Latin American & Caribbean Studies

College of Arts and Sciences

The Latin American and Caribbean Studies major combines language study in Spanish and Portuguese with work in history, the humanities, and the social sciences. It provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary understanding of this major world region, emphasizing themes such as economic development, popular movements, critical analysis, and hemispheric relations. At the same time, it gives students the option to develop their own particular disciplinary and thematic interests.

Major category: Open

Minor available

Topic: Social sciences

website   Degree requirements

Applicant type

Freshman

Freshmen can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)

Read more about applying to the UW as a freshman, including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).


Transfer

Quarters of general admission to UW: autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring

Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.

  • Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
  • Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
  • Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
  • UW college and school graduation requirements

Department admission information

  • Departmental application deadline:
  • Please contact the department for details about the application process.

Admission to this major is open. Students in good academic standing can declare this major at any time.

Although admission is open, students are strongly encouraged to prepare for the major before transfer. Visit the department website for more information.

Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.

Courses recommended for the major:

  • Two years Spanish1
  • 1st year proficiency, or one year of Portuguese or French1
  • JSIS 201 SSc – Making of the 21st Century (available at Bellevue, Edmonds and Shoreline)
  • Courses in any discipline that deal with Latin America and the Caribbean (e.g., history, literature, economics, geography, political science and sociology)

Notes:

1 Two years of either French or Portuguese and one year of Spanish is also acceptable. Language requirements may be satisfied by college-level first- and second-year proficiency tests.

Entering transfer information:

Total undergraduates: 11
Total from Washington community colleges: 2

Entering transfer GPA (from WA community colleges):

3.75 – 4.00: 0
3.50 – 3.74: 0
3.25 – 3.49: 1
3.00 – 3.24: 1
2.75 – 2.99: 0
2.50 – 2.74: 0
2.49 and below: 0


Career outcomes