The Bachelor of Arts in Central American Studies
B. A. in Central American Studies, Standard Option
The Central American Studies Program at California State University, Northridge has a tri-fold mission: to empower the large and growing Central American community in the United States by promoting academic excellence, community involvement, and cultural diversity; to open spaces of global citizenship and dialogue between academia and society at large which contribute to the construction of a Central American transnational identity; and to promote an understanding and appreciation of the diverse Central American cultures, ethnicities, and worldviews from an interdisciplinary perspective.
OPTION A: STANDARD MAJOR (45 credits)
LOWER DIVISION (12 credits)
1. Select one of the following:
CAS 100 Introduction to Central American Studies
CAS 102 The Salvadoran Experience
2. Required courses:
CAS 201 Survey of Central American Literature
CAS 202 Survey of Central American Visual, Installation and Performance Arts
CAS 270 Fieldwork in Central American communities
LOWER DIVISION ELECTIVES (3 credits)
3. Select one of the following:
ART 112 History of Non-Western Art
CHS 202 Race, Racism, and Critical Thinking
CHS 280 Workshop in Minority Writing
PAS 274 History of Caribbean Societies since 1830s
PAS 282 African Religion in the New World
URBS 250 Planning the Multiethnic City
UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS (21 credits)
1. Select 7 of the following upper division courses:
CAS 303 Central American Film
CAS 309 Ancient to Pre-Modern History of the Central American Peoples
CAS 310 Modern History of the Central American Peoples
CAS 311 The Central American Diaspora
CAS 350 Urbanization in Central America
CAS 355 Environment, Development and Social Exclusion in Central America
CAS 356 Afro-Caribbean Central American Cultures and Identities
CAS 364 Culture and Violence in Central America
CAS 365 Changing Roles of Central American Women
CAS 366 Contemporary Indigenous People of Central America
CAS 367 Contemporary Religious Movements of Central America
CAS 368 Central American Revolutionary Movements
CAS 369 Contemporary Social Movements of Central America
CENTRAL AMERICAN STUDIES SEMINAR (3 credit)
2. Select 1 of the following courses:
CAS 440 Seminar on Central American Culture
CAS 460 Seminar on Central American Politics
SPAN 421 Seminar on Central American Literature
UPPER DIVISION ELECTIVES (6 credits)
3. Select 2 of the following courses:
ANTH 353 The Maya: Ancient and Modern
ANTH 428 Archeology of Mesoamerica
ART 403 History of Latin American Art
CHS 381 Contemporary Chicana Writers
ENG 487 Latino/a Literatures of the Americas
GEOG 350 Metropolitan Los Angeles
GEOG 322 Latin America
HIST 463 20th Century Latin American History
HIST 468 Social and Intellectual History of Latin America
HIST 485B The United States and Latin America since 1898
SPAN 380 Latin American Civilization
PAS 376 African Enslavement in the New World
PAS 465 Pan Africanism: Development of an Ideology, 1865-1954
PAS 487 Pan African Philosophical Thought
POLS 332 Politics of Latin America
POLS 433A Politics of Central America
URBS 380 Los Angeles: Past, Present, Future
TOTAL UNITS REQUIRED FOR THE B.A. IN CENTRAL AMERICAN STUDIES: 45
GENERAL EDUCATION UNITS: 48
ADDITIONAL UNITS: 27 (Please see undergraduate Advisor)
TOTAL UNITS REQUIRED FOR DEGREE: 120
OPTION B: DOUBLE MAJOR (33 credits)
LOWER DIVISION (9 credits)
Select one of the following:
CAS 100 Introduction to Central American Studies
CAS 102 The Salvadoran Experience
Select one of the following:
CAS 201 Survey of Central American Literature
CAS 202 Survey of Central American Visual, Installation, and Performance Arts
Required course:
CAS 270 Fieldwork in Central American Communities
UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS (21 credits)
Select 7 of the following upper division courses:
CAS 303 Central American Film
CAS 309 Ancient to Pre-Modern History of the Central American Peoples
CAS 310 Modern History of the Central American Peoples
CAS 311 The Central American Diaspora
CAS 350 Urbanization in Central America
CAS 355 Environment, Development and Social Exclusion in Central America
CAS 356 Afro-Caribbean Central American Cultures and Identities
CAS 364 Culture and Violence in Central America
CAS 365 Changing Roles of Central American Women
CAS 366 Contemporary Indigenous People of Central America
CAS 367 Contemporary Religious Movements of Central America
CAS 368 Central American Revolutionary Movements
CAS 369 Contemporary Social Movements of Central America
CENTRAL AMERICAN STUDIES SEMINAR (3 credit)
Select 1 of the following courses:
CAS 440 Seminar on Central American Culture
CAS 460 Seminar on Central American Politics
SPAN 421 Seminar on Central American Literature
TOTAL UNITS REQUIRED FOR THE B.A. IN CENTRAL AMERICAN STUDIES: 33
GENERAL EDUCATION UNITS: 48, please consult an undergraduate advisor.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A SECOND MAJOR: Students are required to complete a second major. Please consult the department undergraduate advisor of the second major.
TOTAL UNITS REQUIRED FOR DEGREE: 120