Programs in Latin American studies teach people about the cultures of these areas. Students learn history, politics, and how people live. They learn about the lives of immigrants and the original peoples before Columbus. They study colonial empires.

It's been said that recently in America, there has been a "Latin explosion." This refers to the popularity of Latin musicians and actors, including Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Mark Anthony, and Shakira. Documentaries such as 1999's "Buena Vista Social Club," which followed a group of musicians by the same name, popularized Cuban music as well as sparked interest in salsa, meringue, and other Latin forms of music and dance. However, Latin America have much more to them than just music and dance. Countries in this region have endured both times of triumph and defeat and are an important part of the world economy.

In Latin American studies programs, you learn all about the culture and subcultures of Latin American society. You take courses from different fields of study, such as art, sociology, and especially economics and history. You study historical conflicts, including Spanish and European colonialism, the practice of slavery, and recent political clashes between the U.S. and Cuba. You read original literature and folklore, such as the poetry of Pablo Neruda and the fiction of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as well as ancient Mayan and Incan texts. You also view and critique Latin American films and music. In addition, you study different religions and philosophic movements, especially as they differ by geography and ethnic groups. This includes Christianity and Islam as well as ancient religions and rituals.

In addition, you study how countries in this region relate to other countries, including those in Western Europe and the U.S. Many programs also require you to learn at least one second language, including Spanish, French, Portuguese, and the Incan language Quechua. Overall, your courses will teach you how to analyze information and how to ask different questions about contemporary problems and issues. You also learn how to write persuasive papers and how to debate.

About 200 colleges and universities offer interdisciplinary bachelor's degrees in Latin American studies. Most two-year colleges offer the first two years of study. Students can often transfer these credits to a four-year school.

Many bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in Latin American studies draw on courses from departments of interdisciplinary studies, liberal studies, and humanities. In addition, most programs encourage you to double major in another field, such as business, social science, or journalism.

Master's degrees typically take five or six years of full-time study after high school. Doctoral degree programs typically take three to five years after the master's degree.

Majors in Latin American studies may lead to careers in the arts, business, media and journalism, research, teaching, or hospitality and tourism. Such careers include broadcasting, sales, musicology, advertising, public relations, arts criticism, and social commentary. The most common career paths are business, law, teaching, and journalism.

Students in this major may be able to choose concentrations such as:

• Customs and Culture
• Dance and Music
• Economics
• Folklore and Myth
• History
• Languages
• Literature
• Politics
• Religion