Value of a Minor
Are you interested in enhancing your studies with a minor? In addition to major areas of study, UT San Antonio offers a variety of programs that provide valuable contributions to students' academic careers. While pursuing an undergraduate minor, students have the opportunity to explore personal interests and passions outside of their major program or complement their current major, helping them further stand out in the job market.
Why Pursue a Minor in Latin American Studies
The Minor in Latin American Studies (LAS) offers an interdisciplinary framework to understand the political, cultural, historical, economic and social dynamics of Latin America, a region of significant importance to broader U.S. society, the Latino/a/x diaspora and the state of Texas. LAS minors use their deep understanding of the region to develop and practice cultural proficiency and global citizenship, both critical career skills in a globalized world. Using an interdisciplinary approach allows students to address complex social issues from diverse perspectives.
Courses for this minor can also be applied towards your degree, especially programs within the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. Students can use the LAS minor to tailor their academic program to meet their intellectual and professional interests.
What You'll Study
The LAS minor integrates courses from the liberal arts, humanities, and social sciences to help students build a deeper understanding of Latin America’s history, culture, and contemporary issues. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum, students examine key topics such as colonial legacies, modern political challenges, and the region’s growing influence in global affairs.
The program allows students to combine coursework across multiple departments to explore areas including transnational human rights and migration patterns, social inequality, public health disparities, and the environmental and policy impacts of energy production. Students are strongly encouraged to immerse themselves in Latin American culture through Spanish language courses, study abroad experiences and internship opportunities.
Adding a Minor
Though not required, declaring a minor is an excellent way to enhance your major area of study. A minor typically consists of 6 courses (18 semester credit hours), and may have additional requirements depending on the minor selected. After being admitted to UT San Antonio and registered for classes, students can meet with their assigned academic advisor to discuss the addition of a minor to their degree plan.
Please note, students can add a minor as long as they have earned less than 75 credit hours. However, the addition of a minor may or may not delay graduation. All requirements for the minor must be met at graduation; a minor cannot be added to a student’s degree program once they graduate. Students should meet with their assigned academic advisor to understand the impacts of adding a minor to their degree plan.
All students pursuing a minor In Latin American Studies must complete 18 semester credit hours. In order to promote a multidisciplinary education, COLFA students must take at least 6 credit hours outside their major.
Explore all course offerings in the Undergraduate Catalog.
