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Academic Program

The Latin American Studies Major

What are the major’s requirements?

See the Major in Latin American Studies page in the BYU Undergraduate Catalog.

How can I fulfill my internship/study abroad requirement?

There are many ways you can fulfill your internship/study abroad requirements.

Internships:  Many of our students have done domestic internships such as being a volunteer at organizations such as Centro Hispano or South Franklin Community Center, both of which serve the Hispanic community here in the valley. Other students have found internships at local schools. For example, the LAS major has an agreement with Timpview High School (about 1.5 miles north of Cougar Stadium) where our students have served as mentors for Hispanic students who don’t speak English. Others have pursued foreign internships with the US state department in places like Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Argentina, among other places (they applied through the State Department’s online system). One recent graduate worked for a business in Brazil for 6 months for his internship. Still other students have found internships in their areas of interest, such as at immigration law firms if they want to go in law. One student interested in business found an internship with the Real Salt Lake soccer team where he helped with their Hispanic marketing efforts. Latin American Studies internships should have a significant Latin American Studies element to them, such as using Spanish or Portuguese for a significant portion of the internship.

Study Abroads:  In addition to internships, this major requirement can also be fulfilled with approved study abroad opportunities, usually done through the Spanish and Portuguese department. If your internship or study abroad program requires you to travel, the Latin American Studies has experiential learning money that can help pay for your experience. Whether you do a domestic or foreign internship or a study abroad program, they must be approved before you start your internship for them to count toward this requirement.  You get them approved by speaking to the LAS coordinator, Dr. Jeffrey Shumway (jshumway@byu.edu).

Part of the approval process includes arranging the academic side of the Internship, which is handled by the Kennedy Center Advisement office. Please contact Dr. Shumway if you have further questions (see email address above). Have a great time building your resume and your character through internship and study abroad opportunities here at BYU. To see some examples of what internships and study abroad programs our majors have done in the past, click here.

What career opportunities are available to LAS graduates?

To see what jobs LAS graduates are getting, click here.

What knowledge and skills may I expect to gain as a Latin American Studies major?

For the expected Learning Outcomes for the Latin American Studies major, click here.

How do I declare a major in Latin American Studies?

To declare this major, follow these steps. For additional information, please visit Kennedy Center Advisement, visit us in 273 HRCB, call (801) 422-3548, or email kennedy_advisement@byu.edu.

Where can I learn more about majoring in Latin American Studies?

Interested students should meet with either the Latin American Studies faculty coordinator, Professor Jeffrey Shumway or one of the counselors at the Kennedy Center Advisement Center (273 HRCB).

The Latin American Studies Minor

The Latin American Studies minor allows students who have completed a mission, internship, or study abroad in Latin America—or simply have a love for Latin America’s people and cultures—to expand their knowledge of the area and receive a formal credential signaling their international expertise. Requiring 18–34 hours beyond the GE language requirement, a minor in Latin American Studies is a perfect way to complement a degree in just about any field.

For more information, see the Minor in Latin American Studies page in the BYU Undergraduate Catalog.

How do I declare a minor in Latin American Studies?

To declare this minor, follow these steps. For additional information, please visit Kennedy Center Advisement, visit us in 273 HRCB, call (801) 422-3548, or email kennedy_advisement@byu.edu.