Minor
About Latin American Studies (Minor Only) at CSUSB
The Latin American Studies minor at Cal State San Bernardino offers students an interdisciplinary opportunity to explore the histories, cultures, politics, languages, and social experiences of Latin America and Latino communities across the Western Hemisphere.
Drawing on courses from multiple departments—including arts and letters, social sciences, business, and natural sciences—this minor gives students a comprehensive and global perspective on the region’s diversity and complexity.
All majors are welcome, and students are encouraged to discuss the program with advisors early in their academic planning. The minor begins with an introductory course and then allows students to tailor their coursework through core and elective options drawn from a rich set of disciplines.
Careers in Latin American Studies (Minor Only)
A Latin American Studies minor enhances students’ ability to work across cultural and linguistic boundaries, making it valuable for careers in global and community-focused fields.
The critical thinking, cultural awareness, international insight, and communication skills developed in this program strengthen career readiness in many sectors.
Potential career pathways include:
- International relations and diplomacy support roles
- Nonprofit leadership and community outreach focused on Latinx and global communities
- Education, language instruction, and multicultural curriculum development
- Public policy and social services related to migration, equity, and global issues
- Business roles involving international markets, cross-cultural engagement, or border regions
- Media, communication, and storytelling that center multicultural perspectives
- Graduate study in anthropology, political science, global studies, history, or education
By integrating content from multiple disciplines, this minor prepares students to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage thoughtfully with diverse communities at home and abroad.
Sample Courses
The Latino Experience in the U.S.
The goal of this course is to give an overview of sociological, economic, and political and public policy, other issues about Chicano/Latino populations in the U.S., with particular attention to the experiences of persons of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Salvadoran origin populations.
History of Modern Mexico
Survey of Mexican history from the nineteenth century wars of independence to the present.
Latin American Politics
Comparative examination of domestic politics and foreign policies of Latin American governments.
Meet Professor Miriam Fernandez, Ph.D.
Opportunities for Students
Students in the Latin American Studies minor benefit from a dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum and meaningful learning experiences:
- Core coursework, including Introduction to Latin American Studies, that provides a foundation in regional knowledge.
- Core course options across languages, history, politics, culture, anthropology, philosophy, and border studies, allowing students to explore varied dimensions of Latin America.
- Electives that include intermediate language coursework (such as Spanish or Portuguese) and culturally relevant topics like food and health, Latino communities, indigenous peoples, and media.
- Interdisciplinary outreach and events, including cultural celebrations like Día de los Muertos, guest lectures, study abroad fairs, and Latin American music and arts programming that enrich classroom study.
- Faculty mentorship from instructors across departments who specialize in Latin American history, culture, language, and society.
- Collaborative learning experiences that connect students with peers studying border regions, global issues, and multicultural contexts.
These opportunities help students deepen their cultural competency, expand global perspectives, and prepare for careers where understanding Latin America and Latino communities is an asset.
Similar to Latin American Studies (Minor Only)
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