Latin American & Latino Studies

Alex Trillo, Ph.D., Program Director
51 Glenwood Ave., 4th Floor, Room 403, (201)-761-6157

What is the Latin American and Latino Studies Program?

The Program combines two related fields of study to offer a global perspective on Latino issues: 1) Latin American Studies, which examines the region made up of South America, Central America, Mexico and the Spanish Speaking Caribbean.  2) Latino Studies, which is the study of the experiences of Latin Americans who have migrated to the United States.   The Program offers a 30 credit major and an 18 credit minor that complements other degrees.  The interdisciplinary nature of the Program allows students to create a learning experience from a variety of perspectives such as the arts, business, biology, education, modern languages and literature, philosophy, religion and the social sciences.  Majors and minors can opt to become experts in Latin America, Latino populations in the U.S. or both.    

Why earn a degree in Latin American and Latino Studies?

New Jersey, the New York City Metropolitan Area and the United States are all deeply interconnected with Latin America and its people.  Latinos are now the largest minority group in the U.S. and comprise over 40% of the residents of Hudson County.  Moreover, many U.S. corporations and government agencies have extensive relations with Latin America.  The Program will thus provide students a solid foundation on many national and international matters.   Another reason to earn a degree in Latin American and Latino Studies is for personal enrichment.  Many students have family origins in Latin America and the Program material can help develop a sense of self awareness and belonging.  Others may simply have an appreciation for new cultures, especially those so profoundly related to the United States.

What can I do with a degree in Latin American and Latino Studies?

A degree in Latin American and Latino Studies will prepare students for a variety of graduate school and career opportunities working with Latin America and the U.S. Latino population.  These include business, communications, criminal justice, education, health care, international affairs, law, marketing, publishing, politics, public advocacy, travel and tourism/hotel and restaurant management, and social work, to name but a few. 

What about Program activities?

The Program works closely with the Latin American Service Organization (LASO) on a variety of events on and off campus. Some examples include the annual Latino Music and Dance Expo, Latino Roundtable Discussions, salsa lessons, a Latino reading group and the Northern New Jersey Latino Communities research project.  Program faculty also produce a variety of short-term, study abroad courses to Latin America.

Where can I get additional information?

The easiest way to get information is from the Program Director or visit with other Program faculty.