish, and a minimum of 9 credits from a list of LAS English language electives offered in English in other departments and programs. By taking the courses mentioned in these notes to fulfill the CGER electives you’ve already taken more than the required number of elective credits needed from the LAS English language electives; you should therefore prioritize this placeholder elective space to take courses that satisfy the requirements of your second program (second major, minor, or certificate). Once those requirements are satisfied, you are encouraged to take more courses in LAS or Spanish. In order to maintain your fluency in Spanish, it is wise to continue taking courses in that language when possible. 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, Spanish, or other languages in which proficiency is being sought, electives beyond program requirements can be selected from any discipline as long as the student meets the course prerequisites.

l

LAS 150 and LAS 222 are required for the major; taking both will satisfy the 6 credits and two courses required of this CGER CP outcome. You may be interested in taking more such courses. Other suggested LAS electives with this CGER outcome (CP): LAS 324. Other possibilities are ANTH 315; ECON 327; ENV 378/GEOG 378; ES 385; PH 225/NRSG 225; PHIL 320; SOC 312 or SOC 314; WGSS 100; WGSS 206; WGSS 315; or WGSS 335. SOC 312, SOC 314, WGSS 315, and WGSS 335 all have prerequisites. NRSG 389 also has a CP designation and counts as one of the English language LAS electives; it is typically offered online in Summer and Winterim.

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.

Required: The Latin American and Latinx Studies, Language emphasis major requires an immersion experience in a country of Latin America or participation in a faculty-led immersion experience with a home stay in a Spanish-speaking household for a minimum of six weeks' duration. A semester-long immersion is recommended. Students who have completed an immersion requirement for a Spanish major or minor in Spain can fulfill the immersion requirement for the Latin American and Latinx Studies Language emphasis major via winterim, summer, and semester study abroad programs of a minimum three weeks' duration, a Faculty Led International Immersion Experience (FLIIE) of any duration in a Latin American country, a Domestic Intercultural Immersion (DII) of any duration within the US focused on Latinx issues and approved by the LAS Steering Committee, National Student Exchange, or an internship or volunteer work approved by the LAS Steering Committee to count for this purpose. Please consult with your advisor early on in your studies to choose the immersion experience that will work best for you. Because course offerings in study abroad programs vary, please consult with the Center for International Education and/or the Intercultural Immersion Office and your Latin American and Latinx Studies advisor early on in your studies to choose the time, program, and courses that will work best. Courses taken during study abroad may satisfy some of the requirements for the major or Core General Education Requirement (CGER) experiences and reduce the time to graduation.

Core General Education Requirements (CGER)

Core General Education Requirements (CGER) 

The Core General Education Requirements (CGER) includes a minimum of 10 courses across 6 categories. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the CGER Core. 

  • Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning (MQR) - 4 credits, one course minimum
    • Includes the University Mathematics Requirement¹
  • Communication & Literacy (CL) - 8 credits, two courses minimum
    • ​​​​Includes the University Writing Requirement (CL-W)²
  • Natural Sciences & Wellness (NSW/NSWL) - 6 credits, one course minimum (NSW-Lab required)
  • Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS) - 6 credits, two courses minimum 
  • Humanities & Arts (HA) - 6 credits, two courses minimum 
  • Civics & Perspectives (CP) - 6 credits, two courses minimum 
1

University Mathematics Requirement:

Students satisfy the University Mathematics Requirement in one of four ways:

  • completing an approved university-level mathematics course (MQR) with a grade of C (not C-) or above
  • achieving a suitable score on the UW Math Placement Test
  • achieving a suitable score on an exam such as the Advanced Placement Calculus or Advanced Placement Statistics exams
  • achieving a suitable score on a Credit by Examination administered by the Department of Mathematics.  
2

University Writing Requirement:

Students satisfy the University Writing Requirement in one of four ways:

  • completing a Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing course (WRIT 102, WRIT 114, WRIT 116, WRIT 118, or WRIT 120) with a grade of C (not C-) or above
  • achieving a suitable score on the English Placement Test (WPT ENGL)
  • achieving a suitable score on an exam such as the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition or Advanced Placement English Language and Composition exams
  • achieving a suitable score on the University Writing Program Portfolio.
Completion via Placement Test

  • Writing: If the CL-W subcategory is satisfied through a placement test, the CGER Communication and Literacy requirement will be reduced from 8 credits (2 courses) to 3 credits (1 course).

  • Mathematics: If the University Math Requirement is satisfied through a placement test, the CGER Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning requirement will be considered fully met, replacing the 4-credit (1 course) requirement.

  • Students must still complete 36 credits across 10 courses, with any remaining credits or courses eligible to be taken from any CGER category.