Critical analysis of the literary, socio-linguistic, and cultural presence of representative Hispanic groups in the United States. Designed for non-speakers of Spanish. Given in English.
Athena Title
Latino Lit Lang and Culture
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in SPAN 2550
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will identify ethical issues and apply different ethical perspectives to dilemmas in Latina/o/x communities in the U.S.
Students will recognize intersectionality as the convergence of race, ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic class in everyday life, particularly as it relates to diverse Latina/o/x populations.
Students will analyze the impact of socio-historical, political, and economic structures and contexts on understandings of race and ethnicity as they relate to Latina/o/x identity.
Students will distinguish the complexities surrounding terms like Latina/o/x and Hispanic as well as the socio-political, cultural, and economic ramifications attached to the use of these terms.
Students will engage in well-grounded and compelling discussions on current issues affecting Latina/o/x communities.
Students will consider, engage, and analyze opposing viewpoints or arguments on current debates regarding Latina/o/x identity.
Students will generate critical and well-informed arguments on Latina/o/x identity.
Students will identify the social, political, and historical events that have shaped the cultural production of Latina/o/x literature and cultural production.
Students will discover the historical genealogies of what we know as Latina/o/x identity today.
Students will describe and express thoughts and ideas about the relationship between historical information and the broad concepts in coherent low-stakes assignments.
Students will support one’s own conclusion, decision, or action with sound reasoning and judgment.
Students will interpret inferences and develop subtleties of aspects of Latina/o/x covered in the course in a Podcast course project for general audiences.
Topical Outline
I. Introduction. Hispanics: race? class? ethnia? Demographic
and ethnic overview.
II-III. Diversity among Hispanic minorities. Identity and
cultural roots.
IV-V. Socio-linguistic overview of Spanish in the U.S. Language
attitudes. Linguistic contact phenomena.
VI-VII. Hispanic literature in the U.S; culture, heritage,
nationalism.
IX-X. The Puerto Rican in popular U.S literature: cultural
evolution, identity and perspectives.
XI-XII. Mexican American literature.
XIII-XIV. Cuban Americans in the U.S.
XV. Language issues: Bilingual education, "English only,"
codeswitching.
General Education Core
CORE IV: World Languages and Global Culture CORE IV: Humanities and the Arts
