Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

The Five College Certificate in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies enhances rather than replaces the more traditional major, minor or certificate available at the individual schools and can complement the student's major field of study.

Under the guidance of an appointed faculty adviser for the program at each campus, students design a sequential, coordinated and comprehensive course of study drawing on the faculty specialists and course offerings at the five campuses. The program is overseen by the Five College Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies Council, whose members include faculty representatives from each campus.

Any degree-seeking undergraduate student is eligible to earn the certificate. Interested students must consult initially with an advisor for the program at their own home campus, to confirm their eligibility and plan out an appropriate course of study. The home-campus advisor for the program also determines whether a student has met the requirements, and recommends the award of a formal certificate, which is recorded on the student's transcript. Completed applications for the certificate must be signed by the home campus adviser, who will bring the application to the FCLACLS Certificate Program committee.

On This Page

Faculty

Lloyd Barba- Latinx and Latin American Studies, Religion
Rhonda Cobham-Sander - Black Studies, English, Latinx and Latin American Studies
Sony Coráñez Bolton* - Latinx and Latin American Studies, Spanish
Javier Corrales - Political Science and Latinx and Latin American Studies
Solsiree del Moral - Black Studies, American Studies, Latinx and Latin American Studies
Rick A. Lopez - Latinx and Latin American Studies, History, Environmental Studies; Dean of New Students
Leah Schmalzbauer - American Studies, Anthropology and Sociology, Latinx and Latin American Studies
Paul Schroeder Rodríguez - Latinx and Latin American Studies, Spanish, Film and Media Studies

*Certificate Advisor & Steering Committee Member

Michele Hardesty* - U.S. Literatures and Cultural Studies

*Certificate Advisor & Steering Committee Member

Justin Crumbaugh - Spanish, Latino/a, Latin American Studies
Lowell Gudmundson - Latin American Studies and History (Emeritus)
Christian Gundermann - Gender Studies
David Hernández - Latino/a Studies
Lynn Morgan - Anthropology (Emerita)
Eva Paus - Economics (Emerita)
Adriana Pitetta* - Spanish

*Certificate Advisor & Steering Committee Member

Fernando Armstrong-Fumero - Anthropology
Ginetta E.B. Candelario - Sociology, Latin American and Latino/a Studies
Velma Garcia - Government (Emerita)
Maria Estela Harretche - Spanish (Emerita)
Marguerite Itamar Harrison - Spanish and Portuguese
Michelle Joffroy - Spanish
Elizabeth Klarich - Anthropology
Dana Leibsohn - Art, Latin American and Latino/a Studies
Malcolm McNee - Spanish and Portuguese
Javier Puente* - Latin American and Latino/a Studies
Maria Helena Rueda - Spanish
Lester Tomé - Dance

*Certificate Advisor & Steering Committee Member

Sonia Alvarez - Political Science
Luiz Amaral - Spanish and Portuguese Linguistics
Benjamin Bailey - Communication
Whitney Battle-Baptiste - Anthropology
Angelica Bernal - Political Science
James K. Boyce - Economics (Emeritus)
Laura Briggs - Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Mari Castaneda - Communication
Leda Cooks - Communication
N.C. Christopher Couch - Comparative Literature
Emiliana Cruz - Anthropology
Alexandrina Deschamps - Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Carlene Edie - Political Science
Gerald Epstein - Economics
Harley Erdman - Theater
Martin Espada - English
Stephanie Fetta* - Spanish and Portuguese Studies
Martha Fuentes-Bautista - Communication
Patricia Galvis Assmus - Art, Architecture, and Art History (Emerita)
Agustin Lao-Montes - Sociology & Afro-American Studies
Jennifer Lundquist - Sociology
Claudio Moreira - Communication
Michael J. Morgan - Communication (Emeritus)
Leonce Ndikumana - Economics
Daphne Patai - Spanish and Portuguese Literature (Emerita)
J. Mohan Rao - Economics (Emeritus)
Margara Russotto - Latin American Literature and Culture
Felipe Salles - Music and Dance
Heidi Scott - History
Millie Thayer - Sociology
Jacqueline Urla - Anthropology
Laura Valdiviezo - College of Education

*Certificate Advisor & Steering Committee Member

Certificate Requirements

To earn a FCLACLS Certificate, students must complete successfully a minimum of eight one-semester courses selected from five different areas; fulfill a specified language requirement; and achieve at least a grade of “B” in the minimum number of courses taken toward the certificate. Courses may be taken at any of the campuses but must be approved in advance by the student's home-campus advisor for the program. Completed applications for the certificate must be signed by the home campus advisor, who will bring the application to the Five College LACLS Council meeting in April.

Courses

Eight full courses or educational activities (each 3–4 credits or equivalent) must be completed within the following areas:

  1. A broadly based introductory course on the social and political history of Latin America or U.S. Latinos
  2. One course in the social sciences that focuses substantially on Latin America or U.S. Latinos (including courses in anthropology, economics, geography, political science, etc.)
  3. One course in the humanities that focuses substantially on Latin America or U.S. Latinos (including courses in art, art history, dance, folklore, literature, music, philosophy, religion or theater, etc. )
  4. Four other courses that should be more advanced and more specific in focus
  5. One upper-level seminar in Latin America and/or U.S. Latinos
  6. Those students who begin their studies during or after fall 2013 will be required to have, within all of their courses, at least one course in Latino Studies and at least one course in Latin American or Caribbean Studies
  7. At least one course must be taken at one of the institutions in the Five College consortium other than the student's home campus.

Language Requirement

Proficiency through second-year college level in an official (other than English) or indigenous language of Latin America.

Minimum Standard

To receive the certificate, the student must receive a grade of “B” or better in every course that qualifies for the minimum certificate requirement.

Study Abroad

The Council will accept relevant study abroad courses, as long as they are accepted for credit or equivalent by a student’s home institution. If no grade is reported on the transcript, the Council will waive the “B” grade requirement for courses taken abroad.

Courses

Note that if you don't see classes from all campuses currently listed, they will appear as the campuses release their course schedules for the semester. The five campuses release their schedules on different dates. Visit this page for specific dates.

Many courses in addition to those listed below may be eligible for fulfilling the requirements of the Five College Latin American, Caribbean & Latino Studies Certificate. Students are encouraged to consult an LACLS Program campus advisor to identify courses that are appropriate for their interests.

Fall 2025 Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies Courses

Subject Course # Sect # Course Title Instructor(s) Institution Meeting Times
BLST 300 01 Research Black Studies Elizabeth Herbin-Triant Amherst College TU | 2:35 PM - 5:25 PM
LLAS 205 01 Your Bilingual Voice Carmen Granda Amherst College M/W | 10:05 AM - 11:20 AM
LLAS 301 01 Literature and Culture Sara Brenneis Amherst College TU/TH | 8:35 AM - 9:50 AM
LLAS 301 02 Literature and Culture Ludmila Ferrari Amherst College TU/TH | 1:05 PM - 2:20 PM
SPAN 205 01 Your Bilingual Voice Carmen Granda Amherst College M/W | 10:05 AM - 11:20 AM
SPAN 301 01 Literature and Culture Sara Brenneis Amherst College TU/TH | 8:35 AM - 9:50 AM
SPAN 301 02 Literature and Culture Ludmila Ferrari Amherst College TU/TH | 1:05 PM - 2:20 PM
SPAN 460 01 Don Quixote Ilan Stavans Amherst College M/W | 11:35 AM - 12:50 PM
CSI 0274 1 Cuba: Nation, Race& Revolution Amy Jordan Hampshire College 10:30AM-11:50AM M;10:30AM-11:50AM W
HACU 0271 1 Animation Integration Sarah E Jenkins Hampshire College 01:00PM-05:00PM W;01:00PM-05:00PM W
HACU 0278 1 Div. II & III Music Seminar Junko Oba Hampshire College 01:00PM-02:20PM M;01:00PM-02:20PM W
CRPE 180 01 Intro to Latinx Studies Vanessa Rosa Mount Holyoke College TTH 11:30AM-12:45PM
CRPE 240FD 01 U.S. Latinx Foodways Pilar Eguez Guevara Mount Holyoke College TTH 03:15PM-04:30PM
CRPE 240LF 01 Latinas in Film Pilar Eguez Guevara Mount Holyoke College TTH 09:00AM-10:15AM
CRPE 244 01 Black Feminist Thought Maria Abello Hurtado Mount Holyoke College TTH 10:30AM-11:45AM
CRPE 323 01 Latina Feminism(s) Vanessa Rosa Mount Holyoke College T 01:30PM-04:20PM
ENGL 361LP 01 Latinx&Latin American Poetry Lucas de Lima Mount Holyoke College W 07:15PM-10:05PM
HIST 180 01 Intro to Latin American Cultrs Adriana Pitetta Mount Holyoke College TTH 03:15PM-04:30PM
LATAM 180 01 Intro to Latin American Cultrs Adriana Pitetta Mount Holyoke College TTH 03:15PM-04:30PM
POLIT 255PA 01 Politics of Abortion Cora Fernandez Anderson Mount Holyoke College MW 11:30AM-12:45PM
POLIT 267 01 The Politics of Finance Christopher Mitchell Mount Holyoke College TTH 10:30AM-11:45AM
POLIT 387FA 01 Feminisms in Latin America Cora Fernandez Anderson Mount Holyoke College T 01:30PM-04:20PM
RELIG 181 01 Intro African Diaspora Relig. Meredith Coleman-Tobias Mount Holyoke College MW 11:30AM-12:45PM
SPAN 240DQ 01 Drama Queens Justin Crumbaugh Mount Holyoke College TTH 03:15PM-04:30PM;F 01:30PM-04:20PM
SPAN 240RE 01 Labor in Latin Amer. Cinema Adriana Pitetta Mount Holyoke College TTH 10:30AM-11:45AM
SPAN 260CN 01 Spanish Across the Continents Esther Castro Mount Holyoke College MW 11:30AM-12:45PM
SPAN 340DG 01 Indigenous Futures Instructor To Be Announced,Justin Crumbaugh Mount Holyoke College TTH 10:30AM-11:45AM
ARH 201 201 Brazilian Art Inside and Out Marguerite I. Harrison Smith College M 1:40 PM - 2:55 PM; W 1:20 PM - 2:35 PM
ARH 204 01 Inkas, Aztecs& Their Ancestors Dana Leibsohn Smith College TU TH 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
LAS 150 01 Intro: Latin American Studies Javier Puente Smith College TU TH 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
LAS 201bh 01 Colq: T-Black Women's Hair Katie Milagros Duarte Smith College M W 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
LAS 301ir 01 Sem: T-Polit Ecol Industr Rev Javier Puente Smith College W 1:20 PM - 4:00 PM
POR 125 01 Element Portug Spanish Speaker Malcolm Kenneth McNee Smith College M W F 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
POR 200 01 Intermediate Portuguese Marguerite I. Harrison Smith College M W 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
POR 201 01 Brazilian Art Inside and Out Marguerite I. Harrison Smith College M 1:40 PM - 2:55 PM; W 1:20 PM - 2:35 PM
POR 232 01 Popular Music Malcolm Kenneth McNee Smith College M W 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
SPN 200 01 Intermediate Spanish I Molly Falsetti-Yu Smith College M W F 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
SPN 200 02 Intermediate Spanish I Molly Falsetti-Yu Smith College M W F 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
SPN 220 01 Intermediate Spanish II Adrian A. Gras-Velazquez Smith College M W 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
SPN 220 02 Intermediate Spanish II Adrian A. Gras-Velazquez Smith College M W 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
SPN 220 03 Intermediate Spanish II Ethel Barja Smith College TU TH 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
SPN 230dm 01 T-Domestica Michelle Joffroy Smith College TU TH 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
SPN 245wc 01 T-Women in Iberian Cinema Ibtissam Bouachrine Smith College TU TH 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
SPN 373ad 01 Sem:T-Afro-diaspora Voices Ethel Barja Smith College TU TH 1:20 PM - 2:35 PM
ANTHRO 150 01 Ancient Civilizations Johanna Pacyga UMass Amherst M W 11:15AM 12:05PM
ANTHRO 150 01AB Ancient Civilizations UMass Amherst TH 10:00AM 10:50AM
ANTHRO 150 01AC Ancient Civilizations UMass Amherst TH 11:30AM 12:20PM
ANTHRO 150 01AD Ancient Civilizations UMass Amherst TH 5:30PM 6:20PM
ANTHRO 150 01AK Ancient Civilizations UMass Amherst F 10:10AM 11:00AM
ANTHRO 150 01BB Ancient Civilizations UMass Amherst TH 4:00PM 4:50PM
ANTHRO 150 01BC Ancient Civilizations UMass Amherst F 11:15AM 12:05PM
ANTHRO 150 01BD Ancient Civilizations UMass Amherst F 2:30PM 3:20PM
ANTHRO 150 01BE Ancient Civilizations UMass Amherst F 12:20PM 1:10PM
ANTHRO 150 01BF Ancient Civilizations UMass Amherst F 1:25PM 2:15PM
ANTHRO 150 02 Ancient Civilizations Reid Ellefson-Frank UMass Amherst M W 4:00PM 5:15PM
ANTHRO 150H 01 Ancient Civilizations - Honors Johanna Pacyga UMass Amherst M W 2:30PM 3:45PM
ANTHRO 150H 02 Ancient Civilizations - Honors Johanna Pacyga UMass Amherst M W 4:00PM 5:15PM
COMM 125 01 Intro to Rhetorc&PerfmStudies Claudio Moreira UMass Amherst TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
COMP-LIT 231 01 Comedy Uladzislau Voinich UMass Amherst TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
EDUC 167 01 Education and Film Keisha Green UMass Amherst TH 3:45PM 5:00PM; TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
EDUC 167 02 Education and Film Shannon Laribo UMass Amherst M W 2:30PM 3:45PM
EDUC 377 01 Intro to Multicultural Educ Sharon Kearney UMass Amherst M W 10:10AM 11:25AM
EDUC 677 01 FoundtnsBiling,ESL,MulticultEd Laura Valdiviezo UMass Amherst TH 4:00PM 6:30PM
ENGLISH 205 01 Intro to Post-Colonial Studies Malcolm Sen UMass Amherst TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
ENGLISH 300 01 Junior-Yr Sem English Studies Ruth Jennison UMass Amherst TU TH 4:00PM 5:15PM
ENGLISH 300 02 Junior-Yr Sem English Studies Gretchen Gerzina UMass Amherst M W 2:30PM 3:45PM
ENGLISH 300 03 Junior-Yr Sem English Studies Joseph Black UMass Amherst TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
ENGLISH 300 04 Junior-Yr Sem English Studies Jordy Rosenberg UMass Amherst M W F 1:25PM 2:15PM
HISTORY 120 01 Latin America: Colonial Period Maria Belen Portilla Moya UMass Amherst TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
HISTORY 120 02 Latin America: Colonial Period Heidi Scott UMass Amherst M W 11:15AM 12:05PM
HISTORY 120 02AA Latin America: Colonial Period UMass Amherst F 10:10AM 11:00AM
HISTORY 120 02AB Latin America: Colonial Period UMass Amherst F 11:15AM 12:05PM
HISTORY 120 02AC Latin America: Colonial Period UMass Amherst F 12:20PM 1:10PM
HISTORY 220 01 Capitalism & Altern/Latin Amer Kevin Young UMass Amherst M W 10:10AM 11:00AM
HISTORY 220 01AA Capitalism & Altern/Latin Amer UMass Amherst F 9:05AM 9:55AM
HISTORY 220 01AB Capitalism & Altern/Latin Amer UMass Amherst F 10:10AM 11:00AM
HISTORY 220 01AC Capitalism & Altern/Latin Amer UMass Amherst F 12:20PM 1:10PM
HISTORY 354 01 Hist Of Mexico Kevin Young UMass Amherst M W 2:30PM 3:45PM
HISTORY 450 01 JYW Seminar in History Jennifer Fronc UMass Amherst TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
HISTORY 450 02 JYW Seminar in History Timothy Hart UMass Amherst TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
HISTORY 450 03 JYW Seminar in History Andrew Donson UMass Amherst M W 4:00PM 5:15PM
POLISCI 245 01 Gov&Pol Engl Spk Crb Carlene Edie UMass Amherst TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
PORTUG 316 01 Brazil Luiz Amaral UMass Amherst M W 2:30PM 3:45PM
SPANISH 301 02 Conversational Spanish I Carole Cloutier UMass Amherst M W F 11:15AM 12:05PM
SPANISH 301 03 Conversational Spanish I Giovanny Salas Torres UMass Amherst M W 2:30PM 3:45PM
SPANISH 314 01 Spanish for Heritage Speakers Stephanie Fetta,Maria Ceron Leon UMass Amherst TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
SPANISH 322 02 Construction/IdentityLatinAmer Jeffrey Peer UMass Amherst M W F 10:10AM 11:00AM
SPANISH 322 03 Construction/IdentityLatinAmer Jeffrey Peer UMass Amherst M W F 11:15AM 12:05PM
SPANISH 324 01 Introduction to Latino/a Lit Stephanie Fetta UMass Amherst TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
SPANISH 382 01 Spanish in the US Meghan Armstrong-Abrami UMass Amherst TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
SPANISH 417 01 Cultr&Civlzatn Sp Am Jeffrey Peer UMass Amherst M W F 12:20PM 1:10PM
SPANISH 470 01 General View/Hispanic Linguist Hee Joong Choi UMass Amherst TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM

Resources

Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies (LACLS) has a long and distinguished history in the Five Colleges (the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, and Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges). For over three decades, the main goal of FCLACLS has been to promote the multi- and inter-disciplinary study of Latin America.

With respect to the individual programs, the University of Massachusetts–Amherst Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies offers an undergraduate certificate, a graduate certificate and a minor. The Mount Holyoke College and Smith College Latin American Studies Programs offer a major and minor. At Hampshire College, students may develop an area of specialization in Latin American Studies in conjunction with or in addition to their area of concentration. At Amherst College, students may design a major in Latin American Studies.

FCLACLS Certificate

The FCLACLS Council administers the Five College Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies Certificate. The requirements include the successful (a grade of B or higher) completion of eight one-semester courses selected from five different areas. The five areas are a broadly based introductory course on the social and political history of Latin America, a social science course, a humanities course, four advanced elective courses and an interdisciplinary senior seminar. Language training is crucial. Certificates are awarded only after having demonstrated proficiency through at least the advanced intermediate level in Spanish, Portuguese or an indigenous language of the Americas. Students are encouraged to take advantage of cross-enrollment opportunities at the other colleges.

UMass Undergraduate Certificate

The undergraduate certificate and minor at UMass allow students to develop a concentration in LACLS as a complement to their disciplinary major. The certificate program offers two options, one emphasizing competence (at the advanced intermediate level) in both Spanish and Portuguese, the other, one language and a greater number (six rather than four) of area studies courses. The area studies courses must be from at least three different disciplines. Both tracks require an advanced interdisciplinary seminar. The minor requires six area studies courses. Students may major in LAS through the Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration program.

Latin American Studies Minor and Certificate at UMass

Mount Holyoke College Major and Minor Programs

The LAS major at MHC requires a minimum of 10 courses of which at least half must be at the advanced level; the minor requires a minimum of five. Among the required courses is an introductory course in either Latin American cultures or economies, one advanced literature course and a course focusing on less studied Latin American social groups. The program requires a command of Spanish or Portuguese at the advanced intermediate level and recommends at least an elementary knowledge of the other language. At Smith, the LAS major is anchored by a core set of four required courses in literature and history that provide the foundation for in-depth interdisciplinary study. Students must complete an additional six courses at the intermediate or advanced level, with two of these in the social sciences and at least one in the arts. A proficiency in Spanish at the advanced intermediate level is required and reading knowledge of Portuguese is recommended. The LAS Minor requires six courses. At Amherst College students develop their own major in LAS by writing a senior honor’s thesis in consultation with three advisors. At Hampshire, which does not have majors and minors, students develop a concentration in Latin America by writing their required senior honor’s thesis on a relevant topic and through an appropriate selection of inter-disciplinary courses.

Latin American Studies at Mount Holyoke

The Graduate Program at UMass

The graduate certificate at UMass is intended to structure graduate study with a LAS focus, foster interdisciplinary scholarship and promote foreign language competence. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in a regular disciplinary or professional master’s or Ph.D. program. Candidates must complete a minimum of four graduate area study courses in three disciplines, demonstrate language proficiency at the advanced intermediate level, complete a thesis or dissertation on a Latin American theme and present their research results in the CLACLS Research Workshop.

Graduate Certificate in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies at UMass

Five College Libraries

The total size of the Five College Latin American collection is in excess of 225,000 volumes, placing it among the 20 largest LAS collections nationwide, a true gem for undergraduates. The Pauline P. Collins Collection at UMass numbers 200,000+ volumes, over half of these in Spanish and Portuguese. The four colleges have not enumerated their Latin American acquisitions, but an analysis of their Latin American holdings (by LC call numbers) in Latin American history and literature yields a total of 25,812 volumes.

Lorna Peterson Prize

The Lorna M. Peterson Prize supports scholarly and creative work by undergraduate students taking part in Five College programs. The $500 prize is awarded annually based on nominations from Five College programs.

Contact Us

Faculty Committee:

Stephanie Fetta, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Five College LACLS Certificate Program Chair

Sony Coráñez Bolton, Amherst College

Michele Hardesty, Hampshire College

Adriana Pitetta, Mount Holyoke College

Javier Puente, Smith College

Five College Staff Liaison:

April Shandor, Academic Programs Coordinator

Connect:

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