Program Planner
The purpose of the Concentration in Caribbean Studies is to provide students with the opportunity to study and do research on the cultures and societies of the Caribbean from a wide array of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives that include African American studies, anthropology, communications, economics, history, international business, international studies, literature, political science, sociology, and women’s and gender studies. Although we are very much aware of the current debates about “the Caribbean” as a geographical, political, cultural or analytical category, for our immediate purposes we define the region to include the English, French, Dutch and Spanish-speaking islands, as well as the South American states on the Caribbean littoral, and the Central American nations that share a Caribbean heritage.
The value of this concentration is twofold. First, we have on our campus many students from the Caribbean, or who are of Caribbean descent, or who are simply interested in Caribbean culture and history. Thus, the concentration responds to significant student interest. Second, we see the need for heightened awareness of the role of Caribbean countries in Western Hemisphere relations in general, and the United States in particular and thus view this concentration as a core piece of the international studies program at the College.
Faculty Sponsors
D. Bates (Sociology), C. Fisher (History), P. Williams (African American Studies/English), L. Ortiz-Vilarelle (English), S. Ryan (Communication Studies
Curriculum
Courses marked with an * must be taken under advisement to determine whether the particular section of the course will incorporate a significant element of Caribbean Studies into its purview. Independent Studies and Topics course will also be taken under advisement.
Core Course
- HIS 364/INT 352 History of the Caribbean
Arts and Humanities
Take at least two from the following:
African American Studies
- AAS 201/African and Diaspora Religious Traditions
- AAS 179/African Americans to 1865
- HON 220/Honors African Diaspora Religions and Culture
- AAS 280/Women of African Descent in Global Perspective*
- AAS 211/The Caribbean: A Socio-Historical Overview
- AAS 335/WGS 335/Women Writers
- AAS 370/Topics*
Communications
- COM 370/Topics: National Cinemas*
English
- AAS 335/WGS 335 Caribbean Women Writers
- LIT 316/WGS 374/Global Women Writers*
- LIT 334/WGS 360/Literature by Latinas and Latin American Women
French
- FRE 241/Introduction to African Francophone Literature
Spanish
- SPA 304/Civilization of Spanish America
- SPA 370/Topics in Spanish
- SPA 497: Senior Seminar (Spanish-Caribbean Literature)
- SPA 497: Senior Seminar (Puerto Rican Queer Literature)
Social Sciences and History
Take at least two from the following:
Anthropology
- ANT 311/Gender and Migration*
- ANT 335/Global Urbanization*
- ANT 340/Social Change in Latin America and the Caribbean
History
- HIS 158/Colonial Latin America*
- HIS 350/Topics in African or Latin American History
- HIS 356/State and Slavery in West Africa
- HIS 359/Modern Latin America*
- HIS 364/INT 362/History of the Caribbean
Honors
- HON 332/Gender and National Identity in Latin America*
International Business
- INB 250/Travel Study Tour of the Caribbean
- INB 260/Multinational Firms and Economic Development in the Caribbean
- INB 350/International Trade in the Caribbean
Political Science
- POL 150/Comparative Politics*
- POL 230/International Relations
- POL 250/Politics and Society in Developing Countries*
- POL 370/Topics
- POL 380/International Political Economy
Sociology
- SOC 315/Racism, Power, and Privilege
- SOC 342: Social Change in Latin America and the Caribbean
In addition to courses required by this concentration, a student must complete one approved course in quantitative reasoning and one approved course in laboratory science to satisfy breadth requirements in the college core. Students should consult their major or open option advisors about how best to complete other college core requirements.