The Latin American Area Studies major at UMM is an interdisciplinary major committed to the development of globally aware citizens. Our major is expanding rapidly and we now offer a greater diversity of faculty, ranging from Spanish to anthropology, economics, history, and political science. As an LAAS major, you will experience small classes allowing you to immerse yourself in meaningful discussions, and flexibility in programming that affords you space to explore the fascinating world of Latin America.
An important advantage of our LAAS major is that you will become an important part of a group of students who meet regularly to discuss contemporary issues in Latin America. Our major is unique in that students have the opportunity to work one-on-one with faculty as they broaden their knowledge and understanding of Latin America. We encourage students to take advantage of directed studies, internships, undergraduate research projects (UROPs), and Morris Academic Partners (MAPs) to investigate areas of special interest. We have a dedicated group of professors who care about teaching and fully commit themselves to students.
As a Latin American Area Studies major, you will develop Spanish skills that are essential for interaction in today's world. You may pursue your interests through an array of classes. We urge our students to study abroad in Latin America. LAAS graduates find work in teaching, government, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.
Our three key objectives are to provide a basic introduction to the cultures and societies of Latin America, to provide the means essential to gain an understanding of Latin America and its diverse peoples, and to place Latin America in a comparative perspective. Professors who teach Latin American courses at UMM believe that Latin American Area Studies prepares students with the knowledge and understanding to interact with our Latin American neighbors as culturally informed global citizens.
