Latin American Studies Minor
Add another dimension to your major by exploring the cultures, history, languages, politics, and artistic output of Latin America. Some courses fulfill AOI requirements.
College of Arts & Sciences | On-Campus
Program Options
In a global economy, most careers cross borders. These programs feature the kind of interdisciplinary study of language and culture that will make your résumé stand out.
Latin American Studies Minor
This multidisciplinary program is intended for undergraduate students with upper-level Spanish competence. Heritage speakers of Spanish looking to gain a greater understanding of their identity, as well as students who simply want to acquire more knowledge about Latin America, may also choose to enroll. Students may complete both the Minor in Latin American Studies and the Major in Spanish Language and Culture.
Major in Spanish Language and Culture
Prepare for a career in business, social work, medical institutions, or government that requires Spanish-language proficiency, or advanced language study in graduate school. Classes focus on the language, history, and culture of Spain and Latin America.
Meet the Faculty
In addition to World Languages and Cultures faculty, you’ll learn from instructors in other departments who bring global perspectives and expertise.
Dr. Eduardo García-Villada
Associate Professor, Second Language Acquisition; Department Co-Chair, World Languages and Cultures
Outside the Classroom
To understand culture, you need to live it. As a student in Drake’s Latin American Studies program, you’ll have opportunities to connect with meaningful academic, professional, and personal experiences.
Field-Specific Courses
Understand how to serve Spanish-speaking clients or work in a Spanish-language country by taking field-specific classes intended for business, medical, and healthcare professionals.
Service Learning and Project Design
Gain meaningful outside-the-classroom experiences through outreach and projects for national and international organizations.
Conversation Hours
Every week, the Department of World Languages and Cultures sponsors Conversation Hours, during which you can chat in Spanish with other students and faculty—building confidence and proficiency in your speaking abilities.
Study Abroad and Exchange Opportunities
Join Drake professors for a semester-long program in Seville, participate in summer or J-Term travel seminars, or spend a year studying at institutions in Mexico, Chile, or Spain, and other Spanish-speaking countries.
Research
Present your Spanish language and culture-related research at the Nelson Student Research Symposia, an annual event where undergraduates share their findings on international and global topics.
Cultural Events
Every month, Drake cultural clubs—there are more than a dozen—and community groups host campus events to commemorate holidays, share international foods, and simply hang out.
Careers & Skills
Graduates of our Spanish programs engage their linguistic and cultural skills in a wide range of fields, including healthcare, immigration law, politics, education, social services, environmental conservation, and communication. Many pursue careers as therapists, pharmacists, and medics serving Spanish-speaking patients, or become Spanish and bilingual educators in the U.S., Latin America, South America, or Spain.
Several students have taught in Spain following graduation, while other World Languages and Cultures students have earned Fulbright Scholarships or attended international graduate schools.
State.
Opportunities
- Peace Corps
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Des Moines Public Library
- Iowa Legal Aid
- Polk County Health Department
- Public and private schools
Skills
- Speaking skills, cultural understanding, and responsible global citizenship
- Intercultural effectiveness
- Understanding the relationship between language and culture
- Acquiring a less ethnocentric perspective to better understand identity
Salary & Growth Outlook
Median salary for high school teachers in 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Take the Next Step
Strengthen any major with the global perspective offered by the Minor in Latin American Studies.
