1. Students will attain familiarity with Latin American and Latino cultures and experiences that lead them to act as informed and engaged global citizen.
2. Students will be able to discern the validity of popular and scholarly sources and arguments addressing contentious Latin American and Latino issues.
3. Students will be able to select appropriate disciplinary and interdisciplinary methodologies, identify useful sources, and collect necessary data to complete a significant analytical research project.
4. Students will present persuasively and accurately the results of their research in written and oral formats aimed at various audiences.

2020 graduate Paul Rocha with faculty members Juan-Carlos Albarrán and Elena Albarrán

This resource provides a brief introduction to writing in the field of Latin American, Latino/a, and Caribbean Studies through the lens of threshold concepts. It includes:

1. an overview of what writing characteristics are valued in LAS
2. examples of the varied writing genres and practices common in LAS
3. a brief discussion of how writing in LAS develops critical consciousness

What Are Core Values in LAS?

The Latin American, Latino/a and Caribbean Studies Program at Miami University brings together faculty and research interests from across academic disciplines to study the histories, politics, cultures, and societies of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Latinx communities in the United States. Our program embraces research, linguistic knowledge, fieldwork, and direct engagement as essential to critical consciousness and empowerment. By engaging with diverse writing genres and practices, our students learn about the changing political, social, economic and cultural realities of the hemisphere, including:

• imperialism, nationalism, and regionalism
• transnationalisms, migrations, and displacements
• collective action, social movement, and social change
• intersectionality, identities, and inequalities
• culture-, power-, knowledge-production
• engaged citizenship and community empowerment

Through a scaffolded, problem-solving approach to writing, students acquire and strengthen skills in any of the following areas: business, commerce, community advocacy, public policy, health care, education, journalism, media, and higher education.

How Do the Variety of Genres Offered throughout the Curriculum Develop These Values?

LAS students are introduced to a variety of writing genders at different levels across courses. The writing genres of our gateway courses, LAS 208, LAS 254, and LAS 260, introduce historical perspective, contemporary awareness, and an array of core concepts necessary to study the region and its diaspora. Depending on the course, students get familiarized with writing interviews, cultural reviews, personal reflections, audiovisual presentations, and website content to gain a critical perspective of the region and its diaspora.

Students continue to build on the core concepts on LAS 217 and 243, courses developed around broad themes, such as nationalism, imperialism, and slavery. In general, the writing assignments for these courses take the form of primary source analysis, response papers, and brief essays that do not involve independent research. Through them students gain the ability to offer an informed interpretation of primary evidence, identify different methodological perspectives, and appreciate how knowledge is produced.

The specialized courses at the 300 level are country specific or organized around a narrow theme. Students of LAS 315, 319, 332, 360, 385, and 390 build a foundation and literacy in research methods. Writing assignments in these courses foster students' ability to identify a scholarly conversation, to formulate their own arguments, and to locate both arguments in the context of the field. In these courses, students may write an annotated bibliography to define the shape of scholarship on a subject and develop advanced library skills, a podcast script or debate presentation to translate a scholarly argument in an oral form to a non-academic audience, a community-based project to integrate academic goals and experiential learning, or an interpretive toolkit essay to examine the various methods and narratives scholars have used to approach the topic.

In the capstone course students design, implement, and write an original research project based on primary sources or fieldwork. Capstone students learn to become particularly attuned to the different writing genres—and audiences—that different disciplines and professions employ to address an issue or problem, and to begin to imagine alternative futures. Students demonstrate awareness of the ways that different genres reach different audiences and learn to master conveying an idea across a range of registers. Examples of genres include a policy recommendation, a community action project, public scholarship in the form of a blog post or pamphlet, visual scholarship in the form of film or a poster, or a research paper.

How Does Writing in LAS Develop Critical Consciousness and Engaged Citizenship?

Through writing in LAS, students critically engage various sources, including:

• scholarly texts
• art
• songs
• historical documents
• public presentations
• personal narratives
• material culture (objects)
• study abroad experiences

Engaging with these types of sources helps students to understand them within their respective historical, cultural, linguistic, and political contexts. In free writing exercises, formal academic expositions, policy briefs, and blog posts, students grasp the "big picture," positioning empires, hierarchies of power, and the politics of scale at the core of everyday life for Latin American and Caribbean peoples across the world.

This practice of writing not only allows students to understand the systemic injustices faced by Latin American and Caribbean people, but also fosters a critical consciousness of our own positionalities within these structures of power. We hope that by recognizing that their own narratives are emerging within the context of the United States, students are able to develop a sense of social responsibility and compassion for others, leading them to direct action and engagement with advocacy, policy, or activist efforts across a range of civil, human, and environmental rights issues.

This writing guide was developed by the LAS Junta Democrática with the generous support of the Howe Center for Writing Excellence.

Scholarships in memory of LAS student Alejandro Garrote are awarded annually, contingent on the availability of funds and on the student demonstrating financial need (a FAFSA for the current year must be on file), to LAS majors and minors desiring to study in abroad, mainly Latin America.

The Garrote Scholarship is open to outstanding undergraduates who seek an opportunity to advance scholarship in Latin American, Latino/a and Caribbean Studies. The goals of the scholarship are to:

• give undergraduates experience with active research
• promote collaboration with LAS faculty and affiliates
• facilitate attending LAS-related workshops

Amount of the fellowship varies, but in the past students have received between $250 and $1,500 to fund their projects.

An eligible student must:

• be a LAS major or minor
• have a FASFA on file (need-bases scholarship)
• participate in a for-credit program

Applying

Application materials are:

• description of your project or workshop
• explanation of your overall career goal
• name and email of a reference
• current resume

Submit your application materials by email to Juan Carlos L. Albarrán (albarrjl@MiamiOH.edu). Please use "GARROTE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION" in the subject line of your message.

Applications are accepted and awards are given on a rotating basis throughout the school year. Contact a LAS Advisor for more information:

• Juan Carlos L. Albarrán (albarrjl@MiamiOH.edu), or
• José Amador (amadorj@MiamiOH.edu)

Introduction to Latin America (LAS 208) students prepare for the Global Rhythms World Music program.

The Latin American, Latino/a and Caribbean Studies (LAS) program provides students with a broad range of highly sought after liberal arts competencies and tools to succeed across a spectrum of career choices.

Recent students have gone to work for:

• US government
• state and local governments
• nonprofit sector
• community organizations
• international organizations
• businesses working in both the US and internationally

See also:

• What Can I Do with a Major in Latin American, Latino/a, and Caribbean Studies? (Arts and Science Academic Advising)

Career Planning Steps

When students declare an LAS major, we encourage them to complete a series of experiences that we think will help students to both explore possible careers and increase their attractiveness as future job candidates. To that end, we hope that all LAS majors will be able to complete at least 4 of the 5 steps below between the time of declaring a major and graduating from Miami.

1. Visit the Center for Career Exploration and Success in Hoyt Hall. During that visit, students should sign up for a listserv of job and internship opportunities that is closest to their career interest, as well as explore the variety of resources available through the Career Services.
2. Students should attend at least one workshop/panel offered by LAS, another interdisciplinary program, or related department focused on career or graduate/professional school opportunities after Miami. You will receive notices of upcoming workshops through the LAS majors and minors listserv.
3. Students should have at least one LAS experience in an area of study abroad/study away, internship, or independent study that can be used as an example of workplace skills and competencies that would strengthen your application for future employment.
4. Students should attend at least one career event held on campus each year. Opportunities range from Career Fair (as a full participant or observer), informational meetings about things such as Peace Corps or Teach for America, and campus talks by people working in a field that might be of interest.
5. As part of students' culmination course (required for the LAS major), students will complete an assignment which links learning outcomes in the LAS major to the skills sought by employers in their field of interest.

Students are encouraged to meet with LAS faculty for more information about any of the above experiences or just to brainstorm about how their interest in Latin American and Latino studies might be related to future employment opportunities.

Core Faculty

Albarrán, Juan Carlos (Lead Deparmental Advisor)

Albarrán, Elena Jackson

Amador de Jesús, José

Vanderbush, Walt 

LAS Committee

UNIDOS members accept an award for advancing diversity and inclusion on Miami's campus.

UNIDOS

UNIDOS is an organization centered around education about and appreciation for Latinx and Hispanic culture on campus and beyond. The organization's members focus on activism, volunteering, and appreciating the diversity within the Latinx community. The organization is open to all and is committed to making Miami a better place for Latinx and Hispanic students.

The Latin American, Latino/a, and Caribbean Studies (LAS) Program at Miami University is committed to helping students gain a better understanding of the historical, cultural, economic, and political experiences, and environmental challenges, of Latin American and Caribbean people. The LAS Program provides educational enrichment to a wide range of students. Opportunities include the LAS Major, Minor, Study Abroad Workshops, Thematic Sequences, and Miami Plan Foundation courses. LAS is committed to providing our students with the necessary tools and experiences to be successful in their careers and as global citizens.

Through the generosity of donors to the LAS Program, we can continue to expand opportunities for Miami students to learn about and experience Latin America, the Caribbean, and Latino/a issues in the U.S. Please consider how valuable a resource the LAS Program is to Miami University students and help us continue these efforts with a gift.

There are several ways you can help us.

Unrestricted Gifts

These gifts allow us to apply your gift to the area of greatest need.

Designated Gifts

• Sponsor Symposia/Lecture Series on issues and scholarship in LAS
• Assistance to students who struggle to purchase textbooks for classes
• Scholarships to our very best students
• Grants to offset travel expenses for students to study in Latin America and the Caribbean
• A classroom enrichment fund to enhance the LAS resource library
• Travel grants for faculty for research activities

Make a Gift