This is the first version of the 2025–26 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The undergraduate Certificate in Latin American Studies requires a minimum of 18 s.h. The 18 s.h. required for the certificate must be earned in Latin American studies approved courses (see "Associated Courses" in the Latin American studies minor "Requirements" section), including at least 12 s.h. of credit earned at the University of Iowa. Students must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.00 in certificate courses.
The certificate may be earned by any student admitted to the University of Iowa who is not enrolled in a UI graduate or professional degree program. Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) students may earn the certificate when the undergraduate classification is primary. Students earning the Certificate in Latin American Studies may not earn the minor in Latin American studies.
All students develop an individual certificate plan of study in close cooperation with a departmental advisor. In some cases, students may be able to count certificate courses toward certain GE CLAS Core requirements.
The Certificate in Latin American Studies requires the following coursework.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAS:2700 | Introduction to Latin American Studies | 3 |
| LAS:4700 | Latin American Studies Seminar | 3 |
| Spanish and Portuguese courses (prefix SPAN and PORT) | 6 | |
| Additional courses (excluding Spanish and Portuguese courses) | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Students who complete the required 6 s.h. of Spanish and Portuguese coursework at the University of Iowa must choose courses from the "Associated Courses" list on the Latin American Studies minor catalog page.. Students may also use 6 s.h. of Spanish or Portuguese language study at any level if those hours are earned through an approved study abroad program in Latin America. Contact the department for prior approval of a study abroad program.
The required 6 s.h. of additional courses must also be chosen from the "Associated Courses" and "Latin American Studies Courses" lists under Courses in this section of the catalog. They may not include Spanish or Portuguese courses (prefix SPAN or PORT).
Study Abroad
The program highly recommends study abroad in Latin America. Students must have prior approval to apply credit from a study abroad program toward the certificate requirements; contact the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
The Certificate in Latin American Studies prepares students for a range of careers and graduate programs related to Latin America, including bilingual/bicultural education, business, government, and international work.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Latin American Studies, Certificate
This sample plan is currently being reviewed and will be added at a later date.