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Latin American Studies Program



Templo de San Jose Church in
Campeche, Yucatan, Mexico
(The tower is an old lighthouse)
photo by Todd Pitman

About the Program

Deriving from Western and non-Western traditions, Latin America is defined by multiple historical and cultural processes, socio-economic paths, and political trajectories. The Latin American Studies Program at Macalester College acknowledges the complexity that comes from the Region's pre-Columbian past; centuries of colonial domination; and national identities constructed out of indigenous, African and European cultural elements. It also acknowledges the changing role of Latin America within the context of world order.

The interconnectedness of disciplines and the variety of approaches that define the Latin American Studies Program at Macalester are fundamental to the breadth and depth of comprehension that is important in an increasingly complex world. The Program provides excellent preparation for graduate studies, professional careers, and personal enrichment.

The thirteen-course major encompasses multiple dimensions and educational opportunities ranging from interdisciplinary as well as disciplinary formation to global, international and transnational perspectives; and providing breadth across both the social sciences and the humanities as well as language training, study abroad, and an integrative capstone experience.


Honored Guest Speaker:
Bolivian Water Activist
Oscar Olivera

Oscar Olivera helped lead the Water Wars in Cochabomba, Bolivia in 2000 against the IMF-mandated privatization of water by Bechtel Inc. Click to Learn More about
His Visit to Macalester

Current Faculty Research:


Click here to view
Paul Dosh & James Lerager's
new photo essay "Demanding the Land"

 


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