Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies

Take a dynamic, multilayered and flexible approach to learning about the cultures, economies, languages, politics and societies of Latin America with the Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies in Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts. This 123-credit undergraduate degree utilizes the region as a framework for exploring thematic issues in a number of disciplines.

Explore Latin America as a crucial global framework and as a strategic player, delving deep into pivotal issues such as U.S.-Latin America foreign relations, U.S. Latinx studies, immigrant experiences, race and ethnicity formation, social movements, and more.

Students who complete the Latin American Studies Major will

  • acquire up-to-date knowledge and skills directly related to Latin America from a variety of methodological perspectives;
  • analyze economic development, U.S.-Latin American foreign relations and underdevelopment from comparative and global perspectives;
  • combine training in Spanish and/or Portuguese with the lived experience of speakers of these languages;
  • elevate and refine their writing and critical thinking skills;
  • gain in-depth understanding of the growing Latino population in the U.S.;
  • study away to immerse themselves in Latin American culture in preparation for potential career pathways; and 
  • study Latin American art, culture, film, foreign relations, history, literature, media, music, politics and religion from a multidisciplinary perspective. 

The Latin American Studies Major is an interdisciplinary degree program, with courses offered across all of Temple’s schools and colleges, taught by faculty who research diverse topics such as colonial literature, development economics, immigrant healthcare and Latin American music. Students can also participate in the Latin American Studies Semester.

Temple students laugh and smile as they discuss a topic in class.

Classes & Curriculum

To earn the Latin American Studies BA degree, students must take 12 three-credit courses in Latin American Studies and demonstrate a reading and speaking knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese. The curriculum culminates in a research-based, writing-intensive capstone seminar. 

Courses you are likely to take as part of the Latin American Studies Major curriculum include the following.

  • Perspectives on Latin America (Gateway Foundation course)
  • Legacy of Mesoamerica (required)
  • Introduction to Latinx Studies
  • Comparative Political Systems in Latin America
  • Fundamentals of Latin American Business
  • Survey of Spanish American Literature
  • "Other Voices" in Latin American Literature
  • Africans in Latin America
  • The Spanish Conquest of the Americas
  • Race, Gender, and Empire in the Iberian World
  • Revolution and Beyond: Modern and Contemporary Art in Latin America
  • Zombie Apocalypse: Holy Land, Haiti, and Hollywood
  • Peoples of Latin America

Learn more about Latin American Studies BA courses.

Related Graduate Degrees

*Tyler School of Art and Architecture
**Klein College of Media and Communication

Certificate Programs

The College of Liberal Arts has 22 undergraduate certificate programs for you to expand your knowledge and diversify your Temple education. Certificates can complement bachelor's programs, allowing you to specialize in an area and highlight your exposure to disciplines outside of your major.

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, the Bachelor of Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

These tuition costs apply to the 2023–2024 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $17,976.00 per year
Out-of-state: $32,376.00 per year

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