Puerto Rican and Latino Studies, B.A.

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Program Overview

As a Puerto Rican and Latino studies major, you will learn the complex dynamics of Puerto Rican and Latino communities. Your courses will focus on history, immigration, public policy, and the role of Latinos in shaping U.S. society. You can choose from three tracks: business, bilingual education, or early childhood/childhood education. This major also offers courses that meet the requirements for various interdisciplinary programs, including Caribbean Studies, Religious Studies, American Studies, Children and Youth Studies, Women and Gender Studies, Global Studies, and Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication Studies. Study abroad options are also available.

Puerto Rican and Latino Studies, B.A.

Where You'll Go

As a Puerto Rican and Latino studies major, you have the opportunity to intern with community organizations, city and state agencies, churches, schools, corporate interests, and performing arts and other cultural institutions. This degree can also help you pursue jobs in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including government, community agencies, public and private schools and universities, and the media.

Major Details

The program information listed here reflects the approved curriculum for the 2023–24 academic year per the Brooklyn College Bulletin. Bulletins from past academic years can be found here.

Department Requirements

Language Requirement for the Major

Students are required to complete one course in Spanish at Level 3 (the third semester of study at the college level) or to demonstrate an equivalent proficiency by examination, except as modified as follows:

  • Students who have successfully completed three years of Spanish in high school and have passed the Spanish Regents Level 3 are exempted from the language requirement.
  • The Spanish language requirement presupposes two years of secondary school language study in Spanish. Students who offer only one year of study in Spanish (or none at all) are required to take one or two semesters of college study (Levels 1 and/or 2) before they can take Level 3.
  • Students whose native language is Spanish may be exempted from this requirement by passing the Spanish competency examination administered by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.
  • Neither blanket nor equivalent credits will be given for introductory courses in Spanish from which a student has been exempted by examination, whether given by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures or an approved outside institution. Students who have completed part of the Spanish language requirement in high school are strongly advised to continue further language study in the first year.

Major Requirements (36–42 Credits)

You can choose from four tracks while studying Puerto Rican and Latino studies:

  • Puerto Rican and Latino Studies
  • Puerto Rican and Latino Studies and Business
  • Puerto Rican and Latino Studies and Bilingual Education
  • Puerto Rican and Latino Studies and Early Childhood/Childhood Education

Department Recommendations

All Puerto Rican and Latino studies majors should consult the chair or designated departmental advisers in planning the sequence of required courses.

Department Honors

To qualify for honors in Puerto Rican and Latino studies, a student must complete Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 3340 and 5710 with a grade of A- or higher and must have an academic index of 3.70 or higher in the major.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of race, ethnicity, class, gender, (im)migration, diaspora, national origin, intra- and inter-group dynamics, religion, language, and/or sexuality regarding Latinxs, Caribbeans, and/or Latin Americans, inclusive of Afro-Latinx and indigenous populations.
  • Identify the inter-/multi-disciplinary foundations and theoretical frameworks in the fields of Puerto Rican and Latinx Studies, Caribbean Studies, and/or Latin American Studies.
  • Design a plan of action or research project focusing on advocacy and leadership involving issues of equity and social justice vis a vis Puerto Rican/Latinx communities, the Caribbean and/or Latin America, inclusive of Afro-Latinx and indigenous populations pertaining thereto.
  • Apply their knowledge of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies in a professional setting by participating in an internship and other activities (e.g., workshops, professional conferences, symposia, and/or study abroad).

Contact

Alan A. Aja

1208 Boylan Hall
E: aaja@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5561

Carla Santamaria

1204 Boylan Hall
E: csantamaria@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5000, ext. 6203

Or contact:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

222 West Quad Center
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: adminqry@brooklyn.cuny.edu

To make an appointment with an undergraduate admissions counselor, visit:

Virtual Admissions Counselor Appointments

Tracks

Puerto Rican and Latino Studies (36–38 Credits)

All of the following: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 1001, 3340 (7 credits)

One of the following: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 4615, 4635, 5710 (3–4 credits)

Two courses chosen from each of the groups 1) and 2) (one of the writing intensive courses Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 3315W or 3320W MUST be selected):

  1. Literature, Culture and the Arts: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 2105, 2250, 3105, 3115, 3125, 3315W, 3330, 3335, 4450, 4640 (6–7 credits)
  2. History, Policy and Society: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 2005, 2300, 2320, 2505, 3048, 3203, 3205, 3210, 3215, 3220, 3225, 3310, 3320W, 3325, 4505, 4510, 4515, 4605, 4610, 4645 (6–10 credits)

Additional advanced PRLS courses to meet a minimum of 36 credits (approximately 12–13 credits). PRLS 5715 and 5720 are also options.

Puerto Rican and Latino Studies and Business (41–42 Credits)

All of the following: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 1001, 3215, 3220, 3320W, 3340, 4505, 4515, 4610; Business 3170 (29 credits)

One of the following: Caribbean Studies 1001; Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 2300, 3205, 3210 (same as Anthropology and Archaeology 3520), Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 3335, 4510, 4615 (if applicable), Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 4635, 4645, 5710, 5715 (3–4 credits)

Three of the following: Business 3100, 3130, 3140, 3200 (9 credits)

Puerto Rican and Latino Studies and Bilingual Education (36–37 Credits)

All courses for this option must be completed with a grade of C or better.

All of the following: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 1001, 3340 (7 credits)

One of the following: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 4615, 4635, 5710 (3–4 credits)

One of the following: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 3315W or PRLS 3320W (4 credits)

All of the following Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 2005, 4410, 4415, 4420, 4425, 4430 (22 credits)

Students must meet with a department adviser to declare their intention to complete this sequence.

Puerto Rican and Latino Studies and Early Childhood/Childhood Education (36–38 Credits)

All courses for this option must be completed with a grade of C or better.

All of the following: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 1001, 3340 (7 credits)

One of the following: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 4615, 4635, 5710 (3–4 credits)

Two courses chosen from each of the groups 1) and 2) (one of the writing intensive courses Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 3315W or 3320W MUST be selected):

  1. Literature, Culture and the Arts: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 2105, 2250, 3105, 3115, 3125, 3315W, 3330, 3335, 4450, 4640 (6–7 credits)
  2. History, Policy and Society: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 2005, 2300, 2320, 2505, 3048, 3203, 3205, 3210, 3215, 3220, 3225, 3310, 3320W, 3325, 4505, 4510, 4515, 4605, 4610, 4645 (6–10 credits)

All of the following: Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 2005, 3325, 4410 (10 credits)

Additional advanced PRLS courses to meet a minimum of 36 credits (approximately 2–3 credits).

Students must meet with a department adviser to declare their intention to complete this sequence.

Internships and Employers

Through job fairs, the internship database, and internship panels, the Magner Career Center gives students in the Puerto Rican and Latino studies B.A. program access to career opportunities at a wide variety of employers, including:

  • Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Council on Foreign Relations
  • El Museo del Barrio
  • Hispanic Society Museum & Library
  • Latin American Film Center
  • New York University
  • The Research Foundation of the City University of New York
  • United Nations

Learn More

Brooklyn. All in.

Brooklyn. All in.