Latina/o Studies Program

Undergraduate Minor:

One of the focal points of the Latina/o Studies Program is its undergraduate minor available to all students in any college at Cornell. With a Latina/o Studies minor, you’ll be able to explore the rich histories and contemporary life of Latino communities in the United States. You will learn about Latina/o political and labor participation, creative expression and literature, and issues of immigration, education, language and health. Faculty members from history, sociology, anthropology, literature, language, government, performance studies, music and more give you an opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary field of study of Latina/os in the U.S., with an emphasis on a transnational and comparative perspective.

The undergraduate minor is earned upon the completion of five courses (a minimum of 15 credits) in Latina/o Studies, including one of the required courses, LSP 2010 - Latinos in the United States , which is offered each spring semester; or when offered  LSP 2100 - [Introduction to Latina/o Studies] .

Students are required to include at least four additional Latina/o Studies Program courses in the Humanities and Social Science and must complete at least one course from each. Of the four courses, two must be at the 3000- or 4000-level. One course from the LSP elective can count towards the minor. For questions pertaining to which category a course falls in—i.e. Humanities, Social Science, elective—please stop by the LSP office, 434 Rockefeller Hall or e-mail latino_studies@cornell.edu.

Please note: You do not have to enroll under LSP in order for the courses to be counted towards the minor—you can register under the cross-listed department. Courses must be completed with a letter grade of C or above. Independent Studies and First-Year Writing Seminars DO NOT count towards fulfilling minor requirements. Please refer to the roster and listing in the LSP office or on our website.

Registration: It is suggested that students who are interested in the minor file an application with the Latina/o Studies Program office by the beginning of their junior year. Applications are available in the Latina/o Studies Program office, 434 Rockefeller Hall and on our website.

Graduate Minor:

The Latina/o Studies Program at Cornell offers Latina/o Studies as a minor field in graduate studies. The minor invites any Cornell graduate student interested in Latina/o Studies to craft a program of interdisciplinary study. Faculty expertise spans multiple fields, including anthropology, history, literature, law, sociology, government, education, planning, human development, language, and performing and media arts, enabling students to develop a graduate minor that meet their specific interests.

Requirements: Over the course of their study students will be expected to take two Latina/o Studies graduate or advanced undergraduate courses outside of their major field of study. In lieu of available courses, the student and his or her minor field advisor might design a project that culminates in a paper given at a conference or presented for publication. The requirements will vary according to the student’s need and desires in shaping his or her project. It is expected that the students thesis or dissertation pertain to a topic specific to Latinos in the United States. Upon completion of the minor and graduate degree requirements, the student will be awarded a LSP Graduate Minor Certificate.

Registration: Students interested in the Graduate Minor must meet with the Director of Latino Studies and formally register as an LSP graduate minor in the LSP office, 434 Rockefeller Hall.

Latina/o Student Success Office:

Website: http://latino.cornell.edu/student-life

Latina/o undergraduate or graduate students can rely on the Latina/o Student Success Office (LSSO), housed in the Latina/o Studies Program (LSP), for academic as well as personal assistance.  The LSSO Advisor helps students navigate and make connections throughout the university community, as well as develop realistic expectations and successful new habits. Connections facilitate students’ transition to the rigorous academic programs, and help them achieve that delicate balance between academic success and a full, healthy life outside the classroom.

Library & Study Lounge/Computer Lab/Conference Room:

Website: http://latino.cornell.edu/resource-center

The Latina/o Studies Program library and computer lab located on the 4th Floor of Rockefeller Hall serves Cornell students, faculty, staff, and the wider local community. The library maintains print and media material pertinent to U.S. Latino issues including a collection of books, periodicals and films available to sign out on a restricted basis. The computer lab houses 10 computers and two laser printers.

The spacious conference room is available for student organization meetings and events, group study, film screenings and presentations. The conference room is equipped with a built in projection system with smart board. Student organizations and groups are welcome to reserve and utilize the space for their activities.