Latin American & Caribbean Studies is a multidisciplinary field that not only addresses the rich diversity of Latin American and the Caribbean cultures and societies, but also explores the humanities, histories, economies, politics, and environments (geology, geography, zoology, agriculture, etc.) in North, Central and South America.
Latin American & Caribbean Studies is an ideal complement to any disciplinary major because it provides international grounding in an area of the world that is extremely important to the United States and to the Latino communities there. Asian and African cultures and societies can be also identified in these parts of the American continent. Asian and African music and religion can easily be traced in “the Americas”. When Europeans arrived in these regions they brought with them slaves from both continents, making the region one of the first transcultural societies since the 16th century.
Study Abroad: Ecuador and Puerto Rico
Santa Fe College recognizes your need to have international experience in order to compete in the global job market. To help meet that need, the International Education Office advises students on SF faculty-led programs to numerous locations around the world. Each program is developed and led by SF faculty members and are typically one to two weeks in length. The programs are taken for credit and are part of a semester's work. So, yes, you are going to a new country to learn - but it's the most fun and exciting way to learn, guaranteed.
How to Apply
All applicants must complete the following documentation:
- Study Abroad Application - Please browse through our programs and select the one that is right for you. You need to apply to a program before you apply for a grant. You must meet with the faculty member who leads the trip and ask him/her to sign your application.
- Recommendation Form - A faculty member who is leading the program must fill out the Recommendation Form.
You must bring all supporting documents to Paloma Rodriguez, Coordinator of International Education in S-130 (x5607). For more information on studying abroad, check out the International Education Study Aboard Guide.
Language Study
The languages imposed by the process of European colonization of the Americas are mainly Indo-European. Portuguese is the majority language of South America, by a small margin. Spanish, with slightly fewer speakers than Portuguese, is the second most spoken language on the continent. Dutch is the official language of Suriname; English is the official language of Guyana, although there are at least 12 other languages spoken in the country, including Hindi, Arabic, and various indigenous languages. English is also spoken in the Falkland Islands. French is the official language of the French overseas department of French Guiana.
Primary Languages
Major Language Spoken:
- Spanish
- Portuguese
- English
- French
Regional Languages
- Dutch and Papiamento
- Haitian Creole
Indigenous Languages
- Mayan Languages
- Quechua
- Aymara
- Nahuatl
- Mapudungun
- Guarani
- Mapuche
- Aymara
Spanish in Latin America
Understanding the origin of the Spanish language is essential to recognizing the subtle differences in the Spanish spoken in different regions. In the 15th century, Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas and brought with him the Castilian Spanish language. As a result of what scholars refer to as "hispanización", Spanish was established as a primary language in the region.
During the early stages of what is referred to as "hispanización", there were many challenges, as the local languages were starkly different, making communications difficult. Until the Catholic Church stepped in, it was unclear whether Spanish would survive in the region. Hence, the Catholic Church was instrumental in the expansion of the use of Spanish in the region. In particular, the Jesuits and Franciscans established learning intuitions to teach children Catholicism in Spanish. As the children and adolescents grew, the Spanish language started to spread and expand. As Catholicism grew, so did the use of the Spanish language as the primary form of communication.
Faculty & Student Resources
Latin American and Caribbean Studies not only allows students to pursue an interdisciplinary course of study that provides a broad overview of Latin America and the Caribbean, but faculty to collect more detailed knowledge on specific subjects.
Our goal is to introduce to the principal historical, social, and cultural themes in the region, expecting that SF students develop a wider interest on getting more detailed knowledge on specific subjects, such as the history of a particular country or the literature of a particular period.
Diaspora & Migration Information
Diaspora is the action or process of people moving out of their homeland. The term has also been used to refer to historical events of people moving out of their original places due to political, financial, social or religious affairs. Words such as “exile” and “dispersion” can be associated to diaspora. The most well-known diaspora is the expulsion of the Jews from Israel. Nowadays, we consider other historical mass dispersions as diaspora, for example, the African slavery process since the Americas was discovered, the southern Chinese during the coolie slave trade, the Central American Trade with the United States since the end of the 19th century, and the century-long exile of South Americans to the U.S.
Nowadays, diaspora can be understood from different perspectives. Scholars affirm that imperialism; trade or labor migrations are causes of diaspora. Other intellectuals contemplate as diaspora communities those that keep strong political relations with their homeland or strong ties to the ancestral lands.
Trying to identify what can be included in the concept of diaspora has caused many discussions among the scholars. However, in Latin American and Caribbean countries the topic is being seeing with attention, and in the last years some Latin American and Caribbean countries have started to adopt policies related to diaspora. The idea is to maximize their potential contribution in the development of their home countries
Student Organizations
Our student organizations are connected and involved with the affairs of the college. We work together on many events such as the Fall and Spring Festivals in town. Our academic associations also perform community service throughout the academic year. Joining an association is a great way to network with other students and faculty.
