HIST 250(S) Introduction to U.S. Latino Studies*

This course will introduce students to a variety of methods for studying the history, culture, economics, and politics of Latinos in the United States. The course is structured around the following key areas of concern: 1) Identifying Communities: from the perspective of area studies we will explore the major Latino communities in the United States, which together with other Latino peoples will soon make up the largest "minority group" in the country; 2) Identifying Modes of Inquiry: Through anthropological, sociological, and historical scholarship this course will explored the nature of identity formation (both corporate and individual), the maintenance of identity during cross-cultural contact, and the processes by which identity changes within in a complex multicultural society; 3) Identifying Topics for Study: we will pay much attention to the social and historical context of Latino identity, such as immigration and migration, demographic politics, socioeconomic conditions, labor, and the arts, particularly as they express and generate distinctions among the various Latino communities and other racial and ethnic groups. Evaluation will be based on course participation, two short essays (5-8 pages), and one final essay (15 pages) that will emphasize original research and analytical skills. Group A

Hour: PAGÁN