About the Program
Mission
The Latino Studies Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston offers students the opportunity to enrich their understanding of Latino experiences within a historical, linguistic, religious, social, racial, and cultural context. Our goal is to help students develop a complex and interdisciplinary understanding of the historical processes underlying the formation of Latino communities, the factors that affect the everyday lives of Latinos, and the role of social and cultural practices in constituting Latino identities. The program is home to a vibrant community of students, faculty, and staff committed to supporting Latino students and maintaining the relationship between Latino Studies and the lived realities of Latino communities in greater Boston and New England.
About Latino Studies
Latino Studies is an undergraduate intercollegiate program open to all students of every college at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The program’s inter-disciplinarity allows students in all majors to enhance their education by developing a complex understanding of and appreciation for the diverse histories and experiences of Latino populations in the US.
We frame Latino Studies within the context of the diverse histories and experiences of Latinos across the United States, with particular emphasis on communities in the Greater Boston Area and New England. Emphasizing both the similarities and differences among Latinos, courses in the program explore the diverse political experiences, economic trajectories, intellectual histories, and cultural and material expressions of established and emerging Latino communities.
The teaching and research interests of faculty affiliated with the Latino Studies Program reflect the interdisciplinarity of the program and the opportunities for students interested in taking individual courses or becoming minors. Courses cover a variety of topics, including the histories of Latinos in the US, Latino communities in Boston, the experiences and perspectives of Latinas, public policy, education, community organizing, economic experiences, and cultural expression. In addition, students can conduct independent research with faculty through the Latino Leadership Opportunities Program of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Community Development and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Who Can / Should Take Latino Studies Courses?
Students who want to understand how Latino communities formed or learn about the everyday lives of Latinos would benefit from and enjoy taking Latino Studies courses. Likewise, students looking to explore how Latinos have influenced virtually every sphere of US society will also enjoy these courses. Since Latino Studies is an interdisciplinary program, these courses enhance the overall learning of students with a variety of academic, professional, and personal interests.
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