Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Latin American Studies Undergraduate Minor
LACS welcomes Cornell undergraduates in all fields of study who are interested in studying and conducting research in Latin America to apply for the Latin American studies minor.
Language Requirement
Proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese can be demonstrated in one of two ways:
- By passing a Romance Studies Department CASE language proficiency test at a Q++ level. Language proficiency tests are only available at the beginning of each semester, so please plan accordingly. Before taking the CASE exam, you need to take the COLLT (Cornell On-Line Language Test) for Spanish. Questions? Email Sam Lupowitz.
-OR- - Successfully completing SPAN 2095 (or one Spanish course at a higher level if you tested out of 2095) or PORT 2010 or 2020 language course. (FLAC courses count towards the 15 elective credits below but not the minor's language requirement.)
Elective Courses
In addition to the language requirement, minor candidates must complete a minimum of 15 credits in approved Latin American studies elective courses (listed as LATA in the Cornell course catalog). Students must earn a B or higher in these courses.
- Selected courses must represent at least two different departments. LATA 4000 does not count toward this requirement.
- Students must complete at least one advanced level course in Latin American studies (3000-4000 level). LATA 4000 does not count toward this requirement.
- We don't require, but highly recommend, at least one semester of participation in the LATA 4000 (LACS Seminar Series).
If you would like to petition for a course or a study abroad semester to count towards the minor, please contact LACS to share the course syllabus.
While students may earn both the Latin American studies minor and Caribbean studies minor, no more than two overlapping elective courses may count toward both. Learn more about our Caribbean studies undergraduate minor and Latin American studies graduate minor.
How to Apply
If you wish to start working towards your minor or have already completed the requirements, please click the “apply” button below. Fill out the online application form as fully as possible, even if you haven't completed all required coursework.
If you have questions, reach out to lacs@cornell.edu to set up an appointment.
Additional Information
Contemporary Issues in Latin-Latino America
LATA/LSP 4000/6000
Learn more about Latin America and the Caribbean in a course that will also help you work toward achieving the Latin American and Caribbean studies minor.
This course encourages students to attend lectures, LACS public issue forums, Latin American or Caribbean films, and other campus events. This course is available in both the fall and spring semesters (FA20/SP21). Featuring guest speakers, the class will explore topics in anthropology, art, economics, history, literature, government, and sociology of U.S., Latino, and Latin American contexts.
The class will meet once at the beginning of the semester before you attend a broad range of events that are directly related to Latin America and the Caribbean or Latino Studies. After each event, you will write a summary of what you have learned from the event.
Additional Information
Study Abroad Opportunities
As part of the Consortium for Advanced Studies Abroad (CASA), Cornell University offers study-abroad programs in Argentina, Chile, and Cuba. CASA member institutions are ten leading research universities, including Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Pennsylvania, and Vanderbilt University.
Global Cornell Opportunities for Education Abroad in Latin America and the Caribbean
Below are at-a-glance education abroad offerings and deadlines. Each program is hyperlinked to a website with more information. Faculty and students should also feel free to direct students to the Office of Global Learning's Education Abroad team with any questions.
| Programs | Country |
|---|---|
| Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM) | Mexico |
| Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) – GAIAS | Ecuador |
| Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) – Cumbaya | Ecuador |
| CASA: Buenos Aires | Argentina |
| CASA: Havana | Cuba |
| CASA: Brazil - Rio de Janeiro | Brazil |
| CASA: Santiago | Chile |
View more study abroad opportunities on the Education Abroad website.
Cornell Global Hubs
Cornell Global Hubs bring together faculty, students, alumni, and local communities—to collaborate, learn, and discover. Learn about Global Hubs in Ecuador and Mexico.
Additional Information
Contact
Campus Address
190 Uris Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-7601
Phone
Administrative Contact
Administrative Assistant: Lilian Griselda Pagoada Antunez
Fifth Annual Global Strategy and Emerging Markets Conference (GSEM) Theme: Competing in the Digital World
November 8, 2020
6:00 pm
Cornell Tech, Tata 123
Cornell University Emerging Markets Institute (EMI) and partners — Northeastern University Center for Emerging Markets (CEM), The Simon Fraser University Jack Austin Centre For Asia Pacific Business Studies, and The University of Texas at Dallas Center for Global Business (CGB) — are pleased to announce the fifth annual Global Strategy and Emerging Markets (GSEM) Conference.
The theme of GSEM 2020 is “Competing in the Digital World.” Digital technologies—including internet of things, 5G, cloud computing, AI, big data, and other new information technologies—are profoundly influencing the global economy by reshaping the rules of competition, generating new business models and enabling innovative ecosystems. Digital technologies are creating new business opportunities for emerging markets to improve their competitiveness and in some instances to leapfrog existing business practices and become world leaders.
The whole conference will be conducted online through Zoom. We will have a two-day conference from 3-8 pm PST / 6-11 pm EST /ADD CEST/ 8 am-1 pm AEST/ 7am-12 pm China Standard Time/4:30-9:30 am India Standard Time. All virtual sessions will be live. If necessary presenters may record their presentation for broadcast during their time slot, but we strongly encourage the presentations to be part of the live conference program.
Additional Information
Program
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Einaudi Center for International Studies
East Asia Program
Fourth EMI Case Competion
November 7, 2020
9:00 am
Cornell EMI Case Competition 2020
Along with the conference, the Fourth Cornell Emerging Markets Institute Annual Case Competition will be held on November 7th. The theme is ‘Ten years that changed Emerging Markets’. The competition will focus on identifying and answering questions that real businesses and management face in relation with Emerging Markets.
Goal: Identify and answer questions that real businesses and managements are posing today in relation with Emerging Markets. The growing role of Emerging Multinationals in the business world continues to evolve and this case competition seeks to challenge us to think about how navigating in a changing context.
The case competition is a key event in the conference (Online). It boosts collaboration among universities and strengthens Johnson’s ties with other academic institutions. Moreover, it speaks to EMI’s focus on international and inter-institutional collaboration.
Benefits to competing students:
➢ Meeting high-profile representatives from industry and academia (online)
➢ Networking with conference participants, business executives, and more (online)
➢ Exposure to conference and case competition sponsors (online)
➢ Free admission to the conference (for finalists)
➢ Prize (TBD)
Click here to register to the case competition.
Click here to learn more .
Additional Information
Program
Einaudi Center for International Studies
East Asia Program
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
The EMI Annual Conference and 10th Anniversary - The decade that has changed Emerging Markets
November 7, 2020
12:00 am
The Emerging Markets Institute (EMI) annual conference to be held on November 6-7.
The decade that has changed Emerging Markets
The last 10 years has been transformational for Emerging markets; their economies have grown, poverty levels have gone down and, in some cases, extreme poverty has been eradicated. On the business side, their companies, mainly from China and Korea but also from India, Mexico or Brazil, have made inroads globally and have made major acquisitions globally. On the innovation front, emerging markets have increased patent applications and investments in research anddevelopment. EMI’s annual conference in November 2020 will celebrate the institute 10thanniversary and focus on the achievements of emerging markets over the last ten years. EMI was born in 2010 in theaftermath of the Global Financial crisis. A decadelater in 2020, emerging markets are faced with yet another global crisis and this is an opportune moment for the EMI Annual Conference to explore how emerging markets will not just cope with the Covid-19 crisis but also emerge stronger to shape the globalfuture.
Please register: https://bit.ly/EMIConference2020
Additional Information
Program
Einaudi Center for International Studies
East Asia Program
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
EMI 10th anniversary celebration
November 6, 2020
12:00 am
Online
The EMI will celebrate the 10th anniversary at the EMI conference.
Please join us: https://bit.ly/EMIConference2020
Additional Information
Program
Einaudi Center for International Studies
East Asia Program
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Ambassadors Address Border Policy in Lund Debate
Lund Critical Debate explores the U.S.-Mexico border, a contact zone for migration and exchange.