Latin American and Latino Studies/Politics Combined B.A.

Information and Policies

Introduction

A combined degree in Latin American and Latino studies (LALS) and politics allows students to focus on the methods and theories of the discipline of political science within the broader interdisciplinary perspective of LALS.

Program Learning Outcomes

Latin American and Latino Studies Program Learning Outcomes:

We expect that all graduating LALS seniors will have gained proficiency or competency in the following four areas: critical thinking, research methods, communication, and lifelong learning skills.

1. Critical Thinking. Ability to analyze from a transnational/transborder/translocal perspective—to see the interconnections between Latin American and Latino issues, people, ideas, problems and solutions. This includes key skills, such as understanding sources, comparing arguments, analysis, and historical perspective.
2. Research Methods. Working knowledge of social scientific and/or humanistic approaches to LALS relevant topics. This includes acquiring qualitative and quantitative skills, gathering or obtaining research data, finding/using primary sources, and other research methods.
3. Communication. Key communication skills, including written, oral presentation, and digital, including an understanding of media sources and ability to apply media literacy to cross-cultural analysis.
4. Lifelong Learning Skills. Acquisition of practical hands-on skills in community engagement, cross-cultural fluency, familiarity with Latin America, and familiarity with Latino experience acquired through experiential learning, and working with community and civic organizations.

Politics Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the major, students will have met the following objectives:

1. Understand the origins, development, and nature of political institutions, practices, and ideas;
2. Place particular political phenomena in broader context (national, historical, cross-cultural, and theoretical, etc);
3. Demonstrate familiarity with various theoretical approaches to the study of politics, and their application in different geographic and substantive areas;
4. Critically evaluate arguments about political institutions, practices, and ideas based on logic and evidence;
5. Develop and sustain coherent written and oral arguments regarding political phenomena, theories, and values based on appropriate empirical and/or textual evidence and logic.

Academic Advising for the Program

LALS Undergraduate Advising
32 Merrill Academic Building
(831) 459-2119
lalsadvising@ucsc.edu

Politics Undergraduate Advising
25 Merrill Academic Building
(831) 459-2505
gdiaz5@ucsc.edu

Advising for the combined major in LALS and politics is available from both advising offices, though the major is housed in the LALS Department.

Getting Started in the Major: Frosh

Students interested in the combined major in LALS and politics are encouraged to enroll in LALS 1 and one lower-division politics course, chosen from POLI courses 1-79, at their earliest opportunity.

Transfer Information and Policy

Students planning to apply in this major are not required to complete specific major preparation courses for consideration of admission to the University of California, UC Santa Cruz. 

Transfer Admission Screening Policy

Students interested in transferring to UC Santa Cruz as an LALS and politics combined major are encouraged to enroll in courses related to both disciplines prior to transfer, and to check with the politics advisor to ask about using transfer credit to satisfy the lower-division politics requirement.

Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students

Transfer students must complete LALS 1 and one politics course, chosen from POLI 1-79 (or equivalent transfer credit), to declare the combined major in LALS and politics. LALS 1 is offered in fall and winter quarters and during summer session. To make timely progress in the major, transfer students entering in fall quarter should also enroll in LALS 100: Concepts and Theories in Latin American and Latino Studies.

Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process

Major Qualification

To declare the major, students must complete a lower-division politics course, chosen from POLI 1-79, with a grade of C or better, and LALS 1, completed with a grade of C or better or Pass.

Students should apply to declare the major as soon as they complete the required courses or reach their declaration deadline quarter, whichever comes first.

Students petitioning when the campus declaration deadline is imminent (i.e., in their sixth quarter, for students admitted as frosh), will either be approved, denied, or provided with conditions (e.g., completion of some courses with certain grades) that will be resolved within at most one more enrolled quarter, even if they have not completed major qualification courses.

Appeal Process

Students who do not satisfy the major declaration requirement but believe there are extenuating circumstances may file a written appeal. Appeals should be submitted to undergraduate advising by emailing: lalsadvising@ucsc.edu. Students must file the appeal within 15 days of denial of major declaration. The department will notify the student and college of the decision within 15 days of the receipt of the appeal.

How to Declare a Major

Students may declare their major using the MyUCSC portal, or start by making an appointment with the LALS advisor through Navigate Slug Success.

Letter Grade Policy

The program does not have a letter grade policy. Major and minor requirements will be met with grades of C or better or Pass, within the parameters of the UC Santa Cruz Pass/No Pass grading policy.

Honors

For combined majors, academic performance must meet the criteria in both departments to be awarded honors. Honors can only be conferred if both departments agree.

For LALS, honors are awarded based on performance in courses taken for the major. To receive the strongest consideration for honors in LALS, the following grade point average (GPA) criteria must be met: highest honors, 4.0; honors, 3.7. 

For politics, honors are awarded to graduating seniors whose academic performance is judged to be consistently excellent by a committee of politics faculty, based primarily on a review of grades. Highest honors in the major are reserved for students with consistently outstanding academic performance.

Requirements and Planners

Course Requirements

A minimum of 12 courses and one lab are required for the Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) and politics combined B.A. 

Lower-Division Requirements

For the combined major, students must complete two lower-division courses: LALS 1 (must be taken at UC Santa Cruz) and one course from politics, chosen from POLI 1-79 (may be satisfied with approved transfer course).

Upper-Division Requirements

Six Upper-Division Electives

Four from Politics

Three chosen from these options:

Two from LALS

LALS upper-division electives may be chosen from any course numbered 101-194.

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

Students of every major must satisfy a disciplinary communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement for the LALS and politics combined B.A. is met by completing:

Comprehensive Requirement

To complete the senior comprehensive requirement, students may take either a Politics (190 series) or LALS (194 series) senior seminar. Students who choose the LALS senior seminar option may use the course as one of their required upper-division electives.

Planners

The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.

Four-Year Sample Course Planner for Frosh Students

*Students have the option to take POLI 190 and another upper-division LALS elective; see advisors for more information.

** WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.

Two-Year Sample Course Planner for Transfer Students

*Students have the option to take POLI 190 and another upper-division LALS elective; see advisors for more information.