Add a Certificate in Latin American Studies
The undergraduate Certificate in Latin American studies (LAS) requires a minimum of 18 semester hours, including at least 12 semester hours completed at the University of Iowa. Students must earn a GPA of at least 2.00 in all certificate coursework.
The certificate may be earned by any student admitted to the University of Iowa who is not concurrently enrolled in a UI graduate or professional degree program. However, a student earning the certificate in Latin American studies may not earn the minor in Latin American studies and may not earn an undergraduate major in international studies with the Latin American studies track.
All students develop an individual certificate plan of study in close cooperation with a LAS advisor. In some cases, students may be able to count certificate courses toward certain GE CLAS Core requirements.
To request approval of a course for the LAS certificate, which is not currently on the approved list, students can submit an online course petition.
Requirements
Coursework requirements
| Title | Hours |
|---|---|
| Required LAS courses (LAS:2700 and LAS:4700) | 6 |
| Spanish and Portuguese courses | 6 |
| Additional courses (excluding Spanish or Portuguese courses) | 6 |
| Total hours | 18 |
Create your academic path
You'll find degree overviews, requirements, course lists, academic plans, and more to help you plan your education and explore your possibilities.
Current course list
The MyUI Schedule displays registered courses for a particular session and is available to enrolled students. The list view includes course instructors, time and location, and features to drop courses or change sections.
Independent project in Latin American Studies
The Latin American Studies Program offers students the opportunity to earn credit for independent work with a University of Iowa faculty member. Independent projects must be approved by the Latin American Studies Program prior to student registration.
For a full list of CLAS policies on independent study, visit the college's Undergraduate Independent Study Policies page.
Enrollment criteria and instructions
- Students find a faculty mentor for their LAS:4990 Independent Project Latin American Studies. Contact the LAS Academic Advisor if you need help finding a faculty mentor.
- Students follow the instructions below to create a project proposal.
- Students complete an online Registration Preapproval form to request approval for LAS:4990 Independent Project Latin American Studies. They must upload their project proposal to the online form.
- Students will receive an email with permission to enroll in LAS:4990 Independent Project Latin American Studies within 5 days of the final approval of the online form. The deadline to add a course without a Dean's signature is day 10 of the fall and spring semesters. Contact the LAS Academic Advisor with questions.
- Students must be in academic good standing to register for LAS:4990 Independent Project Latin American Studies.
- If students want LAS:4990 Independent Project Latin American Studies to satisfy any part of their Latin American Studies certificate or minor requirements, prior approval must be granted by the LAS Academic Advisor.
- A maximum of 3 semester hours of LAS:4990 credit may be used in the LAS certificate or minor.
Instructions for the project proposal
Students must upload a project proposal to the online Registration Preapproval form. The proposal must be typed and must include:
- A one-page description of the project, including:
- The dates and location of your work
- A specific research question
- A brief narrative
- The final form of the project (research paper, poster presentation, multi-media project, etc)
- The grading criteria to be used by your faculty supervisor (i.e., 40% methodology, 20% style, etc.)
- A rationale for the number of semester hours requested for the project
- A timeline for the project, including (but not limited to):
- A plan for a preliminary literature review
- How often and by what method you will consult with your faculty mentor throughout the project
- Target completion dates for the first and second drafts of your project, if applicable
- A final completion date
- A reading list, in a recognized bibliography format, including at least ten works consulted in your preliminary planning and identification of a research question
- If you intend to complete your independent study while off campus, you must include:
- Information regarding your overseas contacts and resources
- Your plan for ongoing communication with your faculty mentor
- An explanation as to what preliminary work you intend to pursue before departure
- Proof that an application has been submitted to the Human Subjects Office, if necessary (see the Registration Preapproval form)
Note
Any research which involves "human subjects" must be reviewed by the University of Iowa Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to the initiation of the project. Proof of the determination/review process must also be submitted to the Latin American Studies Program before the project proposal can be approved. Read a summary of the IRB process on the International Programs website. For all questions contact the IRB at (319) 335-6465; or complete the IRB Determination Form to find out if your research meets the definition of human subjects research.
History of the program
The Latin American Studies Program (LASP) at the University of Iowa is a unique interdisciplinary program of study for undergraduate students. Established in 1978, the program fosters cross-disciplinary teaching and research on Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Latin American studies faculty and students use a variety of disciplinary perspectives, which include anthropology, art, history, political science, Spanish and Portuguese, and communication studies. The program also sponsors events such as lectures, film series, exhibitions, conferences, and round table discussions, works to expand research and teaching in Latin American studies, and brings Latin American studies scholars to campus to foster institutional linkages.