The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean represent an intertwining of Indian, African, Asian, and European cultures with a variety of languages such as Spanish, French, Portuguese, English, Maya, Quechua, Aymara, and other indigenous tongues. This rich cultural heritage has contributed substantially to the complexity of the region.

Whether in the form of new models of economic development, varying forms of government, or innovative social ideas, certain common developmental patterns have come to represent the trademark of the region’s history, people, and institutions.

The Minor

The Latin American and Caribbean studies minor promotes course work in anthropology, biology, economics, political science, international relations, history, and Brazilian, French, and Spanish-American culture and civilization to provide students with a broad, liberal background with which to appreciate the intrinsic nature of Latin America and the Caribbean, and also to understand the role of the United States in the social, economic, and political development of our hemispheric neighbors.