Latin American Studies Program  

 

Picture of picturePicture of beansPicture of relicsPicture of llamaPicture of waterfall

Latin American Studies Coordinator:

Dr. Mary Ann Mahony

Department of History

Central Connecticut State University

1615 Stanley Street

New Britain, CT 06050-4010

Telephone: (860) 832-0119

E-mail: mahonym@ccsu.edu  

The considerable value of an understanding of Latin America is quite evident today. The CCSU Latin American Studies Program offers a broad and flexible interdisciplinary approach designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of Latin America. The curriculum leads to the B.A. or  M.S. in International Studies with a concentration in Latin American Studies. The concentration in Latin American Studies is designed to help students develop a multidisciplinary understanding of culture, history, and contemporary problems of Latin America. 

An area studies approach offers a unique opportunity for students to transcend disciplinary limits and master an integrated view of the social, geographical, cultural, economic, political, and historical forces shaping a major region of the world.  Students for the MS in Latin American and Caribbean Studies will not only develop this global perspective and in-depth knowledge of one region, but they will learn to communicate across disciplines, a rare and valuable skill in whatever field they later choose to apply their knowledge of Latin America, be it teaching, government service, or business.

With twenty-four core faculty members, courses with Latin American and Caribbean content attract over 11,000 enrollments a year (including all introductory language courses) while special events and lectures are attended by a wide range of campus and community members. Course offerings and the overall strength of the program in Latin American Studies at CCSU is enhanced through the Caribbean & Latin American Studies Center’s collaboration.  
 

B.A. Program in International Studies, 57 credits

Program Requirements

 

Core Curriculum, 12 credits

IS 225 The World as a Total System

IS 475 Senior Project

and two of the following:

GEOG 120   World Regional Geography

HIST 122      World Civilization II

PS 104         The World’s Political Systems

 

Regional Specialization, 18 credits

Six courses in Latin American Studies selected from:

·         ANTH 428

·         ECON 435

·         GEOG 434, 436, 459*

·         HIST 381, 382, 483, 484, 493*

·         HUM 490*, 494*

·         IS 240, 245, 450, 490*, 497*

·         PS 235, 420

·         SPAN 261, 316, 375, 376

*These topic and field courses may be chosen only when they focus on the area of specialization.

Additional Topic and/or IS course options focusing on the region of specialization may be available.

 

Directed Electives, 9 credits

Three additional courses in Latin American Studies or in a related field approved by advisor.

 

Modern Language, 18 credits

Six courses in Spanish, or demonstrated competency equal to completion of the 226 level.  Students completing the language requirement with

less than 18 credits must select from other approved courses to fulfill the 18 credit requirement.

 

Structured International or Multi-cultural Experience

At least one semester of faculty supervised, in-depth exposure to another way of life is required.  Ideally, students will spend one academic year abroad, as part of the CCSU Study Abroad Program.  As an alternative, International Studies faculty will assist students to develop a local multi-cultural experience related to the student’s academic track or regional specialization.

 

M.S. Program in International Studies, 30 or 33 credits

Program Requirements

 

Core Curriculum, 12 credits 

IS 570, IS 571, IS 572, Comm 543

 

Regional Specialization, 15 credits

Five courses in Latin American Studies at the 400 level or above, as approved by advisor, chosen from among the following:

·         ANTH 428

·         ECON 435

·         GEOG 434, 436, 459*

·         HIST 483, 484, 493*

·         IS 450, 490*, 497*, 590*, 596*, 597*

·         HUM 490*, 494*

 

*These topic and field courses may be chosen only when they focus on the area of specialization.

Additional Topic and/or IS course options focusing on the region of specialization may be available.

Note: No more than 9 credit hours at the 400 level, as approved by the graduate adviser, may be counted toward the graduate planned program of study.

 

Research and Capstone, 3 to 6 credits

Plan A: IS 598, Research in International Studies and IS 599, These in International Studies; or

Plan B: IS 598, Research in International Studies and Comprehensive Exam; or

Plan C: IS 598, Research in International Studies and IS 595, Special Project in International Studies

 

Modern Language Requirement

Demonstrated Spanish language competency equal to completion of the 226 level.

 

Study Abroad Opportunities

Through the University’s partner institutions around the globe, CCSU students are presented with exciting opportunities to discover the world through overseas study.  Living and learning in a new culture prepares students for the increasingly integrated and interdependent world around them.  Students in the Latin American Studies program may apply to study abroad at any of the following institutions: 

 Bahamas:

College of the Bahamas

Brazil:

Federal University of Paraiba

Chile:

Universidad de Concepción

Costa Rica:

National University of Costa Rica

Dominican Republic:

Pontifical Catholic University, Madre y Maestra

Puerto Rico:

University of Puerto Rico

InterAmerican University

Pontifical Catholic University

West Indies:

University of the West Indies at Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados or St. Lucia

 

Affiliations

The Latin American Studies program works closely with the CCSU Center for Caribbean & Latin American Studies.  It also participates in the Connecticut Latin Americanists Program (CONLAP), based at the Yale University Council on Iberian and Latin American Studies.

 

Latin American Studies committee  

Coordinator:

Mary Ann Mahony, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of History

Central Connecticut State University

1615 Stanley Street

New Britain, CT 06050-4010

Telephone: (860) 832-0119

E-mail: mahonym@ccsu.edu

 

Committee Members:

Abigail Adams, Ph.D. Anthropology

José Carlos del Ama, Ph.D., Communication

Walton Brown, Ph.D., Political Science

Gloria Marie Caliendo-Reed, Ph.D., Modern Languages

Frank Donis, Ph.D., Psychology

Ronald Fernández, Ph.D., Criminal Justice

Antonio García-Lozada, Ph.D., Modern Languages

Carlos Liard-Muriente, Ph.D., Economics

Mary Ann, Mahony, Ph.D., History

Gustavo Mejía, Ph.D., Modern Languages

Cynthia Pope, Ph.D., Geography    

Serafín Méndez Méndez, Ph.D., Communication

Timothy Rickard, Ph.D., Geography

Moisés Salinas, Ph.D., Psychology

Lilián Uribe, Ph.D., Modern Languages  

 

Affiliated Faculty:

 

Dr. Nelson Castañeda, Mathematics

Dr. Gail Cueto, Teacher Education

Professor Vicente García, Art

Dr. Pablo Ianone, Philosophy

Dr. Luis Recoder, Mathematics

Home