Latin American & Caribbean Studies
As a Latin American and Caribbean studies major at Rollins, you’ll immerse yourself in the diverse cultures, history, languages, natural environment, and political economy of Latin America and the Caribbean and confront the challenges facing this critical region in the 21st century.
Through our interdisciplinary curriculum and hands-on experience in the field, you’ll explore the forces that have shaped Latin America and the Caribbean, learn to think critically about the region and its place in the world, and achieve competence in Spanish, Portuguese, or French. With the personalized support of our expert faculty, you’ll develop a unique expertise on a region with ever-increasing economic and geopolitical significance.
A springboard for careers in everything from business to government, our program is dedicated to developing culturally sensitive, responsible leaders committed to enacting positive social change.
Why Study Latin American & Caribbean Studies at Rollins
Interdisciplinary Approach
You’ll examine key issues confronting the region from an array of disciplinary angles—from anthropology and political science to economics and environmental studies.
Individualized Attention
You’ll develop your passions and hone in-demand skill sets with the guidance and mentorship of expert professors in small classroom settings.
International Experience
Enhance your classroom learning on short field studies to Cuba and Costa Rica and by studying abroad for a semester in Argentina, Chile, or Peru.
Interested in Studying Latin American & Caribbean Studies at Rollins?
Sign up to receive more information about living and learning at Rollins.
“My LACS coursework, hands-on experience throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, and work with professors who are experts in their field prepared me well for my Fulbright and beyond. Now, as the director of immigration legal services at a local nonprofit in Chicago, I’m able to relate with the community I serve because I’ve spent time in their home countries and because of the language and service skills cultivated through the LACS program.”
Rollins Latin American & Caribbean Studies Careers
Rollins Latin American and Caribbean studies majors are making tomorrow happen at some of the world’s most innovative organizations.
Jose Fernandez ’92
President, Florida Compass Group
Jennie Jester ’13
Regional Category Manager, Siemens Gamesa
Kajsa N. Whitney ’13
Founder & CEO, Kajsa Nikole Co.
Samar Shaukat ’14
Admin Specialist, Meta
Enrique Buck ’14
Assistant Vice President Sr. Analyst, Citi
Robert Burns ’18
Pricing Manager, Circle
Real World Experience
From internships and community engagement courses to student-faculty collaborative research, Rollins Latin American and Caribbean studies majors hone their skills and expertise in the real world.
See for Yourself
Get a feel for Rollins’ unique brand of engaged learning and personalized attention through one of our virtual or in-person visit experiences.
Popular Courses
Our interdisciplinary curriculum gives you the flexibility to pursue courses in everything from history and humanities to international business and modern languages.
LAC 200 Foundations of Latin American and Caribbean Culture and Society
Investigate the historical forces that have shaped Latin American and Caribbean culture and examine key challenges facing the region.
POL 321 Politics of Latin America
Examine problems of underdevelopment, cultural traditions, and socioeconomic conditions, and learn about the challenge of winning and maintaining political power.
ENV 348 Sustainable Development
Delve into both theoretical and actual development strategies that are ecologically and socially acceptable.
ANT 201 Cultures of the Caribbean
Explore Caribbean history and culture, including the region’s prehistory, colonialism, slavery, kinship, music, dance, literature, art, race, identity, tourism, and globalization.
LAC 205 Women and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn about the history of women’s lives—from colonial cross-dressing nuns to modern guerrilla fighters—and how they influenced Latin American and Caribbean culture.
SPN 338 Latin American Literature: Race/Class/Gender
Examine marginalized segments of Latin American society through literary expressions.
A Day in the Life of a Rollins Latin American & Caribbean Studies Major
“I chose this major because I am interested in immigration law specifically from Latin America and the Caribbean. I find it necessary to be educated on the history of the region in relation to what is currently happening in those countries and why people migrate.”
Beyond the Classroom
Study Abroad Examine conservation and ecotourism in the rainforests of Costa Rica. Explore social awareness and sustainability in Cuba. Study indigenous peoples and globalization in the Peruvian Andes. From semester- and summer-long programs to faculty-led field studies, you’ll immerse yourself in Latin American and Caribbean culture and enhance your classroom learning in the field.
Community Engagement From working with immigrant communities in Central Florida to installing water filtration systems throughout rural areas in the Dominican Republic, you’ll engage some of the world’s most pressing issues in our backyard and around the world.
Campus Connections Present your original research at the Latin American Latinx Studies Symposium, an annual Rollins-hosted conference exploring the region, its culture, and the challenges it faces. Share Latin American and Caribbean culture with your classmates through campus-wide events like Semana LAC and the Hispanic Film Festival. LACS majors have an array of options to apply their knowledge in the real world without leaving America’s most beautiful campus.
What You Will Learn
The Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program provides a holistic and interdisciplinary course of study that explores the diverse cultures, history, ideologies, languages, literature, natural environment, and political economy of Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the challenges facing this critical region in the twenty-first century.
Keep Exploring
Take a deeper dive into Latin American and Caribbean studies at Rollins by meeting your future professors, seeing our grads in action, and sitting in on a class.
July 28, 2023
Savala Earns Second Book Award from Latin American Studies Association
History professor Joshua Savala earns a second accolade from the Latin American Studies Association for his book on Peruvian-Chilean social history.
December 07, 2021
My Rollins Gateway: Filling Her Plate to Fill Her Cup
Neny Lairet ’21 found her ideal career path by pursuing an interest in international business and embracing opportunities to be a leader at Rollins.
October 11, 2021
Club Spotlight: Latin American Student Association
Take a look behind the scenes of the Latin American Student Association, which recently welcomed a new batch of student leaders.
Expert Faculty
Our faculty are as passionate about Latin America and the Caribbean as they are about grooming the next generation of global citizens. Whether their expertise lies in anthropology or environmental studies, political science or music, our professors are dedicated to enriching students’ lives inside and outside the classroom.
Latin American & Caribbean Studies Program
Telephone: 407.646.2295
Barry Allen, PhD
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
Research interests: Environmental economics, national park policy, sustainable development, and globalization
Dexter Boniface, PhD
Professor of Political Science
Research interests: Inter-American relations, Brazilian politics, and democracy promotion efforts in Latin America
Shan-Estelle Brown, PhD
Associate Professor of Anthropology
Research interests: Health care and sexuality in Latin America and the Caribbean
Gisela Carbonell, PhD
Curator, Cornell Fine Arts Museum
Research interests: Latin American artists and museum collections
Rosana Díaz-Zambrana, PhD
Professor of Spanish
Research interests: Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean popular culture and cinema, particularly horror and experimental genres
Stephanie Gonzalez Guittar, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Research interests: Latinx social issues, including poverty, homelessness, and gender equality
Ashley Kistler, PhD
Professor of Anthropology
Research interests: Cultural, linguistic, and public anthropology, Mesoamerica, Maya culture, gender, cultural revitalization, identity, and immigration
Susan Montgomery, Program Director
Library space usage
Research interests: ethnography, and researching Latin America
Joshua Savala, PhD
Assistant Professor of History
Research interests: Modern Latin America, Peru, Chile, labor and working-class history, social movements
Patricia Tomé, PhD
Professor of Spanish
Research interests: 20th- and 21st-century Latin American literature, Cuban and Cuban American literature, gastronomy, and film