Hocbigg - Latin American Studies
Contents
Summary
The Latin American Studies curriculum is a complete education in Latin American Studies using online materials.
The interdisciplinary nature of the field draws from history, political science, anthropology, literature, economics, geography, and cultural studies, emphasizing the region's diversity, colonial legacies, independence movements, modernization, and contemporary issues.
Language proficiency (Spanish or Portuguese) is integrated throughout, as it is essential for primary sources and deeper engagement. Aim for intermediate reading/speaking proficiency by the end of the Core Phase.
Organization
This repository is organized into 2 main components:
- Core Curriculum (this page): the foundational knowledge of the field;
- Advanced Topics: focused study in specific areas;
Process: Learners may work through the curriculum independently or collaboratively, and either sequentially or selectively.
- For simplicity, courses in the Core Curriculum are ordered according to their prerequisites.
- The Core Curriculum provides a shared foundation and is intended to be completed in full.
- Advanced Topics are optional; learners are encouraged to select one area of focus and complete all courses within that topic.
Note: When there are courses or books that don't fit into the curriculum but are otherwise of high quality, they belong in extras/courses, extras/readings.
Communities
- You can also interact through GitHub issues. If there is a problem with a course, or a change needs to be made to the curriculum, this is the place to start the conversation. Read more here.
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Join our Discord server (for discussions around this and other curricula):
Curriculum
- Language Study
- Foundations of Latin American Studies
- Core Disciplinary Domains
- Thematic and Regional Specializations
How to use this curriculum
Core Sections
Everyone should complete the following sections in sequence:
-
Foundations of Latin American Studies
(Start here – this section introduces the big picture and key ways of thinking about the region.) -
Core Disciplinary Domains
(Work through topics 4–8 in the order listed. These five areas – history, politics, economy, society, and culture – are the central building blocks of Latin American Studies.)
Language Study
Learning a Romance language like Spanish or Portuguese in parallel with this curriculum greatly enhances comprehension of primary sources (literature, media, historical documents) and everyday cultural contexts in Latin America. Dedicate 5–10 hours/week to one language via free courses (e.g., edX Spanish/Portuguese basics), or immersion (podcasts, films .etc. please read the refold guide to learn more).
Progress from beginner to intermediate while studying the main topics—focus on regional variants (e.g., Mexican/Caribbean Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese). This builds practical skills for deeper engagement with the region's diversity.
Foundations of Latin American Studies
| # | Topic | Rationale | Book / Text | Online Resource |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What Is Latin American Studies? (Scope & Methods) | Establishes interdisciplinarity, comparative thinking, and regional coherence. | Introduction to Latin American Studies (MIT OpenCourseWare) | |
| 2 | Geography, Environment, and Regional Diversity | Physical geography, climate, and resources shape settlement, economy, and inequality. | Latin America & Caribbean Regional Overview (World Bank) | |
| 3 | Pre-Columbian Civilizations and Colonial Foundations | Indigenous societies, conquest, and colonial institutions underpin modern inequalities. | Born in Blood and Fire – John Charles Chasteen (Internet Archive free borrow/digital scan) | Relevant lectures from Modern Latin America (MIT OCW) |
Core Disciplinary Domains
| # | Topic | Rationale | Book / Text | Online Resource |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Modern Latin American History (Independence–Present) | Nation-building, revolutions, dictatorships, and democratization. | Born in Blood and Fire – John Charles Chasteen (Internet Archive free borrow/digital scan) | Modern Latin America, 1808–Present (MIT OCW) |
| 5 | Politics and Government | Political institutions, populism, authoritarianism, and reform. | Latin American Politics and Development – Kline & Wade (official publisher page; eBook access may require subscription/library) | David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) YouTube Channel – Harvard public lecture series |
| 6 | Economy and Development | Inequality, dependency, neoliberalism, and growth models. | UN ECLAC (CEPAL) – Introductory Reports on Latin American Development + (reference book (optional)) The Economic History of Latin America since Independence – Bulmer-Thomas (Internet Archive free borrow/digital scan) | |
| 7 | Society, Anthropology, and Social Structures | Race, ethnicity, class, urbanization, and everyday life. | The Anthropology of Latin America and the Caribbean – Harry Sanabria (Internet Archive free borrow/digital scan) | Latin American Culture (Tecnológico de Monterrey, Coursera – free to audit) |
| 8 | Culture, Literature, and Media | Narrative, identity, resistance, and cultural production. | The Cambridge Companion to the Latin American Novel (Cambridge University Press official page; preview/full access may require purchase/subscription) | Latin American Culture (Coursera) |
Congratulations
After completing the requirements of the curriculum above, you will have completed the equivalent of a full bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies. Congratulations!