(Offered as SPAN 427 and LLAS 427) The Colombian war is not only one of the most prolonged wars in Latin American history, but distinctively it has been “a war for peace.” Through a journey through the country’s modern history (1948-2020) the class will explore the paradoxical relationship between war and peace. Our archive will
be diverse, including literary, photographic, cinematographic, artistic, and forensic texts. The class will be

(Offered as SPAN 316 and LLAS 316) This course examines the dynamic interplay between language and power by focusing on racial and linguistic ideologies that impact minoritized communities in the Spanish-speaking world. An emphasis is placed on the emergent field of Raciolinguistics, which theorizes language through the lens of race and race through the lens of language. By doing so, we will consider the historical formations of power and the stigmatization of language varieties and their communities.

(Offered as POSC 201, SWAG 201, and LLAS 202) Drug trafficking is now a major aspect of international relations. This course approaches the international political economy of drug trafficking, from its trade routes on global markets to its influence in shaping nation-states. As governments declare “wars on drugs” from Colombia to the Philippines, narco-politics permeate local and national government, define international relations, and inspire pop culture.

(Offered as POSC 201, SWAG 201, and LLAS 202) Drug trafficking is now a major aspect of international relations. This course approaches the international political economy of drug trafficking, from its trade routes on global markets to its influence in shaping nation-states. As governments declare “wars on drugs” from Colombia to the Philippines, narco-politics permeate local and national government, define international relations, and inspire pop culture.

(Offered as LLAS 200 and AMST 206) In this course students will become familiar with the major critical dialogues that have animated Latinx and Latin American Studies, addressing a wide range of issues from pre-Conquest times to the present. Each week students will focus on specific questions such as: Does Latin America have a common culture? Is Latin America part of the Western world? Is Latinx a race or an ethnicity? Is U.S. Latinx identity rooted in Latin America or the United States? Are Latin American nations post-colonial?