Latin American Studies


Faculty List

Professors 
Anne-Emanuelle Birn (International Development & Public Health)
Gustavo J. Bobonis (Economics)
Laura Colantoni (Spanish and Portuguese) 
Kevin L. O'Neill (Religion)
Ana Teresa Pérez-Leroux (Spanish and Portuguese)
Jeffrey M. Pilcher (History) 
Rosa Sarabia (Spanish and Portuguese)
Judith Teichman (Political Science)

Associate Professors 
Christian Abizaid (Geography & School for the Environment)
Susan Antebi (Spanish and Portuguese) 
Kevin P. Coleman (Historical Studies)
María Cristina Cuervo (Spanish and Portuguese)
Rubén Gaztambide-Fernández (OISE) 
Gustavo Indart (Economics) 
Eva-Lynn Jagoe (Spanish and Portuguese, Centre for Comparative Literature)
Teresa Kramarz (Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy)
Christopher Krupa (Anthropology)
Mariana Mota Prado (Law) 
Valentina Napolitano (Anthropology) 
Melanie J. Newton (History)
Alejandro Paz (Anthropology)
Néstor E. Rodríguez (Spanish and Portuguese)
Luisa Farah Schwartzman (Sociology)
Edward R. Swenson (Anthropology)
Sanda Munjic (Spanish and Portuguese)

Assistant Professors 
Martha Balaguera (Political Science)
Laura Doering (Rotman)
Jerry Flores (Sociology)
Ryan Isakson (Geography and Planning)
Suzi Lima (Linguistics)
Sharlene Mollet (Critical Development Studies & Human Geography) 
Lena Mortensen (Anthropology) 
Jeff Packman (Music History and Culture) 
Victor Rivas (Spanish and Portuguese)
Luis van Isschot (History) 

Associate Professor, Teaching Stream 
Manuel Ramírez (Spanish and Portuguese) 

Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
Juan Carlos Rocha Osornio (Spanish and Portuguese)

Sessional Lecturers
Bernardo García Domínguez (New College & Latin American Studies) 
Donald Kingsbury (Political Science & Latin American Studies)

Professors Emeriti 
Albert Berry (Economics)
Peter Blanchard (History) 
Ricardo Sternberg (Spanish and Portuguese) 

Introduction

The Latin American Studies program at the Department of Spanish & Portuguese is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that provides students with the opportunities to deepen their understanding of Latin America/ Abiayala. This vast, biodiverse region with massive natural resources is home to heterogenous populations with unique cultural expressions and histories and with complex economic, political and social issues.

Courses that lead towards a Latin American Studies program (a Major, a Minor or a Certificate) encourage students to pursue their special academic and professional interests while becoming proficient in the contemporary debates about Latin America within a broad and flexible interdisciplinary framework. Students engage with faculty of varied academic backgrounds and a broad disciplinary range of texts; this engagement trains them in critical readings of colonial histories, literary and anthropological genres, comparative politics, politics of indigeneity and human rights, geography and urban planning, and public health, as well as in environmental policies and the political economy of Latin America and the Americas as a transnational whole. Such knowledge is increasingly necessary for Canada, as the country enters new trade, political, environmental, and academic agreements with our hemispheric partners.

Curricular and co-curricular activities in some of the advanced level courses offer important career-development opportunities as well as personal and academic enrichment through experiential learning in Latin America. The program is ideal for students intending to pursue a variety of careers, be they in academic, public, cultural and intellectual work, diplomacy and policy making, journalism and reporting, or business and commerce, among many others.

For any questions regarding courses and programs, feel free to email the Program Director, at las.program@utoronto.ca.

 

Note About Program Completion

Students can complete only one program type – Specialist, Major, or Minor – in an individual area referenced with the same four-digit program code.

The Latin American Studies programs impacted by this policy: ASMAJ0552 and ASMIN0552

Latin American Studies Programs

Latin American Studies Major (Arts Program) - ASMAJ0552

The Latin American Studies program at the Department of Spanish & Portuguese provides students in the social sciences and humanities an opportunity to engage and deepen their understanding of Latin American regions, their histories, politics, cultures, economies and societies. Courses encourage students to situate both their special interests and the contemporary debates in fields such as anthropology, political science, geography, literature, or history within a broader interdisciplinary framework, while at the same time committing themselves to an understanding of the historical, cultural and political experiences of Spanish and Portuguese America. Through an engagement with different texts and faculty expertise, this program trains students in current themes such as postcolonial thinking, critical readings of colonial histories, literary and anthropological genres, comparative politics, politics of indigeneity and human rights, as well as in environmental policies and political economy of Latin America and the Americas as a transnational whole. With the possibility to carry out curricula experience in Latin America, this program also offers an important lead for career development experiences on Latin America. This knowledge is increasingly necessary for Canada, as the country enters into new trade, political, environmental, and academic agreements with our emerging hemispheric partners.

Enrolment Requirements:

This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program.

Completion Requirements:

(7.0 credits, including a minimum of 2.0 LAS credits at the 300+ level, of which a 0.5 credit must be at the 400-level)

  1. LAS200H1, LAS201H1.
  2. 1.5 LAS credits at the 300-level.
  3. 0.5 LAS credit at the 400-level, or an equivalent 0.5 credit at the 400-level, approved by the Associate Chair of Latin American Studies or the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
  4. 0.5 credit from: JQR360H1, POL222H1, GGR270H1, DTS300H1 or another 0.5 credit course on a combination of quantitative and qualitative reasoning / research design approved by the Associate Chair of Latin American Studies or the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
  5. 2.5 LAS credits or pre-approved courses from Lists A and B, of which a maximum of 0.5 credit may be from List B.
  • Students must successfully complete (with a minimum grade of 65%) at least the second level of language instruction in Spanish or Portuguese by the end of the third year of study. This requirement is normally met through 1.0 credit from either the list of Spanish courses in Group A or from the list of Portuguese courses in List A. Students can also demonstrate equivalent proficiency in the given language through completion of 1.0 credit from the list of Latin American Cultural Expressions courses in List A at a second-year level of instruction or higher.

List A (Thematic Group):
Latin American Societies: ANT320H1, ANT340H1, ANT407H1
Historical Understandings of Latin America: HIS291H1, HIS292H1, HIS390H1, HIS397H1, HIS431H1
Latin American Politics: POL305Y1/​ POL305H1, POL325H1, POL360H1, POL442H1
Latin American Cultural Expressions: SPA275H1, SPA375H1, SPA381H1, SPA382H1, SPA384H1, SPA385H1, SPA386H1, SPA387H1, SPA389H1, SPA467H1, SPA475H1, SPA480H1, SPA482H1, SPA486H1, SPA488H1, SPA489H1, PRT275H1, PRT375H1
Caribbean Studies: JLN327H1, JLN427H1
Forest Conservation and Forest Biomaterials Science: FOR201H1
Geography: GGR341H1
Music: MUS305H1
Portuguese: ( PRT101H1, PRT102H1)/ PRT100Y1, PRT120H1, ( PRT201H1, PRT202H1)/ PRT220Y1, PRT205H1, PRT301H1, PRT302H1, PRT305H1, PRT120Y1, PRT219Y1, PRT420H1
Spanish: ( SPA101H1, SPA102H1)/ SPA100Y1, SPA120Y1, SPA196H1, ( SPA201H1, SPA202H1)/ SPA220Y1, ( SPA205H1, SPA305H1)/ SPA219Y1, SPA258H1, SPA259H1, ( SPA301H1, SPA302H1)/ SPA320Y1, SPA323H1
Indigenous Languages in Latin America: LIN202H1, LIN302H1, LIN303H1

List B (Disciplinary Group):
Caribbean Studies: CAR120Y1, CAR220H1, CAR221H1, CAR324H1
Diaspora and Transnational Studies: DTS200Y1
Economics: ECO324H1, ECO403H1
Geography: JGE321H1
Indigenous Studies: INS200H1, INS205H1
New College Critical Studies in Equity and Solidarity: CSE240H1, CSE270H1, CSE346H1

Latin American Studies Minor (Arts Program) - ASMIN0552

Enrolment Requirements:

This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program.

Completion Requirements:

(4.0 credits, including at least 1.0 credit at the 300+ level.)

  1. LAS200H1 and LAS201H1
  2. 0.5 LAS credit at the 300-level.
  3. 2.5 LAS credits, or pre-approved courses from cognate units listed below (List A). Of the 2.5 credits, a minimum of 0.5 credit must be from the Social Sciences/BR=3; another 0.5 credit must be from the Humanities/BR=1 or 2. ( LAS300H1 or LAS370H1 can be used to cover the Social Science requirement and LAS301H1, LAS310H1, LAS320H1, LAS350H1 for the Humanities requirement).

Spanish or Portuguese language study is recommended, but not a requirement.

List A (Thematic Group):
Latin American Societies: ANT320H1, ANT340H1, ANT407H1
Historical Understandings of Latin America: HIS291H1, HIS292H1, HIS390H1, HIS397H1, HIS431H1
Latin American Politics: POL305Y1/​ POL305H1, POL325H1, POL360H1, POL442H1
Latin American Cultural Expressions: SPA275H1, SPA375H1, SPA381H1, SPA382H1, SPA384H1, SPA385H1, SPA386H1, SPA387H1, SPA389H1, SPA467H1, SPA475H1, SPA480H1, SPA482H1, SPA486H1, SPA488H1, SPA489H1, PRT275H1, PRT375H1
Caribbean Studies: JLN327H1, JLN427H1
Forest Conservation and Forest Biomaterials Science: FOR201H1
Geography: GGR341H1
Music: MUS305H1
Portuguese: ( PRT101H1, PRT102H1)/ PRT100Y1, PRT120H1, ( PRT201H1, PRT202H1)/ PRT220Y1, PRT205H1, PRT301H1, PRT302H1, PRT305H1, PRT120Y1, PRT219Y1, PRT420H1
Spanish: ( SPA101H1, SPA102H1)/ SPA100Y1, SPA120Y1, SPA196H1, ( SPA201H1, SPA202H1)/ SPA220Y1, ( SPA205H1, SPA305H1)/ SPA219Y1, SPA258H1, SPA259H1, ( SPA301H1, SPA302H1)/ SPA320Y1, SPA323H1
Indigenous Languages in Latin America: LIN202H1, LIN302H1, LIN303H1

Certificate in Global Latin America - ASCER0552

The certificate is unique for its combination of language study, Latin American cultural and political history, and an in-depth course focused on a topic relevant to Latin American perspectives on global debates. The growing demographic of Latin Americans in Canada and in Toronto and a University-wide emphasis on internationalization and on Latin America as a priority region suggests that interest in this area is likely to enjoy continued growth.

Enrolment Requirements:

This is an open enrolment Certificate. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the Certificate. This Certificate is not open to students enrolled in a Major or Minor in Latin American Studies.

Completion Requirements:

(2.5 credits)

  1. 1.0 credit of SPA and/or PRT language courses
  2. LAS200H1, LAS201H1
  3. 0.5 LAS credit at the 300+ level

Notes:

  • Students who begin the Certificate with an advanced level of language proficiency are encouraged to begin studies in the other language option if so desired.
  • Courses taken in our unit-run Summer Abroad programs will be considered; however, they are not guaranteed to be approved.
  • Courses that have been taken as Credit/No Credit cannot be used to fulfill Certificate requirements.
  • No more than 1.0 transfer credits will be eligible for consideration in the Certificate.

Latin American Studies Courses

LAS200H1 - Inventing Latin America: Foundational Themes

Hours: 36L

An introductory course studying the development of Latin American societies from their pre-Columbian past to the 19th century building of modern nations. Cultural, historical, political, and social topics are examined combining historical documents with art, music and other texts from popular culture.

Exclusion: IAS200Y1, LAS200Y1
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

LAS201H1 - Defining Latin America: Current Issues

Hours: 36L

An introductory course studying the development of Latin American societies from the 20th century to the present. Cultural, historical, political, and social topics are examined combining historical documents with art, music and other texts from popular culture.

Exclusion: IAS200Y1 and LAS200Y1
Recommended Preparation: LAS200H1
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

LAS300H1 - Topics in the Social Sciences

Hours: 24S

The goal of this course is to critically analyze the current economic, social, and political realities of Latin America, based on an insightful knowledge of its past and present. Topics of the course vary depending on the needs of the program and the interests of students.

Prerequisite: IAS200Y1/ LAS200Y1/( LAS200H1, LAS201H1)/ POL305Y1
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

LAS301H1 - Topics in the Humanities

Hours: 24S

The goal of this course is to critically analyze the Latin American social imaginaries as expressed in art, literature and/or film, based on close readings of texts. Topics of the course vary depending on the needs of the program and the interests of students.

Prerequisite: IAS200Y1/ LAS200Y1/ LAS201H1
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

LAS302H1 - Topics in Latin American Studies

Hours: 24S

The goal of this course is to critically explore debates and perspectives on development and on the politics of inequality in Latin American contexts. Topics of the course may vary, depending on the needs of the program and the interests of students and instructors.

Recommended Preparation: LAS200H1, LAS201H1, LAS300H1, POL305Y1

LAS310H1 - The Postcolonial Imaginary in Latin America

Hours: 24L

This seminar style course explores the postcolonial status of Latin America as a controversial issue, through critical analysis of the Latin American social imaginary. The course considers works by Simón Bolívar, José Martí, Ernesto Guevara, Pablo Neruda, Rigoberta Menchú, Subcomandante Marcos, Sergei Eisenstein, Walter Salles, Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, as well as films that illustrate the rich visual culture of the continent. Readings and seminar discussions are conducted in English.

Prerequisite: LAS200H1 + LAS201H1
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

LAS320H1 - Latin American Thought

Hours: 24L

This seminar-style course explores critical thinking about culture, history, politics, and society by some of the most influential Latin American intellectuals of the 20th and 21st centuries. Emphasis on theoretical contributions, in English translation, of Latin American thinkers such as Rodó, Vasconcelos, Mariategui, Zea, Dussel, García Canclini, Cornejo Polar, Quijano and Lugones. Topics covered include questing identities, cultural diversity, indigenism, liberation theology, colonialism, neocolonialism, postcolonialism, coloniality, and decoloniality. Readings and seminar discussions in English.

Prerequisite: LAS200H1 + LAS201H1
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

JLN327H1 - Culture and Modernity in the Hispanic Caribbean

Hours: 24L

Explores the Hispanic areas of the Caribbean including the Caribbean areas of continental Spanish-speaking America. Topics may include: regional politics, state and economy; revolutions and authoritarian regimes; popular culture, the arts and media; religion and society; gender and sexuality; state structures; diasporas and migration.

Prerequisite: HIS230H1/ HIS231H1/ CAR120Y1/ CAR220H1/ CAR221H1/ NEW224Y1/ CAR225H1/ CAR226H1/ LAS200H1/ LAS201H1
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

LAS348H1 - The Renaissance Mexico City

Hours: 24S

By exploring history, art, architecture, literature and music of sixteenth century Mexico City as a geographical and cultural point of reference, this course explores the historical event known as “the Renaissance” outside of its traditional localities. By the mid 16th century, colonial Mexico City became the contact zone and the hub for the exchange of peoples, goods and ideas that migrated across the Atlantic. Mexico City gives an alternative perspective to how local political and social-historical contexts shape ideas and cultural forms and illustrates the processes and effects of cultural cross-fertilization in the Renaissance. Taught in English.

Recommended Preparation: LAS200H1, a History course on Early Modern Hispanic world or a course in the Renaissance Studies Program ( VIC346H1, “The Idea of the Renaissance”), or permission of the instructor
Breadth Requirements: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

LAS350H1 - Indigenous Realities in Latin America

Hours: 24L

This course studies the past and present realities of the diverse indigenous societies of the regions we now call Latin America. Eurocentric texts such as the chronicles of the conquest of Mexico, are critically contrasted with diverse indigenous peoples’ self-representing narratives that respond to more than five hundred years of Spanish and Portuguese occupation of their lands. These texts include Nahuatl poetry and accounts of the conquest of Mexico, literary creations from multiple Maya linguistic groups, multi-lingual chronicles from the colonial Inca period, diverse indigenous political manifestos and movements, indigenous testimonios, and decolonizing indigenous literature and criticism. Taught in English.

Recommended Preparation: ( LAS200H1 + LAS201H1)/ INS201Y1/ POL305Y1
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

JQR360H1 - The Canadian Census: Populations, Migrations and Demographics

Hours: 24L/12T

Examines the Canadian population census through the experience of diasporic groups in Canada. Approaches the census as a statistical tool, an historical source and an ideological project of citizenship and nationalism. Uses census data to explore mathematical and statistical concepts and to integrate numerical ways of thinking with qualitative analysis. (Jointly sponsored by African Studies, Diaspora and Transnational Studies, Caribbean Studies, Critical Studies in Equity and Solidarity, and Latin American Studies).

Prerequisite: DTS200H1/ DTS200Y1/ HIS230H1/ HIS231H1/ LAS200H1/ LAS201H1/ CAR120Y1/ AFR150Y1/ CAR220H1/ CAR221H1/ NEW224Y1/ CAR225H1/ CAR226H1/ CSE240H1/ NEW240Y1
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

LAS370H1 - Critical Perspectives of Development in Latin American Contexts

Hours: 24L

A seminar-style course that engages in critical analysis of local and global development initiatives in a Latin American context. The seminar is organized around the interrelated themes of health, economics, education, globalization, and infrastructure. Topics of discussion may include: challenges and ethics of sustainable development initiatives in theory and practice, medical missions and global health, community-based transnational public health projects, developing localities and sustainable economics, local infrastructure development and environmental impacts, ethics and implications of volunteerism, local and global cultural perspectives, the colonial legacies of inequality, dependency and sustainability of development projects.

Readings and lectures in English.

Prerequisite: 4.0 credits
Recommended Preparation: ( LAS200H1 + LAS201H1)/ POL305Y1
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

LAS400H1 - Topics in Latin American Studies

Hours: 24S

An upper level seminar. Topics of the course vary from year to year, depending on the needs of the program and the interests of students. Offered in alternate years.

Prerequisite: LAS200Y1/( LAS200H1, LAS201H1) & LAS300H1/ LAS301H1

LAS401H1 - Latinos in Canada

Hours: 24S

A historical survey of migration from Latin American countries to Canada, this course examines mediation strategies of Latinos as they adjust to a new home: negotiation of national identities, political participation, entrepreneurship, cultural representations, and charitable work.

Prerequisite: LAS200H1, LAS201H1
Recommended Preparation: JQR360H1, 0.5 credit in LAS 300-level course
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

LAS410H1 - Independent Study

This course provides an opportunity for students to do academic research related to Latin American issues under the supervision of a faculty member. The intent is that the student, aided and advised by the supervisor, will read relevant literature, and plan, execute, analyze and report on an original and independent investigation of an appropriate topic. For application forms, please visit the "Resources" section of the program's website. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Prerequisite: LAS200Y1/( LAS200H1, LAS201H1), and LAS300H1/ LAS301H1

LAS411Y1 - Independent Study

This course provides an opportunity for students to do academic research related to Latin American issues under the supervision of a faculty member. The intent is that the student, aided and advised by the supervisor, will read relevant literature, and plan, execute, analyze and report on an original and independent investigation of an appropriate topic. For application forms, please visit the "Resources" section of the programme's website. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Prerequisite: LAS200Y/( LAS200H1, LAS201H1) and LAS300H1/ LAS301H1/ LAS302H1
Exclusion: LAS410H1

JLN427H1 - Advanced Topics: The Hispanic Caribbean

Hours: 24S

Explores, in depth, a country in the Hispanic Caribbean or a theme relating to the Hispanic Caribbean. Topics vary each year and may include: Cuban society; Hispanic Caribbean revolutions; Hispanic Caribbean music, art and popular cultures; Hispanic Caribbean diasporas.

Prerequisite: HIS230H1/ HIS231H1/ JLN327H1/ LAS200H1/ LAS201H1/ CAR120Y1/ CAR220H1/ CAR221H1/ NEW224Y1/ CAR225H1/ CAR226H1
Exclusion: NEW427H1
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

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