The Program:
Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies

The LACAS mission          Undergraduate program          LACAS major

Honors program          Cross-disciplinary LACAS certificate          Graduate program


The LACAS mission
The purpose of the Binghamton University Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies Program is to further scholarship and education on Latin America and the Caribbean. We define this region broadly to include the Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese speaking countries of the Americas and the experiences of peoples of Latin American and Caribbean descent in the United States and Canada. To realize this purpose the committee is dedicated to three goals: (1) to promote scholarship on, and scholarly exchange with, the region, (2) to educating students and the general public on the region through teaching and educational exchanges, and (3) to foster the heritage, achievements, and accomplishments of peoples of Latin American and Caribbean descent in the United States and Canada. (From “The Principles of Operation of the Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies Program,” revised on April 30, 1993).


Undergraduate program
The Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies (LACAS) program offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Latin America, the Caribbean and Latinos in the U.S. By combining interdisciplinary coursework with fieldwork in the U.S., the Caribbean or Latin America, the program offers a wide range of educational possibilities to students seeking careers in teaching and research in all these regions, or careers in international, social service, educational or political organizations engaged in promoting the economic, social and cultural life of the peoples of Latin America, the Caribbean and U.S. Latinos. Students may complete their degrees through coursework or seek honors with study-abroad and independent-study options. LACAS is unique in its emphasis on supervising independent and socially relevant student research.

Information on study-abroad opportunities may be obtained by contacting the International Programs Office. Students considering doing an international project for their LACAS honors are advised to discuss their plans for a research project early in their majors with the LACAS director or assistant director.


LACAS major
The undergraduate major in Latin American and the Caribbean Studies is a well-established program that began in 1973.

To qualify for the major, students must:
1. Complete a minimum of 10 courses from among those taught by or cross-listed with LACAS; courses with content on U.S. Latinos, the Caribbean and/or Latin America; or any other course approved by the LACAS Committee. The following requirements apply:

      - At least one course in each of three separate departments:
      - One course in library research (e.g., LA&C 271).
      - One literature course approved by the LACAS committee:
      - Five advanced courses (300 level or above), of which one must be 400 level.
      - No more than half of the courses may be taken outside Binghamton University.

2. Show a proficiency in a language relevant to the area of specialization. Proficiency includes written as well as oral proficiency, taking into account the differences in fluency between those formally and those informally educated in the languages. Those informally educated are expected to have an intermediate level of reading comprehension. Those formally educated are expected to have an intermediate level of verbal fluency. Students are formally evaluated by a member of the LACAS committee appointed for that purpose.


Honors program
To be eligible to earn honors in the Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies program, a student majoring in LACAS must have a grade-point average of 3.5 or above in LACAS courses, a 3.3 or above GPA overall, and must complete an honors independent study course that results in a research paper that is judged to be of honors quality (grade of A), or earn honors in the Senior Thesis. The work is evaluated by a committee designated by the LACAS committee. Contact the assistant director of LACAS for more information.

Students may complete the field study requirement in Latin America or the Caribbean, in Latino/Chicano/Caribbean communities in the U.S., or locally, in consultation with a LACAS faculty member, and according to a research proposal developed by the student during the semester prior to field study.

For students interested in study abroad, LACAS maintains a research program in Latin America and recognizes SUNY study-abroad programs in Latin America or the Caribbean.

Students must take a research methodology course (LA&C 497 or similar ) prior to travel, and, while abroad, they register through the Office of International Programs (LA&C 496 and 497). On their return from abroad, students register for LA&C 498, LACAS Senior Thesis. At the time, students write up the results of their fieldwork in a senior thesis.

Students who undertake a research project locally must register for a minimum of eight (up to 12) independent study/field research credits with LACAS during the semester of research. Students conducting fieldwork elsewhere in the U.S. sign up for LA&C 496 for variable credit and must be supervised by a LACAS affiliated faculty coordinator on-site.

It is highly recommended that anyone interested in declaring LACAS honor should do so by the end of sophomore year in order to allow for planning of the independent research project.


Cross-disciplinary LACAS certificate
The undergraduate cross-disciplinary certificate in LACAS is designed for undergraduates who wish to graduate with formal recognition for coursework in the field without undertaking all the requirements of a major. Students who complete the requirements for the cross-disciplinary certificate in LACAS receive recognition of completion upon graduation.

To qualify for this certificate, a student must complete a minimum of six courses selected from those approved by the LACAS committee. The following stipulations apply:

      - At least one course must be a 300 level course, and at least one other course must be a
        400 level;
      - No more than half the courses may be taken outside Binghamton.

Any student interested in pursuing a LACAS certificate should meet with a member of the LACAS committee or the director to discuss the requirements and their plan of study.


Graduate program
The certificate program in Latin American and Caribbean area studies offers an opportunity for graduate students to receive special recognition for work in Latin American and Caribbean area studies. The requirements of the program are above and beyond those of a specific department, although work in the program may usually be used to satisfy a number of departmental requirements. In general, it is expected that candidates for the certificate need not complete more than two or three courses beyond the number required by their department for the advanced degree.

Students who receive the certificate in effect have two credentials: the MA or PhD in an established discipline and a certificate in Latin American and Caribbean area studies. Admission to the program requires previous admission to a department of study and approval by the committee on Latin American and Caribbean area studies.

Certificate requirements
To qualify for a graduate certificate in Latin American and Caribbean area studies, students:

      - Must be admitted to an existing degree program;
      - Must take a minimum of four courses directly relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean
        area in at least two departments for a total of 16 credit hours;
      - Must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0;
      - Take all courses used to complete the certificate with a normal grading option;
      - Must show evidence of proficiency in a language relevant to the Latin America and
        Caribbean
        area other than English (Spanish, Portuguese, French or another language where primary
        interests indicate a need). In practice, this level of proficiency includes a basic competence
        in reading, speaking and understanding the spoken language;
      - Can transfer graduate-level work from an accredited institution toward the completion of
        the Certificate. Transfer courses must have been taken not more than two years prior to
        admission to the certificate program. Only courses for "normal grading" will be accepted.
        The grade of transfer work must be B or better. Course credit for Pass or Satisfactory
        cannot be transferred.
      - Students who wish to transfer courses taken toward a degree in a BU school must have
        the written approval of the department offering the Certificate and the Graduate School.

Students who wish to enter the program must complete the online registration form available on the website of the Graduate School.

Students who desire more information should contact the LACAS Program office.


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