Back to International Studies

Caribbean and Latin American Studies

Coordinator: Associate Professor Seth Markle (History and International Studies)

The Latin American and Caribbean region is home to close to 600 million people, a diverse population that comprises indigenous peoples and groups that trace their origin to Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. It includes six of the 30 largest metropolitan regions in the world (Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Lima, and Bogotá). The Caribbean and Latin American studies major allows students to explore this vast region from a variety of perspectives, including history, literature, music, religious studies, economics, and educational studies. Faculty expertise ranges across South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In addition, Hartford itself represents an excellent window into the Latin American and Caribbean world, thanks to its immigrant communities from the cultures of Puerto Rico, the West Indies (including Trinidad and Jamaica), Brazil, and Peru, among others. Caribbean and Latin American Studies majors engage deeply in the region by spending a semester or year in either a Trinity or non-Trinity program in the Caribbean and/or Latin America. Students should see the Office of Study Away and their adviser to determine the best option for their course of studies.

REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the language and study-away requirements for all majors (see above under the introduction to international studies), the Caribbean and Latin American studies major consists of 10 credits, distributed as follows:

Global core course (one credit): See the global studies concentration.

Area courses (five credits): These must be chosen according to the following guidelines and include at least one course at the 300 level and taken at Trinity:

  • Required common course: INTS 216. Understanding the History, Culture, and Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Four additional Caribbean and Latin American Studies area courses offered by or cross-listed in at least three different departments. Normally, eligible courses will mention the area or part of the area in their title.
  • Electives (three credits): Electives may consist of additional area courses from any of the area studies majors, additional global core courses, or language courses in excess of the four-semester requirement (see the introduction to international studies).
  • INTS 401. Senior Seminar in International Studies (one credit)