Latin American Studies Certificate
Awareness of Latin American is a must for students interested in pursuing entry-level careers in the foreign service, international organizations, or multinational corporations. A Certificate in Latin American Studies allows them to enhance their skills and expertise with a broad knowledge of this primary geographical region. Completion of the requirements is certified by the Office of Global Initiatives/Binational Center (OGI/BINC) and the Office of the Registrar.
The rapid growth in relation between the United States and Latin American has created the need for professionals who are able to bridge both cultures. TAMIU's international faculty and the University's location on the US-Mexico border make the Certificate in Latin American Studies an especially attractive option for students.
This Certificate in Latin American Studies provides undergraduate students with specialized expertise for a variety of careers in business, government, and public service related to Latin America. It allows integration of an assortment of junior and senior level courses and encourages a multidisciplinary approach to meet the needs of the students. The broad offering of courses allows students to select those most appropriate to complement their major course of studies. This Certificate in Latin American Studies also proves useful both in terms of potential career opportunities and in contribution to the issues the region faces.
CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION AND QUALIFICATION
The student must:
· have a Junior or Senior standing
· be accepted in an established academic program at TAMIU
· Submit an Application for the Certificate in Latin American Studies program to the OGI/BINC located at LBV 301 or by email at binationalcenter@tamiu.edu
- Application can be found at https://www.tamiu.edu/binationalcenter/documents/application-las-effective-fall-2020.pdf
CRITERIA FOR RECEIVING THE CERTIFICATE IN LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
The student must:
· Successfully complete a minimum of four (4) courses herein listed as Approved Courses
· Attain at least a 2.75 GPA in the selected courses with no less than a C in any course
· Participate in at least one event scheduled by the OGI/BINC or one international speaker series event and write and submit a 500-word reflection paper about your learning experience as relates to Latin American studies, and complete and submit an Event Survey provided by OGI/BINC. For more information on event to be attended, please contact us by email at binationalcenter@tamiu.edu, by phone at 956-326-2834 or visit us at LBV 301.
·Complete and submit an Exit Latin American Studies Survey at the end of your coursework. Call us at 956-326-2834 or email us at binationalcenter@tamiu.edu to schedule an appointment for survey at least a month before graduation.
Each 3-credit course has been selected based on its context and relevancy for fostering understanding of the Latin American region. It is not an exclusive list. Courses that also offer a regional perspective or those taken under a study abroad experience may be accepted as alternatives to the ones listed below, subject to the approval of the OGI/BINC Advisor.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| College of Arts and Sciences | ||
| COMM 4320 | Trends in International Comm | 3 |
| COMM 4324 | Comparative Journalism | 3 |
| GEOG 3352 | Latin American Historical Geog | 3 |
| HIST 3330 | Colonial Latin America | 3 |
| HIST 3331 | Modern Latin America | 3 |
| HIST 3385 | Mexican American History | 3 |
| HIST 4393 | Sem. in Latin American History | 3 |
| PORT 3324 | Luso-Brazilian Lit&Culture | 3 |
| PSCI 3308 | Latin American Pol Systems | 3 |
| PSCI 4309 | Mexican Politics & Government | 3 |
| SOCI 3307 | U.S.-Mexico Border Subcultures | 3 |
| SOCI 3308 | Latin American Cultures | 3 |
| SOCI 4317 | Race&Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SOCI 4318 | Globalization | 3 |
| SPAN 3323 | Stud in Span Am Lit: Conq-Mod | 3 |
| SPAN 3326 | Stud Span Am Lit: 19th & 20th | 3 |
| SPAN 4317 | Hispanic Folklore | 3 |
| SPAN 4371 | Hispanic Culture | 3 |
| A. R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business | ||
| ECO 3325 | Latin American Economics Iss | 3 |
| Study abroad in a Latin American Country | ||
Students interested in pursuing the Certificate in Latin American Studies should register with the OGI/BINC and meet with its advisor if necessary. Students must complete and submit the appropriate form to the OGI/BINC at Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center 301 or binationalcenter@tamiu.edu as soon as possible, but no less than one month before completion of their degree. Certificates will be processed at the end of the students’ final semester of coursework and the OGI/BINC and the Office of the Registrar will provide the documentation certifying the completion of the certification after graduation.