The Certificate

The undergraduate Certificate Program constitutes the heart of Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies offerings, enabling students, regardless of their major, to develop a concentration in Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies as a supplement to their regular disciplinary studies. Students entering the Certificate Program have an opportunity to study Latin America, the Caribbean and Latinas/os in the United States from the perspective of diverse disciplines and points of view. Those students who fulfill the requirements of the program are awarded a Certificate in Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies attesting to their achievements in language and area studies. In addition, for students whose primary major is a B.A. in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and who entered UMass Amherst before fall 2018, completion of the Certificate fulfills the Global Education requirement.

Requirements may be satisfied by both regular course offerings and special topics and seminars. A list of available courses that may be used to fulfill the requirements is compiled every semester, and may be obtained at the Program office. It typically includes offerings in Anthropology, Art History, Communication, Economics, Education, Geography, History, Political Science, Portuguese, Sociology, Spanish, Theater, and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies. Appropriate courses from the Five College offerings may also be used to fulfill requirements, as noted below.

The two tracks within the Certificate Program emphasize either language proficiency or area studies. Students desiring further information or intending to enroll in the program should contact Israel Rivera, Area Studies Program Manager for the Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies Program. Israel can be found in 310 Machmer, or reached via tel: 413-545-4868 email: irivera-clacls@umass.edu, to sign up and for advising.

Track A: Language Emphasis

1. Languages

  1. Students must demonstrate a practical working knowledge, defined as the ability to engage in ordinary conversations and to read mature but nontechnical material, of Spanish or Portuguese. This knowledge may be demonstrated by examination or by satisfactory performance in either SPANISH 311 or 312 or either PORTUG 311 or 312.
  2. Completion of the two beginning semesters of the other language (Spanish or Portuguese) or demonstration of equivalent competency by examination.

2. Area Studies

  1. Successful completion of at least one of the following four introductory courses: HISTORY 120, HISTORY 121, HISTORY 297M, or SOCIOL 291L.
  2. Successful completion of at least two of the following courses: ANTHRO 382, COMM 497F, ENGLISH 491A, GEO-SCI 320, HISTORY 354, HISTORY 355, HISTORY 356, HISTORY 359, POLISCI 245, POLISCI 340, POLISCI 345, SOCIOL 390XX, SPANISH 322, SPANISH 323, SPANISH 417, and SPANISH 497LL.
  3. Successful completion of two other courses with at least 25 percent Latin American, Caribbean and/or Latino studies content chosen from a variety of offerings across the curriculum. A list of available courses approved by the program to fulfill requirements is compiled every semester and may be obtained at the program office.
  4. At least one course must address the experiences of peoples of Latin American descent outside the Latin American region.

Track B: Area Studies Emphasis

1. Languages

Students must demonstrate a practical working knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese. For details see above under Track A (1) (a). In addition, at least one of the area studies courses chosen to fulfill the area studies requirements below must be taught entirely in Spanish or Portuguese.

2. Area Studies

  1. Successful completion of at least two of the following courses: HISTORY 120, HISTORY 121, HISTORY 297M, or SOCIOL 291L.
  2. Successful completion of at least two of the following courses: ANTHRO 382, COMM 497F, ENGLISH 491A, GEO-SCI 320, HISTORY 354, HISTORY 355, HISTORY 356, HISTORY 359, POLISCI 245, POLISCI 340, POLISCI 345, SOCIOL 390XX, SPANISH 322, SPANISH 323, SPANISH 417, and SPANISH 497LL.
  3. Successful completion of three other courses with at least 25 percent Latin American, Caribbean and/or Latino studies content chosen from a variety of offerings across the curriculum. A list of available courses approved by the program to fulfill requirements is compiled every semester and may be obtained at the program office.
  4. At least one course must address the experiences of peoples of Latin American descent outside the Latin American region.