LMAS - Latino/Mex Amer Studies (LMAS)

LMAS 201 Introduction to Latino/Mexican American Studies

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Introductory survey of the historical presence of U.S. Latinos and Mexican Americans from an interdisciplinary perspective that incorporates the group’s global origins; application of critical thinking skills to the study of Latinos and Mexican Americans.

LMAS 285 Directed Studies

Credits 0 to 4. 0 to 4 Other Hours. Special problems and issues not covered by other courses; challenges and opportunities facing Latino populations that may include but are not limited to social, political, religious and economic issues; course depends upon needs and interest of the student, upon the number of credit hours, and faculty availability and expertise. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification; approval of instructor.

LMAS 289 Special Topics in...

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Other Hours. Selected topics in an identified area of Latino/a, Mexican-American studies. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

LMAS 291 Research

Credits 0 to 4. 0 to 4 Other Hours. Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in Interdisciplinary Critical Studies faculty or affiliated faculty. May be repeated for credit. Must be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Freshman or sophomore classification.

LMAS 422 Race, Ethnicity, Crime and Justice

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Racial/ethnic disparities in criminal offending and victimization, as well as different experiences with law enforcement, judicial, and correctional agencies. Prerequisites: SOCI 220 or equivalent. Cross Listing: AFST 422 and SOCI 422.

LMAS 423/COMM 423 Communicating Latinidad

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Examines how ideas about Latino identity and community, referred to collectively as Latinidad, are shaped through communication in public, institutional and/or interpersonal settings. Considers how people of Latin American heritage are represented in media, politics and everyday discourse, as well as how they speak, advocate and organize on their own terms. Addresses how language, history and cultural references are used to signal belonging, draw boundaries and/or negotiate differences. Course content and discussion may engage topics related to nationality, race, gender, migration and/or public controversy for purposes of analysis. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. Supports career pathways in media, public service, advocacy, education, law, nonprofit work and other community-facing professions by examining communication processes grounded in communities and lived experiences. Develops competencies for workplace effectiveness, civic participation and collaborative problem-solving by building recognition of how communication norms can vary across individuals, cultures and contexts. Supports academic preparation in rhetoric, media studies, U.S. Latino studies and social research. Strengthens cultural insight critical for leadership and collaboration in multilingual or multicultural environments. DEEPENING UNDERSTANDINGS. Expands recognition of Latinidad as varied rather than monolithic, shaped by history, region, generation, class, race and political context. Clarifies how categories such as “Hispanic,” “Latino/a” or “Latinx” emerge, shift and are debated over time. Highlights how communication both reflects and challenges social hierarchies, encouraging reflection on how voices are amplified, stereotyped or overlooked across public life. Frames identity as negotiated and relational, not assumed or imposed. TOPICS AND THEMES. May include study of Latino social movements and protest rhetoric; institutional and governmental discourse about immigration or citizenship; representations of Latinidad in news, entertainment or advertising; analysis of terminology and labeling practices; narratives of space, border, diaspora or belonging; exploration of gender, race, indigeneity, class, sexuality, religion and/or Afro-Latinx identity within Latina/o/x communication. Course material may reference politically or culturally sensitive topics when relevant to understanding communication processes, approached within an environment of scholarly inquiry and respectful dialogue. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: COMM 423/LMAS 423.

LMAS 484 Internship

Credits 0 to 4. 0 to 4 Other Hours. Directed internship in a non-profit, public or private organization to provide students with applied research and/or teaching experience; opportunity to observe first-hand issues and problems covered in Latina/o and Mexican-American Studies courses; designed to enhance and clarify the student's career objectives. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Approval of instructor.

LMAS 485 Directed Studies

Credits 0 to 4. 0 to 4 Other Hours. Special problems and issues not covered by other courses; challenges and opportunities facing Latino populations that may include but are not limited to social, political, religious and economic issues; the course depends upon needs and interest of the student, the number of credit hours, and faculty availability and expertise. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of Instructor.

LMAS 489 Special Topics in...

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Other Hours. Selected topics in an identified area of Latino/a, Mexican-American studies. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of Instructor.

LMAS 491 Research

Credits 0 to 4. 0 to 4 Other Hours. Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in interdisciplinary critical studies or affiliated faculty. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of Instructor.