Liberal Arts and Sciences Cross-Disciplinary Studies (LAS)

Zora D. Zimmerman, Associate Dean for Academic Programs

Cross-disciplinary studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences encompass a variety of interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary areas of study as well as courses that cross established departmental lines. Students may enroll in Program courses; declare majors or minors where offered, or develop an Interdisciplinary Studies major built upon Program offerings. (see Index for Program courses).

Cross-Disciplinary Programs

African American Studies Program (Minor only)see Index, African American Studies.

American Indian Studies Program (Minor only)see Index, American Indian Studies.

Biological/Premedical Illustration Program (Major or minor)see Index, Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration.

Classical Studies (Minor only)see Index, Classical Studies.

Communication Studies (Major or minor)see Index, Communication Studies.

Criminal Justice Studies (Minor only)see Index, Criminal Justice Studies.

Emerging Global Disease (Minor only)see Index, Emerging Global Disease.

Entrepreneurial Studies (Minor only)see Index, Entrepreneurial Studies.

Environmental Science (Major or minor)see Index, Environmental Science.

Environmental Studies (Secondary minor or major)see Index, Environmental Studies.

The Honors Program in Liberal Arts and Sciencessee Index, Honors Program.

Interdisciplinary Studies Program (Major only)see Index, Interdisciplinary Studies.

International Studies Program (Second major or minor)see Index, International Studies.

Latin American Studies (Certificate only)see Index, Latin American Studies.

(Interdepartmental undergraduate program)

Kathy S. Leonard, Director

The certificate in Latin American Studies is a cross-disciplinary course of study in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and is designed for undergraduates in any major who wish to enhance their degree and employment possibilities by adding expertise in Latin America and linguistic competence in a primary and secondary foreign language.

Completion of the Certificate is noted on the student's transcript, and via a Certificate provided by the Registrar

Objectives:

* Provide opportunities for students to develop skills and understanding about issues concerning Latin America by bringing them into contact with faculty members from many different academic backgrounds

* Provide students with an international immersion experience where they gain cultural awareness and sensitivity

* Prepare students for work or advanced study in Latin America, such as in foreign service, journalism, advocacy organizations, scientific or research institutions

* Help students acquire proficiency in at least two of the languages of Latin America (Spanish and Portuguese)

* Guide students in interdisciplinary study leading to an understanding of the multi-faceted picture of the past, present, and future of Latin America

Learning Outcomes:

Upon Completion of the Certificate in Latin American Studies, students will be able to:

* Demonstrate understanding of key concepts pertaining to Latin American cultural, historical and political events

* Understand, interpret and articulate the major processes, theories and problems of selected contemporary and historical issues in Latin America

* Demonstrate oral, aural, and written proficiency in a primary foreign language (Spanish or Portuguese) equivalent to the mid advanced level

* Demonstrate oral, aural, and written proficiency in a secondary foreign language (Spanish or Portuguese) equivalent to the low Intermediate level

* Effectively communicate with persons of Latin American cultures

* Become effective global citizens through knowledge and comparison of the cultures and issues of the United States and Latin American countries

* Be able to read Latin American cultural, literary, and historical texts in the target language with comprehension and analytical insight

* Demonstrate awareness of cultural values, beliefs, and ideologies of the various Latin American countries

* Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the geography of the Latin American countries

General Requirements:

Requirements for the Certificate in Latin American Studies are satisfied through formal language instruction and by completing a minimum of 24 credits at the 300 level or above. Students will take coursework in at least four different disciplines and departments (Spanish, Portuguese, Anthropology, and Political Science) with other possible course offerings in LAS, History, Agriculture, and Agronomy.

Course Requirements:

Students will complete 12 credits of core courses which include:

* Political Science 343- Latin American Government and Politics- 3 credits

* Anthropology 323- Peoples and Cultures of Latin America- 3 credits

(Should one of the above courses not be offered, students should consult the adviser to find an appropriate substitute).

Choice of one of the following 3 credit courses:

* Spanish 332- Survey of Latin American Literature from Pre-Columbian Times through the 19th Century

* Spanish 333- Survey of Latin American Literature from 1898 to the Present

Choice of one of the following 3- credit courses:

* Anthropology 337- Andean Archaeology

* Spanish 324- Latin America Today

* Spanish 322- Latin American Civilization

Other Requirements:

* Students will complete an additional 12 credits selected from the approved list of courses in Latin American Studies at the 300 level or above. At least one of these courses must be at the 400 level and approved by the Latin American Studies Program adviser.

* In order to stress the interdisciplinary aspect of the Certificate no more than three courses from one single department will count toward the Certificate.

*No more than 3 credits may be taken as a 490, independent study, and the topic must deal with Latin America.

* A minimum of 12 credits applied toward the Certificate cannot be used to meet any other departmental, college, or university requirement.

* Students may receive credit on a pre-approved basis for internships completed in Latin America. No more than 3 credits from this area may be applied to the Certificate.

* Courses taken for the Certificate may not be taken on a pass not-pass basis.

* Credits for a Certificate may be used to satisfy the credit requirement for graduation and to meet the credit requirements for courses numbered 300 and above.

* A certificate is not awarded if the baccalaureate degree is not finished.

* For students earning an ISU baccalaureate degree, a certificate is awarded concurrent with or after the ISU baccalaureate degree.

* After receiving a baccalaureate degree from any accredited institution, a student may enroll at ISU to earn a certificate.

* A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 is required in courses taken at ISU for a certificate.

Language Requirement:

* The minimum requirement in formal language instruction is completion of two years or the equivalent of a primary language (Spanish or Portuguese) at the university level. At ISU the completion of 202 in the appropriate language satisfies this requirement.

* Students are required to take at least one year or the equivalent of a secondary language (Spanish or Portuguese) at the university level. At ISU the completion of 102 or 112 in the appropriate language satisfies this requirement.

* Native speakers, or those with in-field experience of another Latin American language with a level equivalent to 202 can have the primary language requirement waived. Equivalence will normally be assessed by a faculty member/CLEP exam in the Dept. of World Languages and Cultures.

*While students are encouraged to enroll in language instruction courses (i.e., conversation and composition) above the 300 level, no more than 6 credits of language study (301,303, 304) may be applied toward fulfilling language requirements for the Certificate. Students should be aware that all 300-level literature and culture/civilization courses in the Dept. of World Languages and Cultures have pre requisites such as Spanish 303 and 301.

Study Abroad

Students are required to participate in an ISU-approved study abroad program in a Latin American country with a minimum duration of 4 consecutive weeks. The Study Abroad Office has a list of ISU-approved programs. Students may elect to participate in other study abroad programs with the approval of the Latin American Studies Program Advisory Committee.

Approved courses available toward the Certificate:

The decision as to whether or not a class can be counted toward the Certificate is based primarily on the course title and description as it appears in the ISU General Catalog. Courses which deal primarily with Hispanic or Latina/o cultures in the U.S. will not count towards credit for the Certificate in Latin American Studies. Courses which primarily deal with Spain or Portugal and their cultures also do not count toward the certificate. When in doubt students should consult with the Director of the Latin American Studies Program.

AgEds 496- Agricultural Travel Course A. International (must be in Latin America). No more than 3 credits may be applied to the Certificate.

Agronomy 496- Agricultural Travel Course. (Must be in Latin America). No more than 3 credits may be applied to the Certificate.

Anthropology 323- Peoples and Cultures of Latin America.

Anthropology 337- Andean Archaeology.

Anthropology 445/545-Primate Conservation and Behavioral Ecology (Biological Field School) at El Zota Field Station in Costa Rica. (No more than 3 credits from this course may be applied toward the Certificate).

History 340-History of Latin America.

History 341-History of Latin America II.

History 441-History of Modern Mexico and Central America.

History 442- Rebellions and Revolutions in Latin America.

International Studies 420-Study Abroad Credit (must be in Latin America).

LAS 320-Study Abroad Credit (must be in Latin America).

LAS 395- Interdisciplinary Study Abroad (must be in Latin America).

Portuguese 370-Luso-Brazilian Topics in English Translation (when the topic is appropriate).

Political Science 343-Latin American Government and Politics.

Spanish 322-Latin American Civilization.

Spanish 324-Latin America Today.

Spanish 326-Studies in Hispanic Art and Film (when topic is appropriate).

Spanish 332-Survey of Latin American Literature from Pre-Columbian Times through the 19th Century.

Spanish 333-Survey of Latin American Literature from the 20th Century to the Present.

Spanish 370-Hispanic Topics in English Translation (when topic is appropriate).

Spanish 395-Variable credit according to program. Study Abroad, must be in Latin America. No more than 6 credits from each study abroad program may apply to the Certificate.

Spanish 445-Seminar on the Literatures and Cultures of Latin America.

Spanish 463-Hispanic Dialectology.

Spanish 499- Internship in Spanish (when working in Latin America). No more than 3 credits from this course may be applied toward the Certificate.

Program Director: H. Avalos

U.S. Latino/a Studies is devoted to the study of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans and other groups of people living in the United States who trace their ancestry to the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, and who comprise the fastest growing ethnic groups in America. U.S. Latino/a Studies is to be distinguished from Latin American studies, which focuses on people living in Latin America. The methodology of U.S. Latino/a Studies is cross-disciplinary, drawing from the methods established in anthropology, sociology, political science, economics, history, literary studies, and other fields.

In addition to the general requirements of a major in Interdisciplinary Studies, (see Index, Interdisciplinary Studies) a major in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on U.S. Latino/a Studies would require the completion of 24 credit hours. At least 15 of the 24 credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above. These 24 credits in the major focusing on U.S. Latino/a Studies must include the following courses, each of which is worth three credits: LAS 211 (Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Studies), Anthr 323 (Peoples and Cultures of Latin America), Engl 344 (U.S. Latino/a Literature); Hist 441 (History of Mexico and Central America) or a course in U.S. Latino/a history, Relig 338 (The Latino/a Religious Experience), and Soc 332 (The Latino/a Experience in U.S. Society).

The student must have an average grade of C in the required courses of the major. Fulfillment of the foreign language requirement with Spanish is strongly recommended, but not required. For a list of other eligible courses and more information on the U.S. Latino/a Studies Program, contact the program committee chair.

Program Director: N. Bevin

The Life in Iowa program integrates classroom study of Midwestern culture and identity with summer experiential learning (internships, research and service) in communities throughout Iowa. Particular emphasis is placed on personal values, meaningful work, civic responsibility, and local sustainability. Humanities based methodologies are used to examine the social, economic, political and ecological systems of Midwestern United States. Classroom courses are writing intensive. Summer coursework is delivered online.

Linguistics Program (Major or minor; graduate minor)see Index, Linguistics.

Premedical and Preprofessional Health Programssee Index, Preprofessional Study.

Speech Communication Program (Major or minor)see Index, Speech Communication.

Teacher Education Programsee Index, Teacher Education, Courses and Programs.

Technology and Social Change (Minor, graduate minor)see Index, Technology and Social Change.

Women's Studies Program (Major or minor)see Index, Women's Studies.

Courses primarily for undergraduate students

LAS 101. Orientation for Open Option and Preprofessional Students. (1-0) Cr. 0.5. F.S. First 8 weeks. Self-responsibility and university procedures. LAS general education requirements, ISU departments and programs, time management, academic study skills, adjustment to the university environment. Required of all first year students in the Open Option and Preprofessional Health Programs.

LAS 104. Personal Career Development. (2-0) Cr. 2. F.S. Prereq: 12 credits of ISU coursework. Comprehensive approach to personal career development; intensive self-analysis; utilization of a computerized career exploration system; contact with area professionals; examination of work in modern society and the impact of technology on the future of work; exposure to job search skills necessary for career choice implementation.

LAS 150. Society, Culture and Change in a Diverse Nation. Cr. 3. Prereq: Approval of the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. An analysis of contemporary patterns of diversity in the United States. Patterns of gender, class, ethnicity, nationality, and race in the development of a multi-cultural society. Analysis of multiculturalism and national character.