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Undergraduate Minor in Andean and Amazonian Studies

Andean and Amazonian Studies Minor (15 credits)

The cultural, historical, economic, environmental, and geopolitical importance of this region of Latin America, which covers a vast expanse of South America, spreads through 9 different countries, has several climates, and encompasses a population of more than 70 million people, cannot be overstated. On the one hand, the Andes are the birthplace of some of the most advanced indigenous civilizations in the Americas, and the present location of vibrant indigenous societies and cultures. Quechua is spoken by approximately 10 million people, while Aymara is spoken by approximately 3 million. In addition, there are vibrant indigenous political movements seeking both revolutionary change and peaceful change within established democratic institutions.

On the other hand, the Amazon basin covers 3,179,000 square miles which include the largest rain forest in the world, vast natural resources, an incredible biodiversity, and a multiplicity of ethnic groups who speak hundreds of native languages mostly related to the Tupi family.

The interdisciplinary minor in Andean & Amazonian Studies requires a minimum of 15 credit hours and highlights the geographical region, its languages and peoples, its history and societies, as well as its cultures and environment.

The Andean & Amazonian Studies Minor is interdisciplinary and requires a minimum of 15 credit hours beyond Portuguese 1103 or 5502; or Quechua 5503; or Spanish 1103 / 1113.

  • A minimum grade of a C- in all courses counting toward the minor is required.
  • Students may fulfill the Minor requirements through 1 of 2 pathways: by completing the Pachaysana, Ecuador study abroad program or through completion of Main Campus-based coursework.
  • The minor must include at least 6 hours at the 3000-level and above. Courses included in this minor may have additional prerequisites assigned by the corresponding department.
  • ASC Honors students must fulfill the requirements of the Spanish Honors Minor. (H) and (E) denotes Honors and Embedded Honors versions available. 
    • Non-Honors students must meet minimum GPA and pre-requisite requirements to be considered for enrollment in Honors or Embedded Honors sections.
  • The Andean & Amazonian Minor may be used to satisfy the completion of a foreign language minor of International Studies majors when students complete at least 6 credits of Quechua courses beyond the language prerequisite (i.e., Quechua 5504 & 5505).

Language Prerequisite 

Intermediate proficiency in: Portuguese 1103 or 5502; or Quechua 5503; or Spanish 1103.01

Required Course (3 cr)

Spanish 2332: Introduction to Andean & Amazonian Cultures

Pachaysana, Rehearsing Change: Ecuador Study Abroad (12 credit hours)

Students may choose to satisfy the remaining required credit hours for the minor through completion of this pre-approved study abroad program.

Students will complete four of the following courses while in Ecuador:

English 4577.03: Storytelling: Language and Movement
Theater 5771.02: Theatre for Social Action and Innovation
Geography 2100: Identity and Place
Comp Studies 5797: Design and Evaluation of Sustainable Community Projects
Spanish 2193 / 4193: Independent Study (3cr)

Language Prerequisite 

Intermediate proficiency in: Portuguese 1103 or 5502; or Quechua 5503; or Spanish 1103.01

Required Course (3 cr)

Spanish 2332: Introduction to Andean & Amazonian Cultures

Main Campus-based courses (minimum 12 credit hours)

CORE COURSES (MINIMUM OF 9 CREDIT HOURS)

Students will complete 3 of the following courses:

History 2111: Native American Peoples of the Andes
Portuguese 2330: Intro to Brazilian Culture
Portuguese 2335: Cannibal Brazil: Cultural Encounters & Negotiations of Identity in Literature & Culture
Portuguese 2798.10: Global May Brazil
Portuguese 4561: Cultural Expressions of Brazil
Quechua 5504: Intermediate Quechua 2
Quechua 5505: Advanced Quechua 1
Quechua 5506: Advanced Quechua 2
Spanish 2208.22: Andean Music Ensemble (must complete 1cr course, repeatable to 3cr for AAS Minor)
Spanish 2330: Re-Inventing America: Visual and Narrative Visions of Latin America
Spanish 2798.11: Global May Bolivia
Spanish 4515: Andean Art, Culture and Society
Spanish 4516: The Formation of Bolivian National Cultures
Spanish 4555(E): Indigenous, Colonial and 19th-Century Latin American Literature
Spanish 4565H: Indigenous Literatures and Cultures of Latin America: Past and Present

ELECTIVE COURSES (MINIMUM OF 3 CREDIT HOURS)

Students choose one course from the Core courses list or one from the following options. 
NOTE: In the list below, courses marked with an asterisk are special topics and/or research courses and must be pre-approved for the Minor by the Department of Spanish & Portuguese.  Students may also petition the SPPO Undergraduate Studies Committee to have unlisted courses approved for this minor program:

*AEDE / Int'l Studies 2580: Feast or Famine: The Global Business of Food
*AEDE / Int'l Studies 4535: International Economic Development
AEDE / Int'l Studies 4538: Latin American Economic Development
AEDE / Int'l Studies 4597.01: Problems and Policies in World Population, Food & Development
*Anthro 3302: Introduction to Medical Anthropology
Anthro 3416: Latin American Peoples and Cultures
Anthro 3419: Regional Survey of LA Cultures and Migration in Global Perspectives
*Anthro 5600: Biosocial Aspects of Health
*Anthro 5602: Women’s Health in Global Perspective
Geography 3752: Geography in Latin America
Geography 5751: New Worlds of Latin America
History 2100: Intro to the Spanish Atlantic World
History 2105: Latin American and the World
History 3100: Colonial Latin American History
History 3101: South America since Independence
History 3105: History of Brazil
History 4100: Readings in Latin American History
Int’l Studies 2100: Intro to Latin America
Int’l Studies / Spanish 5640: Globalization & Latin America: Multi-Disciplinary Approaches
*Linguistics 3501: Intro to American Indigenous Languages
*Poli Sci 3220: Politics in the Developing World
Poli Sci 4240: Latin American Politics
Poli Sci 4241: Special Topics in Latin America
*Poli Sci 4280: State and Economy
Portuguese 2330: Intro to Brazilian Culture
*Portuguese 4597.02: Representing Identity in the Cinema of the Portuguese-Speaking World
*Portuguese 5650: Studies in the Literatures and Cultures of the Portuguese-speaking World
Spanish 2151: Latin American Culture and Literature
Spanish 2380: Intro to Latin American Film
Spanish 2520: Latin American Literature (in Translation): Fictions & Realities
Spanish 4556: Modern Spanish American Literature
Spanish 4560(H): Intro to Spanish American Culture
Spanish 4570: Latin Soundscapes: Musical Cultures of Latin America
Spanish 4580: Latin American Film
Spanish 4590H: Interdisciplinary Protocols: Identity & National Formation in Latin American
Spanish 5620: Gender and Power in the Americas
*Spanish 5660: Seminar in Hispanic Culture