While many of the different Oberlin College majors and programs touch on the areas covered by "La Red," there are three majors that explicitly focus on things Latino, Latin American, Caribbean, and Spanish: Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Hispanic Studies, and Comparative American Studies. The chart below is meant to give students and faculty a quick overview of the overlaps and differences between these programs.
| Latin American and Caribbean Studies | Hispanic Studies | Comparative American Studies | |
| Core Mission | · Interdisciplinary program designed to encourage the examination
of Latin America and the Caribbean: their people, cultures, society, languages,
literature, traditions, history, economy, and relations with other areas. · Uses the perspectives provided by several disciplines to examine the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central and South America, as well as the areas of Spanish colonization in North America, and the peoples of Latin American ancestry currently resident in the United States. |
· Study of the literatures, films, and cultures of the Spanish-speaking
world, including the US, based on a solid and thorough knowledge of the
Spanish language. · Three levels of study: language courses (101 through 304); introductory literature, film, history, linguistics, and culture courses taught in English and Spanish (300 level); and in-depth seminars mostly taught in Spanish (400 level). · Complementary programs and activities offered through Oberlin's Casa Hispánica. |
· Interdisciplinary and comparative study of race, ethnicity, class,
gender and sexuality in American society and culture. · Organized to promote collaboration by faculty and students trained in a range of specialties. · We seek to share knowledge across disciplinary boundaries and to deploy new methodologies in pursuit of a greater understanding of the American experience as a multicultural, multivalent social formation. |
| Disciplinary Origins | Social Sciences and Area Studies | Spanish and Latin American Philology, Linguistics, and Literary Studies | American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Queer Studies |
| Current Disciplinary Orientation | Interdisciplinary, with an emphasis on the social sciences | Interdisciplinary, with an emphasis on literature, film, and culture | American Studies, African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Studies, Latina/o Studies, Native American Studies, and Gender and Women's Studies. |
| Principal Geographical Focus | Latin America (Mexico, Central America, and South America, including Brazil), the Caribbean (Spanish, French, and English speaking); Latino USA | Latin America (Mexico, Central America, and South America); Spain; Latino USA | USA in a transnational/global context |
| Language Requirement | Four semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent. | Five semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent; plus 21 credits taught in Spanish at 300 and 400 level (normally 7 courses) | none |
| · A minimum of 30 hours of course work, of which 15 must be from
the core courses (listed below). The remainder may be taken from a list
of related courses or courses taken at other institutions. · At least 15 hours of major credit must be earned at Oberlin. · No more than 20 hours from any one department can be counted toward the major. |
· A minimum of 30 hours of course work, of which 15 must be from
the core courses (listed below). The remainder may be taken from a list
of related courses or courses taken at other institutions. · At least 15 hours of major credit must be earned at Oberlin. · No more than 20 hours from any one department can be counted toward the major. |
· A minimum of 30 hours of course work, of which 15 must be from
the core courses (listed below). The remainder may be taken from a list
of related courses or courses taken at other institutions. · At least 15 hours of major credit must be earned at Oberlin. · No more than 20 hours from any one department can be counted toward the major. |
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| Study Away/Abroad | Border Studies Program Mexico Other |
Spain
(Preshco) Mexico Other |
Border Studies Program Other |
| Service Learning | Border Studies Program Mexico Other |
Spain
(Preshco) Mexico Other |
Border Studies Program Other |
| Web Page | LACS | HS | CAS |
| Contact | Prof. Steven Volk | Prof. Ana Cara | Prof. Gary Kornblith |
| Professional Profiles Alumni |