Latin American Studies

Latin American Studies is part of the International & Area Studies program and is designed for students who want to focus their studies on the culture and society of the following subregions: South America, Central America, Southern Cone, Amazonia, or the Caribbean.

Programs Offered:

 

*Latin American Studies majors (not minors) are required to achieve intermediate level of any two modern foreign languages related to the area (e.g., Portuguese 3 or 11B; Spanish 5 or 7; an indigenous language of Latin America, e.g., Quechua, Nahuatl, Zapotec, through that level).

 

 Watch our Information Session recording to learn about Latin American Studies and our other International & Area Studies majors & minors.

 

Latin American Studies Major

The Latin American Studies Major consists of 6 preparation courses, the language requirement, and 12 Upper Division classes. Students in the major have options to study abroad, participate in research, and complete internships associated with their major. Some students choose to double-major with other programs on campus, and several choose to add a minor.

 

Latin American Studies Major Requirements Worksheet


Quick Facts:

  • Required to take International & Area Studies 1 (offered Fall Quarter or Summer), MUST receive a "C" or better
  • Language requirement (for details click here
  • Required to take International & Area Studies 191 (Senior Seminar)
  • Study Abroad courses may apply towards major credit, consult with one of our counselors
  • Departmental Honors program is open to eligible students during their last year


How to Declare the Major:

Students can declare the major after completing all of the preparation courses with a 2.0 GPA (including at least a grade of "C" or better in the International & Area Studies 1 course), and one year of language.* 

 

*When declaring the Latin American Studies major, completion of the elementary year of the foreign language is acceptable (i.e. Spanish 3).

 

Note: Completion of the intermediate year of the foreign language must be completed by graduation in order to fulfill all preparation requirements. Latin American Studies majors are required to achieve intermediate level of any two modern foreign languages related to the area (e.g., Portuguese 3 or 11B; Spanish 5 or 7; an indigenous language of Latin America, e.g., Quechua, Nahuatl, Zapotec, through that level).

 

Latin American Studies Minor

 

Left: Women in Peru, Right: Brazil

 

The Latin American Studies Minor, which is part of the International & Area Studies IDP, is designed for students who wish to augment their major with concerted study of the history, culture, and society of Latin America from an interdisciplinary and modern perspective. 

Latin American Studies Minor Requirements Worksheet


Quick Facts:

  • To enter the minor, students must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or better, completed prep coursework, and have achieved at least 45 units. 
  • No more than 10 units (2 courses, lower or upper division) may be applied towards both the student's major and this minor.
  • All minor courses must be taken for a letter grade (contact I A STD Counselor for exceptions due to COVID-19).

To Declare the Minor, please click here


INTERNATIONAL AND AREA STUDIES
FACULTY ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE 2024-25

Adam Moore, Chair, International & Area Studies 
Michael Thies, Interim Chair

Robin L. H. Derby, Ph.D., History
Patrick C. Heuveline, Ph.D., International Institute, Sociology
Jennifer Jung-Kim, Ph.D., Asian Languages & Cultures
Namhee Lee, Ph.D., Asian Languages and Cultures
Adam D. Moore, Ph.D., Geography, International Institute
Helen M. Rees, Ph.D., Ethnomusicology
Bonnie Taub, Ph.D., Community Health Sciences, Anthropology
Kevin B. Terraciano, Ph.D., History
Dov Waxman, Ph.D., International Institute, Political Science



Our Students


The Academic Programs offered through the UCLA International Institute allow students to focus on a particular area of study - either a specific geographic area, or a global comparative and issue-oriented approach - through a variety of disciplines across campus. The Institute also offers its own courses taught by core teaching faculty under the following subject areas: African Studies, Global Health, Global Studies, International & Area Studies, International Development Studies, International Migration Studies, and Latin American Studies.

 

B.A. just the starting point for these graduating seniors

Kyilah Terry (B.A., European Studies 2019) is headed to graduate school this fall, while Maria Amaya Morfin (B.A., International Development Studies 2019) is currently preparing for the GRE and grad school applications.
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Two projects win funding at Global Development Lab showcase

The winning projects will provide an Internet connection for Atutur Hospital in Kumi, Uganda, and deliver food and after-school tutoring to unsupervised children in Tijuana, Mexico, respectively.
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International internship: Enabled Children's Initiative

UCLA senior Kawsar Nasir Ahmad did a 10-month internship with the Afghanistan-based Enabled Children's Initiative, an experience that has only solidified her plans to work for Doctors without Borders after she becomes a doctor.
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More Student Stories>>

 

Our Alumni

Alumni of the UCLA International Institute Academic Programs live across the globe, and are involved in a multitude of fields, including the education, government, cultural, nonprofit, health, legal and business sectors and international affairs. Below are a few bios of our alumni.

  

Global Studies graduate wins UCLA Young Alumnus award

Katya Daniel (UCLA 2008) was named 2019 Young Alumnus of the Year at the annual UCLA Alumni Association awards ceremony held June 8, 2019, at the Luskin Conference Center.
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UCLA and an international career were not on his radar screen

The winning projects will provide an Internet connection for Atutur Hospital in Kumi, Uganda, and deliver food and after-school tutoring to unsupervised children in Tijuana, Mexico, respectively.
read more

   

Chasing race car dreams

UCLA senior Kawsar Nasir Ahmad did a 10-month internship with the Afghanistan-based Enabled Children's Initiative, an experience that has only solidified her plans to work for Doctors without Borders after she becomes a doctor.
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More Alumni Stories>>

 ACADEMIC COUNSELING

For 2024-2025 we will be offering virtual and in-person advising support.

Please Note: During Oct - Nov 24 we will be having limited appointments. We encourage you to read our FAQs and program websites. If you still have questions or concerns, you may contact us at undergrads@international.ucla.edu (please include your name & UID).

We strive to provide holistic and comprehensive support to our students through one-on-one advising, workshops, and events that focus on academic and professional planning, exploration of research, internship opportunities, and experiences abroad. 

 

Yumi Kinoshita

Academic Advisor

Undergraduate Counselor

     

  Karina Barrera

   Undergraduate Advisor

We can assist you with:

  • Major, pre-major, and minor questions and petitions to declare (I A STD & Global Health)
  • Educational planning and course sequencing
  • Course petitions and substitutions
  • DARS updates for major/minor
  • Enrollment questions for I A STD and Global Health courses
  • Contract courses (I A STD 195CE & 198A/B/C, GH 199)
  • Exploration of research, Departmental Honors, internship/career opportunities, and study abroad
  • Graduation checks

Contact Us

Please include your name and UID in all emails.

Email us if you need accommodations for same day or outside office hours appointments.

Undergraduate Advising: undergrads@international.ucla.edu

 Graduate Advising: idpgrads@international.ucla.edu 

Current UCLA undergraduate students can make an advising appointment with Karina at Academic Counseling - Barrera, Karina.

 If you're not a UCLA student, please e-mail us at the corresponding email as noted above.  

  Bunche Hall 10256 & 10254 (10th floor)

 Mailing Address:
Academic Advisor
UCLA International Institute Academic Programs
Office of Academic Advising
10256 Bunche Hall, Mail Code 148703
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1487

 

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For other questions or concerns, please review the following information:

Refer to your main Counseling Unit for questions about GE/IGETC Requirements, Course Add/Drop Petitions, Degree Plan Contracts, College-specific requirements, Holds, Grad Checks, Academic Probation status, Readmission, etc.

Questions about registration, fees, classes, etc.

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