| Knowledge of Latin America and its people, including those in the United States, is an essential part of a liberal education today. Not only is the Latino population of West Michigan growing rapidly but Latinos will soon constitute the most populous ethnic group in the United States. In the meantime, U.S. economic, political and cultural relations with our Latin America neighbors--from Mexico and the Caribbean to Central and South America-- continue to grow in importance. Students in a wide variety of majors and professional programs can benefit from studying Latin America: the biology major who wishes to work on rainforest ecology. |
8th Conference
on the Americas 2005:
"The Next Generation" February 3-5, 2005 Proposal Submission Deadline:
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The business major who plans to work in international trade. The education or health sciences student who expects to work in almost any U.S. city. Also the literature major who plans a graduate degree in Spanish or comparative literature. In fact, the Latin American Studies Program is for any traditional or continuing student who simply wants to learn more about the fascinating and diverse cultures of Latin America. |
The
Latin American Studies Program encourages student participation
with Latin American and international student organizations on campus,
the West Michigan Latino community and its institutions, and groups
dealing with international relations such as the Institute for Global
Education and the World Affairs Council. Students are also welcomed
to participate on the Latin American Studies executive and advisory
committees and are encouraged to take part in faculty and student-directed
research projects. Finally, minors are urged to study abroad, either
in Grand Valley's summer programs in Mexico or Central America or
in other appropriate programs in Latin America and the United States. |
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| A sister
university agreement with the Universidad de Las Americas in Puebla,
Mexico provides Grand Valley students and faculty with opportunities
for prolonged study abroad and opens the door to an exchange with
Mexican students and faculty. New agreements with institutions in
the Caribbean and South America are constantly being pursued. Consult
the Office of International Affairs or the LAS Coordinator for information
on other study abroad opportunities in Latin America. |
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