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The Five College Certificate in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latina/o Studies (LACLS) enhances any undergraduate major. Drawing on the expertise and courses offered by more than fifty faculty members across the consortium, as well as numerous community-based and international education opportunities, students pursuing the certificate work in consultation with a LACLS advisor to design an interdisciplinary course of study suitable to the student's interests.

Students successfully completing the requirements in consultation with a certificate advisor and to the satisfaction of the Five College Latin American, Caribbean and Latina/o Studies Steering Committee are awarded the certificate upon graduation. The LACLS Steering Committee is comprised of faculty representatives from each of the five campuses.

Learn more about finding an advisor, courses and more information about the certificate program at www.fivecolleges.edu/latinamericanstudies.

Certificate Requirements:

Students must successfully complete a minimum of eight one-semester courses selected from five different areas; fulfill a specified language requirement; and achieve at least a grade of “B” in the minimum number of courses taken towards the Certificate. Courses may be taken at any Five College institution through cross-registration.

Courses
Eight full courses or educational activities (each 3-4 credits or equivalent) must be completed within the following areas:

1. A broadly-based introductory course on the social and political history of Latin America or U.S. Latinos
2. One course in the social sciences that focuses substantially on Latin America or U.S. Latinos (including courses in anthropology, economics, geography, political science, etc.)
3. One course in the humanities that focuses substantially on Latin America or U.S. Latinos (including courses in art, art history, dance, folklore, literature, music, philosophy, religion, or theater, etc.)
4. Four other courses which should be more advanced and more specific in focus
5. One upper-level seminar in Latin America and/or U.S. Latinos.
6. Those students who begin their studies during or after fall 2013 will be required to have, within all of their courses, at least one course in Latino Studies and at least one course in Latin American or Caribbean Studies.
7. At least one course must be taken at one of the institutions in the Five College consortium other than the student's home campus.

Language Requirement
Proficiency through second-year college level in an official (other than English) or indigenous language of Latin America.

Minimum Standard
To receive the Certificate, the student must receive a grade of “B” or better in every course that qualifies for the minimum certificate requirement.

Study Abroad
The Council will accept relevant study abroad courses, as long as they are accepted for credit or equivalent by a student’s home institution.  If no grade is reported on the transcript, the Council will waive the “B” grade requirement for courses taken abroad.