Latin American and Latinx Studies at Bates

Visit the full Latin American and Latinx Studies site

The program in Latin American and Latinx Studies offers critical perspectives through a variety of courses, including anthropology, environmental studies, gender and sexuality studies, Hispanic studies, history, politics, and more.

Our program weaves together multiple ways of understanding Latin America and its diasporas, including the many communities that existed before the United States, people who have immigrated to the United States from various parts of Latin America, and their descendants.

Contact Us

Program in Latin American and Latinx Studies (LALS)
Matt Von Vogt
Pettengill Hall
Phone: 207-786-8296 mvonvogt@bates.edu

What You Will Learn

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How to question assumptions and think critically

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To engage thoughtfully with diverse communities

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How to hone a critical perspective on a variety of topics, including colonialism, language, and economics

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To contribute to research projects with professors, working hand in hand to break new ground

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To attend conferences and present your findings

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How indigenous populations in the Americas and people from Europe, Africa, and Asia have interacted for more than half a millennium and how these interactions have shaped our current moment

Life After Bates

Our graduates leave our program with important context about Latin America and its diasporas, which helps shape their work in a variety of fields, including social work, public health, and consulting.

94%

of 2020-2024 Bates graduates are employed and/or attending graduate school — settled into their next opportunity within 6 months of graduation.

Selected Places of Employment/Service

Gartner
First Republic Bank
Teach For America
Front Line EMS

Selected Graduate Schools

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Boston University
Harvard University
Georgetown University
Simmons University

A professor sits with their students during a class discussion in Roger Williams hall.

A student shows their professor a graphic on their laptop during class in Roger Williams hall.

A professor assists a student during a thesis meeting in Pettengill Hall.

A professor holds a book titled A History of Women and Sports in Latin America.

During a two-week summer institute at Bates titled “Identity and Multilingualism through Picture Books,” an individual places yellow decorative prints on a poster board.

A professor and students from a Jewish Latin American film seminar engage in a Q&A following a screening of “Torah Tropical” in Olin Arts Center.

Why Study Latin American and Latinx Studies at Bates?

Our program provides an opportunity to understand the present tensions between the United States and different countries in Latin America, giving critical context to current events. Students have the chance to participate in off-campus study in Latin America or the Caribbean, allowing them to be truly immersed in what they’ve been studying and gain new understanding about these cultures. LALS also provides opportunities for students seeking to deepen their connections to their Latin American and/or Latinx heritage.

Featured Courses

Meet the Faculty

The LALS faculty studies across multiple disciplines and focus areas, weaving together the strands of their work to present students with a 360-degree view of a subject that takes all identities and spheres of life into account. Specialties include Maya fashion, borderlands history, the literature of Equatorial Guinea, colonial Mexico, politics, and film.