Courses in Africana Studies
A AFS 101 Introduction to Africana Studies (3)
This course will introduce students to the historical foundations of Africana Studies and discuss its relevance to contemporary society. An interdisciplinary approach will be incorporated as History, Philosophy, Literature, Performing Arts, Sociology, Psychology, Religion/Spirituality, and Anthropology are employed to provide students a detailed analysis of people of African descent in the Western Hemisphere.
A AFS 110 The Black Theatre in America (3)
Study of the historic background of Black involvement in the American theatre and of the role and functioning of the Black theatre in contemporary American society.
A AFS 142 African/African American Literature (3)
Survey of Black authors from diverse cultures and an analysis of their relationship to Black thought.
A AFS 150 Life in the Third World (3)
Introduction to cultural variation and fragmentation among third-world developing communities. Some lectures and discussions are led by third-world graduate students. Whenever possible, distinguished visitors from third-world countries are also involved in the course.
A AFS 209 (= A MUS 209) Black American Music (3)
An introduction to Black American Music. Study will include music from West Africa as well as musical/social influences throughout American history. Musical styles will include spirituals, gospel, blues, jazz and classical. Only one version of A AFS 209 may be taken for credit.
A AFS 212 (= A LIN 212 & A ANT 212) African American English (3)
This course provides an overview of the study of linguistics through the specific lens of African American English (AAE). With an estimated 30 million speakers, AAE is a major variety of American English that is rule-governed and complex; however, it continues to be plagued by social stigma in many arenas. This course focuses on AAE's distinctive features in the areas of sound and sentence structure, as well as topics in linguistic anthropology and applied linguistics, e.g., the impact of language ideology on AAE speaking communities. Only one version may be taken for credit.
A AFS 213 History of Civil Rights Movement (3)
This course is designed to introduce the student to the historical development and maturation of the movement for civil rights in the United States. It will examine the development of resistance movements and the philosophies of those involved within the movements during the antebellum, post Civil War and contemporary times.
A AFS 219 Introduction to African/African American History (3)
Survey of the cultural and historical background of African Americans from their African heritage to their present role in American society.
A AFS 220 Black and White in America (3)
In America Blacks and Whites have been organically connected by the space of national geography and centuries of time. With current events an ever-present concern, this course explores the cultural significance and the social meaning of the long and ever-changing relations between black and white Americans and its importance for the national welfare.
A AFS 221 The Economic Structure of the Black Community (3)
Analysis of old and contemporary models of Black entrepreneurship and formal economic organization and its effect in the community.
A AFS 224 Cities as People (3)
Survey of the human aspects of the urban environment, historically and in practical terms today, with an emphasis upon the central city’s opportunity for field research in urban life.
A AFS 240 (= A LCS 240 & A WSS 240) Classism, Racism and Sexism: Issues (3)
Analyzes the connections between and among classism, racism and sexism, their mutually reinforcing nature, and the tensions arising from their interrelations. Particular attention will be given to the ideological and personal aspects of these phenomena, as well as to their institutional guises in American society. Only one version of A AFS 240 may be taken for credit.
A AFS 269 (= A ANT 269 & A LCS 269) The Caribbean: Peoples, History, and Culture (3)
This course will introduce students to the cultural history of the Caribbean region, from the 18th century to the present. This history encompasses colonialism, slavery, emancipation, imperialism, migration, revolution, dictatorship, tourism and environmental change. Students will use a variety of primary sources, including film, music, memoirs, and diaries to explore the unmaking and making of empire in the Anglophone, Francophone and Hispanic Caribbean through the everyday lives of inhabitants of the islands. Additionally, the course will examine the ways that Caribbean people have shaped and engaged narratives of the past and aspirations for the future. Only one version may be taken for credit.
A AFS 270 (= A GOG 270) Geography of Africa (3)
Geographic analysis of the continent of Africa. The diversity of the African continent is stressed by examining its physical environment; resources; social, cultural, economic and political systems. Emphasizes the demographic as well as spatial planning aspects of geography. Only one version of A AFS 270 may be taken for credit.
A AFS 286 (= A HIS 286) African Civilizations (3)
Africa from prehistoric times to 1800 with emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa, the development of indigenous states and their response to Western and Eastern contacts. Only one version of A AFS 286 may be taken for credit.
A AFS 287 (= A HIS 287) Africa in the Modern World (3)
Africa since 1800: exploration, the end of the slave trade, the development of interior states, European partition, the colonial period, and the rise of independent Africa. Only one version of A AFS 287 may be taken for credit.
A AFS 311 History of Slavery in the Western Hemisphere (3)
The institution of slavery and its effects in the Western Hemisphere, its origins, bases of continuance, and contemporary residuals.
A AFS 320 Black Nationalism: Political Perspective in Africa (3)
Examination of selected freedom movements in Black Africa with a focus upon one-party politics and the continuing tensions between socialism and democracy.
A AFS 322 Developing African Nations (3)
Systems analysis of the contemporary social, political, cultural, and economic institutions crucial to the economic maturation of developing African nations. A AFS 286 and 287 recommended.
A AFS 325 Introduction to Research Methods (3)
An introduction to paradigms, theories and models on research and the Black community. Emphasis will be placed on methodological concerns of validity, reliability, instrument development, data collection, data analysis and reporting of research outcomes. The ethics of research on people of African descent will be discussed.
A AFS 331 The African/African American Family (3)
In-depth study of the African/African American family as an institution, the dynamics of intra-family relations and the effects of social institutions on Black family life.
A AFS 333 The Black Community: Continuity & Change (3)
Overview of the socio-historic factors which impact upon the current conditions of the African American community.
A AFS 340 The Black Essay (3)
Essays written by Black American writers in the 19th and 20th centuries. Prerequisite(s): A AFS 142.
A AFS 341 African/African American Religion (3)
Analysis of the relationship of the religion of Black people to Black culture.
A AFS 342 Sub-Saharan Africa: Peoples and Cultures (3)
Culture areas of Africa south of the Sahara. Historical and geographic background studies of selected societies. Culture change and contact during the colonial and postcolonial periods. Prerequisite(s): A AFS 286.
A AFS 345 The Black Novel: Black Perspectives (3)
Systematic study of the novel written by Black Americans from the Harlem Renaissance to the present. The novels studied express the cultural, political, and socio-historical consciousness of the writers to demonstrate their awareness of the struggle of Black people. Prerequisite(s): A AFS 142.
A AFS 355 Introduction to African and African American Poetry (3)
Intensive study of poetry drawn from the black experience. Emphasis on aesthetic forms, meanings, tone, diction, imagery, symbol, sentences, rhythm, rhyme, allusion, etc. Common characteristics of black poetry will also be discussed.
A AFS 370 The Psychology of the Black Experience (3)
In-depth examination of the extant psychological literature on blacks. Analyzes varying themes, theories, perspectives, and research that relate to the psychology of blacks. Focuses on the contemporary work of black behavioral scientists involved in the quest for scholarly self-determination and for redefinition of the psychological fabric of the black experience. Selected topics are identity, personality, motivation, achievement, and mental health. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.
A AFS 375 Black Popular Culture (3)
The course explores the historical and contemporary constructions of “blackness” within the popular realms of film, television, and popular music and the relationship of those constructs to the realities of African American life and culture.
A AFS 379 (= R POS 379) Black American Politics (3-4)
Black Americans are the most consequential minority group in the country. The hot topics of the day, including police reform, school curriculum, and substantive representation are all impacted by Black politics and mobilization. This course will analyze and study Black political mobilization, racial consciousness, political participation, and political attitudes. The class will discuss contemporary issues of segregation, gentrification, and poverty and will also highlight the voices of the Black women, members of the LGBTQ, as well resource poor Black Americans. Only one version may be taken for credit. Four-credit sections for Honors Program students only.
A AFS 386 (= A HIS 386) History of South Africa: Colonialism, Apartheid, and the Quest for Liberation (3)
Study of the historical origins, development, and lasting effects of racial relations, segregation, and apartheid in South Africa with a concentration on economic, political, social, and religious change in the 19th and 20th centuries. Topics will include changing state structures and ideologies, the impact of industrialization, transformations of rural and urban life, African religious movements, political and religious connections with Black Americans, gender relations, and changing forms of popular resistance against white domination. Only one version of A AFS/ A HIS 386 may be taken for credit.
A AFS 393 Topics in African History (1-4)
Specific topics to be examined will be announced during advance registration. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or 3 credits in history.
A AFS 400 The Law and African-America (3)
The central city as a center of dominance, inner city legal problems as an aspect of social control. Students examine selected central city agencies related to law enforcement. Alternate possibilities for reform and improvement are explored. Term project required.
A AFS 401 Seminar in African American History I (3)
This course is an undergraduate seminar of African American History from the American Colonial period to the Civil War. Various historical themes will be reviewed, and students will have an opportunity to explore research topics related to the following: The Transatlantic Slave and Domestic Trades, Colonial and Antebellum slavery, African Americans and the Revolutionary War, Free Black Societies, Black Abolitionists, African Americans and the Civil War. Prerequisite(s): A AFS 219.
A AFS 402 Seminar in African American History II (3)
This course is an undergraduate seminar of African American History from 1865 to the present. Various historical themes will be reviewed, and students will have an opportunity to explore research topics related to the following: Reconstruction, The Age of Jim Crow, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, the Great Migration, the Harlem Renaissance, The Great Depression and New Deal era, World Wars I and II, The Civil Rights Movement, the Black Power movement, and contemporary African American History and Culture. Prerequisite(s): A AFS 219.
A AFS 430 Black Social and Political Thought in the Americas (3)
Seminar on the social and political ideas and strategies of selected African/African Americans from the late 18th century to the present. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.
A AFS 432 The African American Woman: Contemporary Issues (3)
Socio-historic look at the American women of the African diaspora with particular attention to: (1) Black Liberation; (2) feminist movements; (3) sex role socialization; and (4) issues of sexism and racism. Prerequisite(s): A AFS 219, or permission of instructor.
A AFS 435 Blacks and the American Political Process (3)
An examination of the American political process as it impacts upon the Black community in the United States. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.
A AFS 446 (= A SPN 446) Literature and Human Rights (3)
A study of selected works of Spanish and Spanish-American literature that deal with the subject of human rights throughout history. Topics to be studies may include such things as social protest, censored texts, women’s writing, the literature of exile, minority portrayals, and slavery. Prerequisite(s): two courses between A SPN 310-350 (excluding A SPN 333) or permission of instructor.
A AFS 451 (= A MUS 451) Jazz, Identity and the Human Spirit (3)
This course will explore issues of identity, spirituality, entrepreneurship, cultural transmission and politics viewed through the lens of the musical tradition called jazz. Topics will include saxophonist John Coltrane's musical-spiritual search, the musical-mythos of bandleader Sun Ra, musician-led organizations and movements with a focus on the Chicago-based Association for the Advancement of Creative Music (AACM), jazz and social protest, ideas about black experimentalist traditions and controversies about the use of electronics in the work of Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, the cultural roots of jazz and questions about the nature of musical genres and boundaries. The course will include lecture, listening, small group presentations and class discussion. Only one version of A AFS 451 may be taken for credit.
A AFS 490 Senior Seminar (Capstone Course) for Africana Studies Majors (3)
An in-depth examination of critical issues involving the experiences of Africans and African Americans in historical, cultural, and social contexts. This Capstone Course is structured to enhance the oratory skills and to ensure that graduating majors engage in critical analyses on their exposure to the Department's interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary undergraduate course offerings. Attention will also be given to the interrelationships of the values and ideas indigenous to Africana Studies. Students will also review basic research methodology.
A AFS 498 Topics in African Studies (3)
Specific topics to be examined are announced during advance registration. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): Africana Studies major or minor of junior or senior standing.
A AFS 499 Topics in African American Studies (3)
Specific topics to be examined are announced during advance registration. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): Africana Studies major or minor of junior or senior standing.
Courses in Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies
A LCS 100/100Z Culture and Power in the Americas (3)
Survey of the diverse pre-Columbian and New World societies and cultures of Spanish and Portuguese America from the pre-conquest period to the present. Broadly interdisciplinary introduction to the historical development of Latin American society, culture, politics, and economics with a special emphasis on elements such as race, gender, and class. Focus on the interactions of Indian, European, and Black cultural elements and on the complexities of what is known as Latin American culture. The study of the most distinctive elements of culture such as race, social systems and institutions, folklore and cultural expressions will take precedence over historical events. Only one of A LCS 100/100Z, A HIS 140/140Z, and A HIS 144 may be taken for credit.
A LCS 102 (= A HIS 170) Introduction to Caribbean History (3)
An introduction to the history of cultural contact in the Caribbean from the pre-Columbian Arawaks and Caribs, through the infusion of European and African cultures, to the emergence of the leadership of the United States in 1898. Special emphasis on the social and economic development of the plantation system, the intercontinental trade system, slavery, and the struggle for abolition and self-determination. Only one version of A LCS 102 may be taken for credit.
A LCS 110 (= A HST 110) Latin America and the Caribbean (3)
An introduction to Latin America and the Caribbean from the Haitian Revolution to the present. Key themes include the political, social, and economic changes during that period. Topics may include slavery and post-emancipation, nation building and nationalism, revolution, migration, climate change, indigeneity and cultures of production and consumption. Only one of A LCS 100/100Z, A HIS 140/140Z, A HIS 144, and A LCS/A HST 110 may be taken for credit.
A LCS 150 (= A ANT 146) Puerto Rico: People, History, and Culture (3)
Survey of the Puerto Rican people, history, and culture on the island from the pre-Hispanic era to the present. Special emphasis on the change of sovereignty in 1898, the national question, migration, race, class, and culture. Only one version of A LCS 150 may be taken for credit.
A LCS 200 (= A PHI 200) Introduction to Latin American Philosophy (3)
The aim of this course is to give students an introduction to Latin American Philosophy. Material to be studied will be drawn from both past and contemporary sources. Topics will vary from term to term, but may include pre-Columbian Philosophy, Iberian Scholasticism, Value Theory, Social and Political Philosophy, Philosophical Anthropology, Liberation Philosophy, Latin American Feminism, and Hispanic/Latinx Identity. No previous courses in philosophy or knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese are needed. All readings will be in English.
A LCS 201/201Z Latinos/as/x in the USA (3)
This course is an intensive examination of Latina/o American society. Major Latina/o groups (e.g., Puerto Ricans, Mexican-Americans, Cubans, Dominicans, Central Americans, and Colombians) will be studied with emphasis on interaction between these groups and mainstream society, culture and value change in contact situations, and efforts to deal with prejudice and discrimination. The course draws from texts in anthropology, sociology, history, and cultural studies, all of which are augmented with various films.
A LCS 203/203W/203Y/203Z Afro-Latin America (3)
Analysis of blackness in Latin America with a focus on the representations of peoples of African descent in national identities and discourses. The course examines some of the "myths of foundation" of Latin American nations (e.g. The "cosmic race" in Mexico, "racial democracy" in Brazil, etc.), and how these myths bring together ideas of nation, gender, race, blackness, whiteness, and mestizaje (racial and cultural mixture).
A LCS 205 The Caribbean Tourism Industry: Service or Servitude? (3)
This course analyzes the development of the Caribbean tourism industry. The nations surrounding the Caribbean Sea are widely regarded as a premier international tourist destination. It is argued these destinations have been purposefully engineered to boost local, state, regional, and federal economies of scale and have undergone many cycles of "boom and bust" with respect to changing consumer habits, environmental disasters (i.e. hurricanes and tropical storms), and the impact of global financial and terrorist crises. The Caribbean is a prime location to understand the often complex and dynamic effects that different types of tourism, transnationalism, and globalization have on everyday people living, working, and choosing to vacation there. The class will analyze the development of this regional tourism center with respect to understanding the identities of both hosts and guests, environmental concerns, and broader sociocultural implications of such a globalized zone of excess.
A LCS 216/216Z (= A MUS 216/216Z) Music and Society in Latin America: Past and Present (3)
This course will deal with two basic issues: the evolution of musical thought throughout Latin America from pre-Hispanic times to the present, and the relationship between musical manifestations and the prevailing social order in which those activities took place. Only one version of A LCS 216 may be taken for credit.
T LCS 216 (= T MUS 216) Music and Society in Latin America: Past and Present (3)
This course will deal with two basic issues: the evolution of musical thought throughout Latin America from pre-Hispanic times to the present, and the relationship between musical manifestations and the prevailing social order in which those activities took place. Only one version of T LCS 216 may be taken for credit. Open to Honors College students only.
A LCS 225/225W/225Y/225Z (= A SOC 225/225W/225Y/225Z) Global Migration and Transnationalism (3)
The course is an introduction to global migratory patterns in the contemporary period. The course covers: basic concepts and approaches to migration studies; global and regional migratory patterns and major forces shaping them with a specific focus on the twentieth century; and how individuals and families mobilize during the processes of international migration. Geographically, the course covers several areas of the world. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A SOC 115.
A LCS 229 Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (3)
The specific topic will be selected by the instructor and will vary from semester to semester as indicated by course subtitle. May be repeated for up to six credits when content varies.
A LCS 231 Special Topics in Latino Studies (3)
The specific topic will be selected by the instructor and will vary from semester to semester as indicated by course subtitle. May be repeated for up to six credits when content varies.
A LCS 233 (= A ANT 233) Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas (3)
Introductory survey of the archaeology and ethnohistory of the three best-known indigenous civilizations of the New World. Each is presented in terms of pre-historic background and evolution, social organization, politics and economics, religion and art. Consideration is given to the Spanish conquest of these groups and to their modern legacies. Only one version of A LCS 233 may be taken for credit.
A LCS 240 (= A AFS 240 & A WSS 240) Classism, Racism, and Sexism: Issues (3)
Analyzes the connections between and among classism, racism and sexism, their mutually reinforcing nature, and the tensions arising from their interrelations. Particular attention will be given to the ideological and personal aspects of these phenomena, as well as to their institutional guises in American society. Only one version of A LCS 240 may be taken for credit.
T LCS 242 (= T ANT 242) Food, Culture and Power in Mesoamerica (3)
In Mesoamerica (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador), food is a powerful form of cultural expression that is immersed in local and global politics and power relations. This course will survey Mesoamerican native culture from the lens of its rich food heritage.
A LCS 250/250Z (= A GOG 250/250Z) Geography of Latin America (3)
An introduction to the geographical diversity of Latin America, reviewing the Continent’s physical features, natural resources, societies, economies, and politics, and relating them to its history and cultural traditions. Particular attention will be given to rural and urban living conditions, social and regional inequalities, population distribution, internal and international migration, and socioeconomic development issues. Only one version of A LCS 250 may be taken for credit.
A LCS 255 Race and the American Empire (3)
This course will explore the relationship between racism and the formation of the American empire from approximately 1776 through the end of the Progressive Era. By the early 20th century the United States emerged as a world power after a relentless process of continental and overseas territorial expansion. The young nation employed an ideology of racial superiority and predestination to justify its expropriation of the land and natural resources of other peoples and nations, to capture a continuous supply of labor, and to acquire new export. Theories of Manifest Destiny, white man's burden, social Darwinism, and religious doctrines were some of the narratives central to an ideology of racial supremacy in service of empire. Only one version of A LCS 255 may be taken for credit. May not be offered in 2024-2025.
T LCS 255 (= T POS 255) Race and the American Empire (3)
T LCS 255 is the Honors College version of A LCS 255; only one may be taken for credit.
A LCS 269 (= A AFS 269 & A ANT 269) The Caribbean: Peoples, History, and Culture (3)
This course will introduce students to the cultural history of the Caribbean region, from the 18th century to the present. This history encompasses colonialism, slavery, emancipation, imperialism, migration, revolution, dictatorship, tourism and environmental change. Students will use a variety of primary sources, including film, music, memoirs, and diaries to explore the unmaking and making of empire in the Anglophone, Francophone and Hispanic Caribbean through the everyday lives of inhabitants of the islands. Additionally, the course will examine the ways that Caribbean people have shaped and engaged narratives of the past and aspirations for the future. Only one version may be taken for credit.
A LCS 270 Latin American Politics: Latin America's Left Turn (3)
This course examines Latin America's ongoing "Left Turn," a process that has brought left and center-left governments to national office in over a dozen countries throughout the region between 1998 and today. The course will examine the following questions: What is "the Left"? How has the meaning of this term shifted historically and how does it differ in different countries? How does the contemporary or "new" Left compare to the "old" Left in Latin America? Why did the Left Turn happen? In what ways are the policies implemented by leftist governments in Latin America similar to and/or different from policies implemented by centrist and conservative governments of the past, and particularly the neoliberal era of the 1980s and 1990s? What are the similarities and differences within the multiple paths that the Left Turn has taken? How can we make sense of variation within the Left Turn? What effect has the Left Turn had in terms of economic policy, social policy, democracy, politics, socioeconomic indicators (such as poverty, literacy, economic growth), gender, race and ethnicity, foreign policy and more?
A LCS 271 (= A HST 271) Latin American Drug Wars
Considers the history of illicit drugs and the violence that surrounds their prohibition in Latin America. Topics include the long history of illicit drugs in Latin America (dating from the 1620s), as well as the rise of contemporary prohibitions and narco-trafficking organizations. Special attention is paid to the social and cultural effects of these phenomena in Latin America, along with the role of US drug control regimes in shaping life in the region. Only one version may be taken for credit.
A LCS 282 (= A SOC 282) Race and Ethnicity (3)
Study of religion, race, and nationality conflicts in American society. Reactions of minority to majority; changing patterns of minority relationships; efforts to deal with prejudice and discrimination. Only one version of A LCS 282 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A SOC 115.
A LCS 283 Latinization of U.S. Cities (3)
This course examines the historical and contemporary Latino transformation of American cities. We begin with early 20th century Latino migrations to N.Y.C. and L.A., move onto the rise of barrio politics in the 1960s and 70s, recent urban transnational ties in a late 20th century global era, and end with the exponential rise and geographic expansion of Latino populations in various urban and suburban cities across the U.S. A study of these shifts in the Latinization of cities is of particular relevance today as professionals in creative, policy, and academic fields grapple with the fast-growing U.S. Latina/o population. Because of the multi-faceted and urgent nature of this ethnic specific urban process, this course understands that the verb "Latinizing" is enacted by multiple actors with various political and economic interests, and considers the resulting Latinized urban process to be an always contested and evolving intersection of culture, class, gender, sexuality, and race. The course draws from texts in anthropology, sociology, history, cultural studies, and geography, all of which are augmented with various films. By reading multi-disciplinary texts that cover various cities and Latino national groups across the United States, students in this course will gain a rich theoretical and analytical background on the pressing issues and main individuals and communities that have shaped and continue to shape Latina/o urban America.
T LCS 288 Race, Ethnicity, and the Contemporary U.S. City (3)
This course examines the historical and contemporary ethnic and racial transformation of American cities. We begin with early 20th century Latino, Asian, and Black migrations to inner cities, move onto the rise of ethnic urban politics in the 1960s and 70s, new urban transnational ties in a late 20th century global era, and end with the exponential rise and geographic expansion of ethnic and racial minority populations in various urban and suburban cities across the US. A study of the shifts in cities is of particular relevance today as professionals in creative, policy, and academic fields grapple with an increasingly multicultural US city. The course draws from texts in anthropology, sociology, history, cultural studies, and geography, all of which are augmented with various films. By reading multi-disciplinary texts that cover various cities and ethnic and racial groups across the United States, students in this course will gain a rich theoretical and analytical background on the pressing issues and main individuals and communities that have shaped and continue to shape multicultural urban America. Open to Honors College students only. May not be offered in 2024-2025.
A LCS 289 (= A SOC 289) Special Topics in Ethnicity (1–3)
This course is an intensive examination of the culture and lifestyle of a single ethnic group within American society. The specific ethnic group varies from semester to semester and is indicated by the course subtitle: e.g., Asian American Communities. May be repeated for up to 6 credits if content varies. Prerequisite(s): A SOC 115.
A LCS 290 Special Topics: Perspectives in Latin America and the Caribbean (1-3)
This course will broadly examine under various topics, the social, economic, political, and cultural issues that affect contemporary life Latin American and Caribbean. Maybe repeated for a total of six credits. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.
A LCS 300 Research Experience in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (3)
This course is designed to build undergraduate research skills by exposing students to methods from both traditional disciplines (e.g., Anthropology, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, etc.) as well as transdisciplinary fields of study (e.g., Latin America Studies, Latinx Studies, Africana Studies, Globalization Studies, Languages Literatures and Cultures, etc.) Students will design a research proposal in a topic of interest relevant to Latin American, Caribbean, or Latinx Studies, but they will not be carrying out the actual research itself for this course. Students will apply information literacy and critical thinking skills, become familiar with different research methodologies, and learn how to develop, write, and professionally present components of an academic research proposal that is topically relevant to Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.
A LCS 302 (= A SPN 322) Latinos(as) en Estados Unidos (3)
Examination of major U.S. Latino groups (Mexican-American, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican) with special emphasis on 20th century literary works. Students will study demographic, socio-economic, historical, and cultural aspects of these groups in the context of their interaction with mainstream society. Course will be given in Spanish. Only one version of A LCS 302 may be taken for credit.
A LCS 311 (= A POR 315) Introduction to Brazilian Popular Culture (3)
This course explores the diversity of Brazilian popular culture, focusing especially on Brazilian music, dance, sports, theater, films, popular literature, religion, visual arts, architecture, and festivities. It reflects on popular culture's social, economic, and political aspects and how they interweave with the various forms of popular culture's manifestations. This course is taught in English.
A LCS 314 (= A SPN 318) Topics in Hispanic Film (3)
A study of Hispanic film as a medium that offers a unique amalgam of diverse musical, pictorial, and literary art forms within a sociopolitical context. The course will focus on such specific topics as peasant movements, human rights, images of women, race, and ethnicity. Only one of version A LCS 314 may be taken for credit in any semester. May be repeated once for credit when content varies. Consult current schedule of classes for topic. Prerequisite(s): A SPN 310 or permission of instructor. May not be offered in 2024-2025.
A LCS 315 Film in Contemporary Latin America (3)
Study of culture and society in Latin America as revealed through film. Emphasis on the use of film, especially in the “new cinema” movements, as an instrument for social and political change. History and current trends of cinema in selected countries. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or permission of instructor.
A LCS 316 (= A SPN 316) Representative Spanish-American Authors (3)
Survey of literary movements in Spanish America from independence to World War II. Only one version of A LCS 316 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A SPN 310 or permission of instructor. May not be offered in 2024-2025.
A LCS 317 (= A SPN 317) Latin American Civilization (3)
Study of Spanish-American cultures and institutions from the beginnings of the 20th century. Only one version of A LCS 317 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A SPN 310 or permission of instructor. May not be offered in 2024-2025.
A LCS 319 (= A SPN 320) 20th Century Spanish-American Literature (3)
A study of selected works of Spanish-American literature from World War II to the present. Works studied will deal with topics of special interest such as the continuing debate with regard to civilization and barbarism, dictatorship and revolution, social justice, and the search for identity. Only one version of A LCS 319 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A SPN 310 or permission of instructor. May not be offered in 2024-2025.
A LCS 321Y (= A EAS 321Y & A GOG 321Y) Exploring the Multicultural City (3)
This course will explore the human dimensions and implications of ethnic diversity in the United States, focusing on New York City. The course utilizes a variety of methods to introduce students to the multicultural city, beginning in the classroom but ending with field work in a specific New York neighborhood. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A GOG 102; or A GOG/A USP 125; or A GOG 160; or A GOG/A USP 220; or A GOG/A GLO/A USP 225; or A GOG 240.
A LCS 326 (= A SPN 326) Spanish-American Poetry and Theatre (3)
Representative Spanish-American plays and selected works in Spanish-American poetry, with emphasis on specific characteristics of the genres. Only one version of A LCS 326 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A SPN 310 or permission of instructor.
A LCS 329 Special Topics in Puerto Rican Studies (3)
Intensive interdisciplinary examination of a specific aspect on contemporary Puerto Rican Studies. The topic varies from term to term and is indicated every term by the subtitle: e.g., Nineteenth century Agrarian Society or the Political Status Debate or the Migrant Experience. May be repeated for up to 6 credits under different subtitles. Departmental permission required for more than 6 credits. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or permission of instructor.
A LCS 330 Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (3)
The specific topic will be selected by the instructor and will vary from semester to semester as indicated by course subtitle. May be repeated for up to 12 credits under different subtitles.
A LCS 331 Special Topics in Latino Studies (3)
The specific topic will be selected by the instructor and will vary from semester to semester as indicated by course subtitle. May be repeated for up to six credits under different subtitles.
A LCS 332 Puerto Rico in Crisis (3)
This course examines the history and consequences of U.S. colonial rule in Puerto Rico since 1898. Colonial rule has generated periods of growth and crisis. But crises have been the most prevalent feature. Hurricanes, earthquakes, war, massive migration, pro-independence protests and armed uprisings, and frequent economic depressions have shaped the Puerto Rican experience. Through lectures, audio and video documentaries and readings, students will develop an understanding of how the policies of the federal government and the local government have shaped the economic and social well-being of the people of Puerto Rico. The course will study the array of factors that resulted in massive Puerto Rican migration to the United States, and the role of the diaspora in supporting Puerto Rico it is efforts to overcome natural catastrophes, humanitarian crises, and poverty. Finally, the course will critically analyze how social movements and political forces, particularly those that promote self-determination and government accountability, impact public policy, particularly about Puerto Rico's territorial status.
A LCS 340 Participatory Democracy in Latin America and Beyond (3)
Democracy is one of the most contested ideas of the modern world. In its original usage democracy referred to self-government or rule by the people. Modern democracy, as practiced in the United States and much of the world, has become increasingly dissociated from this idea. Instead of ordinary people directly participating in political decision-making, democracy is now commonly associated with elections and rule by political representatives. Alternative forms of democracy nonetheless continue to proliferate, in large part due to popular frustration with the limitations of representative democracy. This is particularly true of Latin America, where numerous participatory experiments, in which an attempt is made to align democratic practices more closely with the original ideal of democracy as self-government, have emerged over the last several decades. This course focuses on participatory democracy in Latin America, asking why participatory democracy emerges, how it works, whether and how it has allowed "the people" to govern itself, and what debates it has sparked in the region and beyond.
A LCS 341 (= A ANT 341) Ethnology of Mesoamerica (3)
Survey of the cultures and history of the native peoples of Mexico and Central America. Beginning with the documents created by and about the native peoples around the time of the Spanish invasion, the course follows the experiences of these societies through the colonial period and up to the present. Only one version of A LCS 341 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 100 or 108.
A LCS 349 (= R POS 349) Urban Politics in Latin America (3-4)
This course examines from a theoretical and historical perspective the context and character of politics and political participation in major Latin American urban cities. Four credit sections for Honors Program students only.
A LCS 350 (= A HIS 350) Gold, Conquest, & Pirates: Spain and Portugal in the Americas (3)
Iberian backgrounds; the age of exploration and discovery; the conquest and settlement of America by the Spanish and the Portuguese; Iberia and America in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
A LCS 354 (= A GOG 354) Environment & Development (3)
A survey of international development issues, focusing on the impact of economic growth, population growth, and increased consumption of natural resources on global and local environments. This course focuses primarily on the poorer countries of the world, and particularly on tropical environments. It discusses issues of deforestation, desertification, and increased vulnerability to man-made and natural hazards. Prerequisite(s): A GOG 101 or 102, or permission of instructor.
A LCS 357 (= R POS 357) Latin American & Caribbean Politics (3-4)
The course will examine the current process and societies in the hemisphere. Emphasis will be on Latin America and the Caribbean with implications of globalization for all workers and societies of the Americas. Four credit sections for Honors Program students only.
A LCS 359 (= A ANT 359 & A GLO 359) Globalization in the Americas (3)
What is globalization? An in-vogue buzzword? Political posturing? An academic relic? In this course, we will conduct a thorough analysis of how globalization - a truly complex process of ideas, technology, the movement of people, beliefs, language, traditions, food, and other cultural nuances - resonates around the globe. We will introduce globalization theory and focus our understanding of the subject in exploring how this process affects not elites but everyday people working to achieve a better life in the Americas. The aim of this course is to help students understand global economic policy and politics by investigating how does globalization affect the way people work, where they work, their relationships to their family and other loved ones, and how are we interconnected, and are we really?
A LCS 360 Political Economy of the Caribbean (3)
An intensive evaluation of political and economic forces as they have shaped the Caribbean region during the 20th century to the present, particularly the period since World War II. Special attention given to social conflicts and political movements, population growth and migration, urbanization, problems of industry and agriculture, economic planning, education, and superpower confrontations. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or permission of instructor.
A LCS 369 (= A HIS 369) Central America and the Caribbean (3)
The circum-Caribbean lands and islands in the 19th and 20th centuries; independence; independent nations and colonies; foreign intrusions and interventions; social and economic change; revolutions; comparative Caribbean studies. Only one version of A LCS 369 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in history.
A LCS 370 (= A HIS 370) Race and Racism in the Americas (3)
Explores the history of racism in the Americas from the Spanish Conquest to the present. Topics include the invention of race, the reasons for its persistence over time, and the similarities and differences between Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America. Only one version may be taken for credit.
A LCS 371 (= A HIS 371) South America Since 1810 (3)
The political, economic, social, and cultural evolution of the South American nations from the winning of independence to the present, with emphasis on Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Among topics studied will be dictatorship, democratic government, economic change, modern revolution, and social trends. Only one version of A LCS 371 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in history.
A LCS 373 (= A HIS 373) History of Modern Mexico (3-4)
An in-depth survey of Mexico since Independence, this course emphasizes agrarian change and peasant rebellion; foreign intervention and U.S.-Mexican relations; indigenous and mestizo identities; gender and culture; political stability and economic development; authoritarianism, democratization, and globalization; and Latinos in the U.S. Writing intensive sections: Only one version of A LCS 373 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): 3 credits of A HIS or A LCS course work, or junior or senior standing.
A LCS 374 International Migration and Transnationalism (3)
This course discusses basic concepts and theories related to the study of migration and transnationalism. It discusses, among other issues, the following: Why do people move internationally following certain patterns? Why and how do they develop transnational relations? How do migration and transnationalism relate to economic, cultural, political and social processes, and social agency? How do they relate to some gender, class, and ethnic factors? What are some of the global, regional, national, and individual implications of migration and transnationalism? What are the implications for households and enterprises?
A LCS 375 (= R POS 324) Latino Politics in the United States (3-4)
This course reviews Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban participation, perspectives and issues on American politics. Each Latino sub-group will be analyzed and comparisons will be made between Latino sub-groups and between Latinos and other groups. The following questions will be examined: What is the context of Latino politics? What characterizes Latino political behavior? What is the place of Latinos in the U.S. political system? What are the political perspectives and values? What issues form the basis of their political mobilization and incorporation? What are their political prospects? We will be concerned with relevant historical, interpretive, and theoretical issues raised by the Latino political experience, with an emphasis on electoral representation, issues of gender, race and ethnicity, education, affirmative action, and radical politics. Only one version may be taken for credit. Four credit sections for Honors Program students only.
A LCS 403 Special Topics in Latin American Studies (3)
The specific topic will be selected by the instructor and will vary from semester to semester as indicated by course subtitle. May be repeated for up to 6 credits under different subtitles. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or permission of instructor.
A LCS 410 (= A ANT 410 & A GOG 412) Tourism, Culture, and Identities (3)
This course is designed as an in-depth examination of tourism in relation to culture and its impact on the identities of both hosts and guests. Some questions to be explored in this course include the role of tourism in the formation of regional, national, and transnational identities, how tourism reflects global inequities and the consequences tourism creates for local communities and everyday lives.
A LCS 411 Latin American Studies Seminar (3)
This course covers issues related to contemporary Latin American politics and twentieth-century history. The specific topic of the course varies. In recent years the focus has been on revolutions in the Americas, with the course asking: what are revolutions, why do they occur, and with what intended and unintended effects, including related to counterrevolutionary backlashes. The course has examined these issues with attention to the Russian, Mexican, Guatemalan, Cuban, Chilean, and Nicaraguan (Sandinista) revolutions and the region's recent left turn. In other years the course has focused on the issue of democracy in the Americas, with attention to the different forms democracy has taken and debates about the quality of democracy in Latin America. The course involves a research paper on a topic of the student's choosing related to the course theme. Only one of A LCS 411/504 can be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): LACS majors and minors, juniors or seniors, or permission of instructor.
A LCS 412 Caribbean Studies Seminar (3)
Analysis of the colonial establishment of European power and ascendancy in the Caribbean and Latin America, and the numerous and varied forms of resistance to colonialism in the hemisphere. Employing critical strategies associated with the field of post-colonial studies, the course revolves around literature (novels) that provide us with fertile ground for a cultural critique or power and resistance. These novels will be read against the background of the hemisphere's history and cultural legacy of colonialism and anti-colonial resistance in an attempt to better understand the cultural modalities of power and resistance in the Caribbean and Latin America. Prerequisite(s): Completion of A LCS 300 strongly recommended prior to taking this course.
A LCS 413 Latina/o Studies Seminar (3)
This course is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of dominant approaches to the study of Latinos in the United States. Scholars have employed a variety of theoretical constructs and methodological approaches to explore a wide range of issues of particular significance for Latinos and Latinas. Latino social science research broadly falls into a set of readily defined categories but shares a distinctive concern with reinterpreting standard narratives that reinforce structures of white privilege. Much of Latino-directed research aims to develop alternative conceptualizations and interpretations of the Latino experience in order to enhance the capacity of Latinos to purposefully engage U.S. society. Prerequisite(s): Completion of A LCS 300 strongly recommended prior to taking this course.
A LCS 414 (= A SPN 414) Literature of the Hispanic Caribbean (3)
Study of selected major writers of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico of the 19th and 20th centuries. Special consideration of literature as a reflection of situations and problems peculiar to the Hispanic Caribbean. Conducted in Spanish. Only one version of A LCS 414 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): two courses between A SPN 310-350 (excluding A SPN 333) or permission of instructor.
A LCS 430Z (= A WSS 430Z) Environmental Justice: Racism, Classism, Sexism (3)
In Environmental Justice: Racism, Classism, and Sexism, we will explore how racism, classism, and sexism impact current environmental “events,” including environmental policy-making, public health outcomes, and the rhetoric and politics of environmentalism. Surveying the development of environmental awareness among the public philosophies behind such awarenesses, and resulting shifts in policy, we will focus on the growth of the environmental justice movement and will consider how various groups have addressed environmental degradation and injustice. Also under consideration will be a set of related issues: how globalization has impacted these events, the feminist critique of science and its impact, relationships between grass-roots activism (for example, native American activists and other Environmental Justice groups) and between these groups and more scholarly approaches, and contributions by artists, labor-rights groups, religious leaders, animal rights activists, and deep ecologists. Prerequisite(s): Students, at whatever level, are welcome. The requirements will differ for graduate and undergraduate students. For example, graduate students will be reading more theoretical articles, and will be responsible for explaining these to the undergraduate students. In addition, graduate students will be required to submit a final research paper that is much longer (12-20 pages) than that required for undergraduate students.
A LCS 450 Legislative Internship (3-6)
Internships involving off-campus participation in the NYS Legislature, with collateral academic study. Contingent on the approval of a faculty member of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Studies willing to supervise the study and evaluate on-site reports of the student's progress. Students must apply two weeks prior to the start of the academic term, and are subject to an interview and selection process. Internships are open only to qualified juniors and seniors who have an overall grade point average of 2.50 or higher. Prerequisite(s): Open to students of any major. Bilingual and multicultural skills will prove particularly useful since students will be working with legislative members of the NYS Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force. S/U graded.
A LCS 451 (= A HIS 451 & A WSS 451) Gender & Class in Latin American Development (3)
The study of the historical interplay of cultural, ideological, and structural factors affecting women’s lives during the course of Latin America’s experience with modernization and industrialization during the 19th and 20th centuries. Topics covered may include: household work, paid work, migration, growth of female-headed households, women’s political participation, and women’s participation in social movements. Only one version of A LCS 451 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): any course in LACS and/or Women’s Studies and/or History.
A LCS 465 (= R POS 447) Latino/as and Inequality in America (3)
This course is about the political engagement of Latinas and Latinos and the political and economic forces that historically have impeded their full incorporation in U.S. society. Only one version of A LCS 465 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or permission of instructor.
A LCS 472 (= A ANT 472) Social Movements in Latin America (3)
This class takes an anthropological perspective to discuss contemporary Latin American social movements. It considers why the intensification of social movements throughout the region may follow some traditional forms of resistance and mobilization, but also why it is a response to neoliberal globalization. These new movements seek to define a novel relation to the political realm. Unlike traditional guerrilla movements or electoral expressions of the left, they are not fundamentally organized to seize state power. Yet they have contributed to destabilizing, even, ousting governments. Social movement formation and resistance to neoliberalism are explored. Social movements, such as the indigenous mobilizations in Ecuador, mobilizations against water privatizations and gas pipeline investments in Bolivia, the Zapatista movement in Mexico, landless rural workers in Brazil, Afro-Colombians resisting investors, and the urban worker strikes in Argentina, are covered. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): one course in anthropology, sociology, political science or geography.
A LCS 491 (= A ANT 481) Research Projects (3–6)
Introduction to basic research skills required to answer questions on human behavior, with special emphasis on cross-cultural interaction. Specific research projects provide students with the basic research methods, including data collection, processing, and analysis. Only one version of A LCS 491 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or permission of instructor.
A LCS 495 LACS Departmental Honors Project (6)
Independent research project required for successful completion of LACS Departmental Honors
A LCS 497 Independent Study (3-6)
Independent study in an area of special interest to the student under the supervision of the sponsoring faculty member. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. Prerequisite(s): permission of Instructor and Department Chair. Typically the course is graded A-E, however Instructor may designate the course S/U; consult the Schedule of Classes.