Latin American and Caribbean Studies (BA)

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Program Description

Jointly offered by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS), the major in Latin American and Caribbean Studies is anchored by two foundation courses (one on colonial history, one on the contemporary region) and advances critical area studies, examining political, social, and cultural formations in the region from interdisciplinary perspectives. Students may gain perspective on such themes as regional development, identity, and struggles over territory, place, and belonging; and they may engage complex histories of displacement, circulation, and migration across the region, including to the United States. The major is best for students who want deeper knowledge of the region and wish to design a course of study tailored to their individual curiosity and interests. The program encourages students to study away at NYU Buenos Aires where a range of courses has been developed for majors. NYU also boasts rare and innovative programs in the study of Haitian Creole and of Quechua. Students benefit from the ample programming and resources of NYU’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS, as.nyu.edu/clacs) and the vast resources related to the region in the city.

Honors Program

Writing an honors thesis allows students majoring Latin American and Caribbean Studies to undertake advanced independent research, analysis, and writing under close faculty guidance. By writing an original thesis, students participate in the production of new knowledge and critique and make genuine contributions to our field. Engaging in self-designed research can be one of the most exciting experiences of a college career. Students with an overall and major GPA of 3.65 qualify and should confer with the director of undergraduate studies in the second semester of their junior year. During their senior year, students register for SPAN-UA 498 Senior Honors Seminar (fall) and then enroll in SPAN-UA 499 Honor Thesis Seminar (spring), each 4 credits; one of these courses may count as an elective toward the major, while the second is in addition to the nine courses that comprise the degree. Students also present the conclusions of the thesis for different audiences, including participation in the Dean’s Undergraduate Research Conference and the Annual Departmental Showcase. Students write an abstract and have the opportunity to submit an extract of the thesis to Esferas, the department’s undergraduate research journal.

Admissions

New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply