Latino/Latin American Studies, Bachelor of Arts
In the major in Latino/Latin American Studies (LLS) students learn about critical issues such as: urban segregation; education; health and socioeconomic disparities; environmental justice; political mobilization; human rights; migration; language shifts; and cultural creations both in Latin America and how these affect the Latino community in the United States.
The requirements of the LLS major are flexible, incorporating courses from programs such as world languages (Spanish), Political Sciences, History, International Studies, and Sociology/Anthropology to facilitate obtaining double majors with these and/or other programs.
To obtain a B.A. with a major in LLS, a student must fulfill university, college, and departmental requirements. All coursework taken for the LLS major must be completed with a grade of "C-" or better
The major requires a total of 30 credit hours. Not included in the 30 credit hours: at least 16 credit hours of Spanish or Portuguese (also fulfill Arts & Sciences language requirement). Students whose primary major is in a college other than Arts & Sciences must complete at least two semesters in Spanish or Portuguese. **Native/heritage speakers of Spanish may be exempt from this requirement. Such students should contact the World Languages & Literature Department for correct placement to determine if additional coursework is necessary.
Residency requirement: No student may transfer into the major more than 9 credits. Students must complete at least 21 of the 30 credit hours at UNO.
Latino/Latin American Studies, Bachelor of Arts Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS - 34 Hours Required | ||
| Minimum of “C-“required | ||
| Fundamental Skills | 15 | |
Writing – 6 hrs. | ||
| ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | ||
| COLLEGE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY | ||
Oral Communication – 3 hrs. | ||
| PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS | ||
or CMST 2120 | ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE | |
Quantitative Literacy – 3 hrs. | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL THINKING | ||
or MATH 1130 | QUANTITATIVE LITERACY | |
or MATH 1140 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS | |
or MATH 1300 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT | |
Data Literacy – 3 hrs. | ||
Select one from the following: | ||
| DATA LITERACY AND VISUALIZATION | ||
| ELEMENTARY STATISTICS | ||
Until Fall 2028, students can satisfy this requirement with an approved data literacy course, or any approved natural or social science general education course. | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 13 | |
Social Science – 3 hrs. | ||
Humanities – 3 hrs. | ||
Natural & Physical Science (must complete a lab) – 4 hrs. | ||
Arts – 3 hrs. | ||
| Individual and Social Responsibility | 6 | |
Cultural Knowledge – 3 hrs. | ||
Civic Knowledge and Engagement – 3 hrs. | ||
| MAJOR REQUIREMENTS | ||
| **Course will satisfy UNO's General Education requirement | ||
| ^Course requires pre-requisite(s) | ||
| Latino/Latin American Studies Major - 30 Hours Required | ||
| Required Coursework | 9 | |
| LATIN AMERICA: AN INTRODUCTION (**) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO CHICANO/LATINO STUDIES (**) | ||
| INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES: CAPSTONE COURSE | ||
| Select one research methods or statistics course approved by the OLLAS director/academic advisor | 3 | |
| PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS STATISTICS (^) | ||
| RESEARCH METHODS (^) | ||
| APPLIED STATISTICS AND DATA PROCESSING IN PUBLIC SECTOR (^) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMETRICS (^) | ||
| CRITICAL APPROACHES TO LITERATURE (^) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH IN PUBLIC HEALTH | ||
| HISTORICAL METHODOLOGY (^) | ||
| SOCIAL STATISTICS (^) | ||
| RESEARCH METHODS (^) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL INQUIRY AND WRITING | ||
| QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (^) | ||
| RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE (^) | ||
| Select three 3-credit (LLS) Latino/Latin American Studies courses from List A Latina/o Studies and three 3-credit (LLS) Latino/Latin American Studies courses from List B Latin American Studies. No more than three courses can be from the same discipline | 18 | |
| At least 18 hours of the major’s 30 hours must be at the 3000-4000 level | ||
| List A: Latino Studies | ||
| LATINO/-A POLITICS (**) | ||
| SURVEY OF LATIN AMERICAN FILM | ||
| IMMIGRATION LAW AND LATINOS | ||
| English | ||
| LATINO/A LITERATURE (**) | ||
| LATINO LITERATURE | ||
| TEACHING LATINO LITERATURE (**) | ||
| History | ||
| AMERICAN IMMIGRATION HISTORY | ||
| Political Science | ||
| IMMIGRATION LAW AND LATINOS | ||
| LATINO/-A POLITICS (**) | ||
| Sociology | ||
| MAJOR SOCIAL ISSUES (Immigration, Gender and Employment) | ||
| RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS IN THE U.S. (** When taught by OLLAS approved faculty member) | ||
| Spanish | ||
| SPANISH FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS I | ||
or SPAN 3020 | SPANISH FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS II | |
| HISPANIC BILINGUALISM | ||
| SPANISH IN THE UNITED STATES | ||
| LINGUISTIC JUSTICE AND LATINO HEALTH | ||
| Social Work | ||
| SOCIAL WORK WITH LATINOS | ||
| Teacher Education | ||
| EQUITY, LANGUAGE, AND CULTURAL LITERACY (When taught by OLLAS approved faculty member) | ||
| List B: Latin American Studies | ||
| HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA: PRECONQUEST TO THE PRESENT (**) | ||
| MUSIC IN LATIN AMERICAN CULTURE (**) | ||
| LATIN AMERICA IN CONTEXT: HEALTH, BUSINESS, ENVIRONMENT, AND SOCIETY THROUGH ORAL PRACTICE | ||
| SURVEY OF LATIN AMERICAN FILM | ||
| LATIN AMERICAN CIVILIZATION | ||
| GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF LATIN AMERICA (**) | ||
| GEOGRAPHY OF LATIN AMERICA | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICAN FILM | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURES | ||
| SPECIAL EXPLORATIONS IN LATIN AMERICAN FILM | ||
| SPECIAL EXPLORATIONS IN LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE | ||
| SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA | ||
| RESEARCHING LATIN AMERICAN MIGRATIONS | ||
| INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF LATIN AMERICA | ||
| ILLNESS AND DISEASE IN SOUTHERN CONE LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURES AND CULTURES | ||
| SLAVERY AND RACE RELATIONS IN THE AMERICAS | ||
| URBAN LATIN AMERICA (**) | ||
| LATIN AMERICAN STUDY ABROAD | ||
| Anthropology | ||
| ETHNOMEDICINES OF THE AMERICAS | ||
| Black Studies | ||
| SLAVERY AND RACE RELATIONS IN THE AMERICAS (**) | ||
| Geography | ||
| GEOGRAPHY OF LATIN AMERICA | ||
| History | ||
| HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA: PRECONQUEST TO THE PRESENT | ||
| SLAVERY AND RACE RELATIONS IN THE AMERICAS (**) | ||
| Political Science | ||
| GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF LATIN AMERICA (**) | ||
| INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF LATIN AMERICA (**) | ||
| Sociology | ||
| SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA (**) | ||
| RESEARCHING LATIN AMERICAN MIGRATIONS (**) | ||
| URBAN LATIN AMERICA (**) | ||
| Spanish | ||
| SPANISH FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS I | ||
or SPAN 3020 | SPANISH FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS II | |
| SURVEY OF LATIN AMERICAN FILM | ||
| SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE SPANISH-SPEAKING WORLD | ||
| LATIN AMERICAN CIVILIZATION | ||
| ADVANCED COMPOSITION AND STYLISTICS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICAN FILM | ||
| LITERATURE/CULTURE: CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 1898-2000 | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURES | ||
| SPECIAL EXPLORATIONS IN LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE | ||
| ILLNESS AND DISEASE IN SOUTHERN CONE LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURES AND CULTURES | ||
| College Breadth (choose one option) | 15-30+ | |
| Option 1: Complete any UNO minor or undergraduate certificate - 15+ hours | ||
| Option 2: Additional General Education Requirements - 18+ hours | ||
Additional quantitative literacy - 3 hours | ||
Additional Social Science Gen. Ed. from another Discipline - 3 hours | ||
Additional Humanities Gen. Ed. from another Discipline - 3 hours | ||
Additional Nat. and Physical Science w/ or without Lab - 3-5 hours | ||
| Option 3: CAS comprehensive major (50+ hours) OR any second UNO major (30+ hours) | ||
| Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement | 16 | |
| SPAN, 1110, 1120, 2110, 2120. Note: 16 credit hours of Spanish or Portuguese (also fulfill Arts & Sciences language requirement). Students whose primary major is in a college other than Arts & Sciences must complete at least two semesters in Spanish or Portuguese. Native/heritage speakers of Spanish may be exempt from this requirement. | ||
| ELECTIVES | ||
| Elective hours as required to reach a total of 120 hours | ||
Latino/Latin American Studies, Bachelor of Arts Four Year Plan
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENGL 1150 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| MATH 1120 | INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL THINKING or QUANTITATIVE LITERACY or QUANTITATIVE REASONING FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS or COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT | 3-4 |
| LLS 1000 | LATIN AMERICA: AN INTRODUCTION | 3 |
| SPAN 1110 | ELEMENTARY SPANISH I | 5 |
Attend Durango Days; other campus events. Set up a Handshake account and take the Pathway U career assessment. Attend the Student Involvement & Volunteer Fair to explore student organizations. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept-Oct. Work with your advisor to develop your Pathway in Stellic. | ||
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1160 | COLLEGE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY | 3 |
| LLS 1020 | INTRODUCTION TO CHICANO/LATINO STUDIES | 3 |
| SPAN 1120 | ELEMENTARY SPANISH II | 5 |
| General Education Course or Elective | 4 | |
Attend campus events such as major exploration week to get an idea of interests and career paths. Schedule a resume review with UNO Career Services. Visit faculty office hours and ask about undergraduate research opportunities. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPAN 2110 | INTERMEDIATE SPANISH I | 3 |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
Attend the Career & Internship Fair to start networking with employers. Look for volunteer, research, or part-time work to gain experience. Join a student organization or club related to your field or interests. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 1110 or CMST 2120 | PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS or ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE | 3 |
| SPAN 2120 | INTERMEDIATE SPANISH II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
Attend a career fair for informational and networking purposes. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile with new experiences. Investigate and apply for summer internships, research, or study abroad programs. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| LLS Approved Major Course at 3000-4000 Level | 3 | |
| Approved Research Methods or Statistics Course | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
Apply for a paid internship or research assistantship. Attend a mock interview workshop or use online interview tools with Career Services. Start researching and visiting graduate programs or professional schools. Visit Career Center, continue updating resume. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept-Oct. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LLS Approved Major Course at 3000-4000 Level | 3 | |
| LLS Approved Major Course at 3000-4000 Level | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
Request letters of recommendation from faculty for jobs or grad school. Attend the All-Majors Career Fair with a plan to network. Meet with your advisor or submit for a graduation check-in to review remaining degree requirements. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| LLS Approved Major Course at 3000-4000 Level | 3 | |
| LLS Approved Major Course at 3000-4000 Level | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
Check in with Career Center for networking tips. Finalize graduate school applications or job search strategy. Attend a career fair and start applying for full-time jobs. Prepare for interviews and salary negotiations with Career Services. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| INDS 4950 | INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES: CAPSTONE COURSE | 3 |
| LLS Approved Major Course at 3000-4000 Level | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
Complete your final advising check before graduation. Polish your resume, cover letters, and LinkedIn profile. Stay connected by joining alumni networks and professional organizations. Apply for graduation via MavLink. | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 120-122 | |
Language Requirement:
The LLS major requires 16 credit hours of Spanish or Portuguese. Since Portuguese is not offered at UNO, most students fulfill this requirement with Spanish coursework.
-
Students starting from the beginning typically take SPAN 1110, 1120, 2110, and 2120.
-
Students who have completed four years (Level IV) of high school Spanish are exempt from taking Spanish at UNO but do not earn credit. They may take the Spanish Placement Exam to test into a higher level; if they complete the course they place into with a C- or better, they may be eligible for free retroactive credit.
Native Speakers:
Native speakers of Spanish or Portuguese are exempt from the requirement but do not earn credit. Native Spanish speakers may take SPAN 3010 – Spanish for Heritage Speakers, and upon passing, may request up to 16 hours of retroactive credit.
Note:
Students who meet the requirement through high school or native fluency but do not take any Spanish courses at UNO must make up the 16 credit hours with other approved coursework. Please consult your advisor for options.
College Breadth: Students should plan on using at least 15 hours of "Electives" to fulfill Option 1, 2, or 3, of the College of Arts and Sciences' breadth requirement.
Upper Level Credits: Students need 27 upper level credits throughout the degree with at least 18 upper level credits within the major. Electives may need to be selected at the 3000-4000 level to reach these minimums.
Additional Information About this Plan:
University Degree Requirements: The minimum number of hours for a UNO undergraduate degree is 120 credit hours. Please review the requirements for your specific program to determine all requirements for the program. In order to graduate on-time (four years for an undergraduate degree), you need to take 30 hours each year.
Placement Exams: For Math, English, World Language, a placement exam may be required. More information on these exams can be found at https://www.unomaha.edu/enrollment-management/testing-center/placement-exams/information.php
Transfer credit or placement exam scores may change suggested plan of study
GPA Requirements: 2.0
Note: This plan provides a general guide, but your specific courses, experiences, and career goals may differ. Work with your academic advisor to ensure you’re meeting degree requirements and consult with career advisors to explore internships, research opportunities, and post-graduation plans. Regular check-ins will help you stay on track and make the most of your time at UNO!