Coordinator: Dr. Julie Torres
Email: jtorres@uccs.edu
Ph: (719) 255-5147
The WEST program is committed to deepening the understanding of the histories, cultures, and perspectives of groups whose stories and experiences have been marginalized, with special emphasis on those within our own community. Thus, an area that we are developing within the program is Latino/a Studies. Approached with a special emphasis on cultural and historical context, the Latino/a Studies Certificate is designed to highlight the diverse experiences of the various Latino/a communities in the United States and abroad, and engage students in the ongoing debate regarding how transnational Latina/o identifications are constructed and defined in the wake of the globalization, migration, and diaspora. The courses offered in this concentration emphasize the manner in which cultural identification has been approached, theorized and defined, and the manner in which ethnic/racial, cultural and social identity has been conceptualized in terms of intertwined categories such as class, gender, ability, and sexual or religious orientation.
Given the particular demographics of the geographical region in which we are located, a certificate in Latino/a Studies is attractive to a wide range of employers and educational institutions, including social work, graduate and professional schools, community action organizations (non-profits and NGOs), heath care providers, government agencies, and social/ legal services. A specialization in Latino/a Studies also provides students with opportunities for networking and mentoring.
General Requirements
Students should apply for the certificate in Latino/a Studies, by completing the online WEST Certificate Declaration form here https://west.uccs.edu/west-certificates and declaring their intention to complete the certificate as soon as possible after completing WEST 1010.
In order to complete the certificate in Latino/a Studies please use the online WEST Certificate Completion form here https://west.uccs.edu/west-certificates. Students are required to submit a transcript and attach a 3-5 page, self-reflective statement evaluating their perceptions regarding the knowledge gained in the concentration and implications for future scholarly and professional work. A certificate confirming the student’s completion of the certificate will be emailed to recipients following an audit by the coordinator.
- Independent studies may not be used to earn this certificate.
- All courses be WEST courses or cross-listed with WEST courses.
- A minimum grade of 2.0 (C) is required for each course applied to the certificate
- One course counted toward this certificate may count toward another WEST certificate.
Students are strongly encouraged to study in a setting where Spanish is spoken. Travel courses are offered, for example, by Women’s and Ethnic Studies and the Departments of Languages & Cultures, Anthropology, and Geography at UCCS, and are also available through the Office of International Education at UC Boulder and Denver.
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