Bachelor of Arts in Latina/Latino Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Latina/Latino Studies program provides students with a solid grounding in the theoretical approaches and methodologies that define the field. The program prepares students to pursue graduate and professional studies or to begin careers in the public or private sectors.

Program Learning Outcomes:

  1. To understand and identify the origins and context of diverse individual and group experiences of Latinas and Latinos in the United States.
  2. To develop an understanding of Latina/Latino Studies that is community-centered, reflexive, gender sensitive, and grounded in a multidisciplinary perspective.
  3. To assess the historical and contemporary experiences of Latinas and Latinos with special emphasis on gender and how gender structures identities, roles, and relationships both domestically and transnationally.
  4. To develop competency in the research and analysis of the personal, family, immigration, gender, and youth histories of Latinas/Latinos in the United States through the utilization of oral history and ethnographic theoretical perspectives and methodologies.
  5. To be able to make links between content in the Latina/Latino Studies curriculum and practice in the community.
  6. To develop an area of expertise and depth in Latina/Latino populations in the United States. In addition to the major's multidisciplinary foundation, we encourage students to sharpen their expertise in Latino demographics and one of the three broad areas of our departmental course offerings: #1 Arts and Humanities, #2 History, or #3 Behavioral and Social Science.
  7. To develop competency in writing skills relevant to Latina/Latino Studies and Ethnic Studies.

Latina/Latino Studies (B.A.) — 42 units

For the core courses, a passing grade of C- or better is required. For other LTNS courses, a passing grade is a D.

Core Courses (18 units)

LTNS 215Introduction to Latina/o/x Studies3
LTNS/HIST 278History of Latinos in the U.S.3
LTNS 350Gender and Latina/x Feminisms3
LTNS 390Latina/Latino Studies Knowledge Production3
LTNS 680Latina/o/x Community Organizing and Career Futures3
LTNS 694Community Service Learning3

Electives (21 units)

A minimum of three units are required from each of the 5 Focus Areas. Units may not be counted for multiple Focus Areas.

Performance, Art, Literature, & Media

LTNS 222Latina/o/x Art History3
LTNS 225Latina/o/x Visual Culture3
LTNS 230Introduction to Latina/o Literature3
LTNS 270Latina/o/x Murals, Memes, Music, and More: Latina/o/x Arts & Humanities3
LTNS/ARTH 301Latin American and Latino/a/x Art, 1492 to the Present3
LTNS 305Latina/o Studies Creative Writing Workshop3
LTNS 409/CINE 309Latina/o/x Cinema3
LTNS 425Popular and Traditional Music of the Latinx U.S.3
LTNS 530Latina/os and the Media3
LTNS/SPAN 531Creative Writing in Spanish: Poetry, Fiction, and Drama3
LTNS/JOUR 536Latina/o Journalism3
LTNS 560Contemporary Latina/o Literature3
LTNS 565Central Americans Writing in the United States3
LTNS 679Central American Literature: Roots to the Present3

Feminisms, Sexualities, & Queer of Color Critique

LTNS 211Latina/o/x Families3
LTNS 340Latinx Youth Subcultures3
LTNS 385Afro-Latina Experiences3
LTNS 400Latina Girlhood3
LTNS/WGS 445Gendered Borders: Latinas and Globalization3
LTNS/WGS 505Gender, Sexuality, and Latino Communities3
LTNS 533/HIST 355/WGS 355History of Women in Latin America3
LTNS/SOC 640Sociology of Latina/x/o Experiences3

Politics, Policy, Law, & Economics

LTNS 276Latina/o, U.S. Government, and Constitutional Ideals3
LTNS 315Latina/os in California3
LTNS 415Latina/o Economic Empowerment3
LTNS 430/C J 435Race, Crime, and Justice3
LTNS 470Latina/o Immigration to the U.S.3
LTNS/C J 485Latina/o Youth, Crime, and Justice3
LTNS/ANTH 501/HIST 358Latin America: The National Period3
LTNS/SOC 640Sociology of Latina/x/o Experiences3
LTNS 660Latina/o Politics3
LTNS 670/PLSI 408Mexican Politics and Society3

Education, History, & Decolonial Knowledges

LTNS 110Critical Thinking and the Rhetoric of Latinas/os/x in the 21st Century3
LTNS 222Latina/o/x Art History3
LTNS 265Topics in Latina/o/x History3
LTNS/ARTH 301Latin American and Latino/a/x Art, 1492 to the Present3
LTNS 315Latina/os in California3
LTNS 435Oral History, Community Memory, and Collective Stories3
LTNS 440Caribbean Cultures and Spirituality3
LTNS 460Central Americans of the U.S.: History and Heritage3
LTNS 465Mexican American and Chicana/x/o History3
LTNS 467Caribbeans in the U.S.: History and Heritage3
LTNS 470Latina/o Immigration to the U.S.3
LTNS 475Aztec Philosophy3
LTNS/SOC 487Latin American Migrations: A Social History3
LTNS/ANTH 501/HIST 358Latin America: The National Period3
LTNS/SOC/RRS 580Educational Equity3
LTNS 685Projects in the Teaching of Latina/o Studies1-4
LTNS 690Community Fieldwork in Latina/o Studies3

Health, Migration, & Transnational Studies

LTNS 210Latina/o/x Health Care Perspectives3
LTNS 211Latina/o/x Families3
LTNS 380Afro/Latina/o Diasporas3
LTNS 440Caribbean Cultures and Spirituality3
LTNS 445Gendered Borders: Latinas and Globalization3
LTNS 455Resistance Literature of the Americas3
LTNS 460Central Americans of the U.S.: History and Heritage3
LTNS 465Mexican American and Chicana/x/o History3
LTNS 467Caribbeans in the U.S.: History and Heritage3
LTNS 470Latina/o Immigration to the U.S.3
LTNS/SOC 487Latin American Migrations: A Social History3
LTNS 500Latina/o Community Mental Health3
LTNS/SOC 640Sociology of Latina/x/o Experiences3

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (3 units)

ETHS 300GWWriting in Ethnic Studies - GWAR3
1

The following courses may be taken for no more than 4 units towards the LTNS major:

LTNS 685 Projects in the Teaching of Latina/o Studies (1-4 units)

LTNS 690 Community Fieldwork in Latina/o Studies (3 units)

LTNS 694 Community Service Learning (3 units)

LTNS 707 Seminar in Latina/o Studies (3 units)

2

A minimum of 30 upper-division units must be completed for the degree (including upper-division units required for the major, general education, electives, etc.). A student can complete this major yet not attain the necessary number of upper-division units required for graduation. In this case, additional upper-division courses will be needed to reach the required total.

3

Students must complete at least 30 hours of service as part of a local community service learning internship in an LTNS course.

4

Nine transfer units in Latina/Latino Studies (or equivalent field) may count toward the Major.

Complementary Studies

Students completing a Bachelor of Arts in Latina/Latino Studies must complete at least 12 units in Complementary Studies with a prefix other than LTNS and not cross-listed with LTNS. These units may be in

  1. a Spanish or other Latin American Language;
  2. one course from each of these prefixes: AAS, AFRS, AIS, and RRS;
  3. 12 units in one of the prefixes AAS, AFRS, AIS, or RRS;
  4. partial completion of a minor, or partial completion of a certificate;
  5. a study abroad program in Latin America; or
  6. upon advisement, a coherent group of courses complementary to the major.

With the approval of an advisor in the major, courses which fulfill the Complementary Studies requirement may be lower- or upper-division units, resident or transfer units.

Students who have earned AA-T or AS-T degrees and are pursuing a similar B.A. degree at SF State are required to fulfill the Complementary Studies requirement as defined by the major department. Students should consult with a major advisor about how transfer units and/or SF State units can best be applied to this requirement to ensure degree completion within 60 units.

General Education Requirements

Requirement Course Level Units Area Designation
Oral Communication LD 3 A1
Written English Communication LD 3 A2
Critical Thinking LD 3 A3
Physical Science LD 3 B1
Life Science LD 3 B2
Lab Science LD 1 B3
Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning LD 3 B4
Arts LD 3 C1
Humanities LD 3 C2
Arts or Humanities LD 3 C1 or C2
Social Sciences LD 3 D1
Social Sciences: US History LD 3 D2
Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (LLD) LD 3 E
Ethnic Studies LD 3 F
Physical and/or Life Science UD 3 UD-B
Arts and/or Humanities UD 3 UD-C
Social Sciences UD 3 UD-D
SF State Studies
Courses certified as meeting the SF State Studies requirements may be upper or lower division in General Education (GE), a major or minor, or an elective.
American Ethnic and Racial Minorities LD or UD 3 AERM
Environmental Sustainability LD or UD 3 ES
Global Perspectives LD or UD 3 GP
Social Justice LD or UD 3 SJ

Note: LD = Lower-Division; UD = Upper-Division.

Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)

Students completing a Bachelor of Arts in Latina/Latino Studies fulfill their GWAR requirement through ETHS 300GW Writing in Ethnic Studies - GWAR or other approved GWAR course.

First-Time Student Roadmap (4 Year)

The roadmaps presented in this Bulletin are intended as suggested plans of study and do not replace meeting with an advisor. For a more personalized roadmap, please use the Degree Planner tool found in your Student Center.

First-Time Student Roadmap

SF State Scholars Roadmap

The San Francisco State Scholars program provides undergraduate students with an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree. Students in this program pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously. This program allows students to earn graduate credit while in their junior and/or senior year, reducing the number of semesters required for completion of a master’s degree.

B.A. in Latina/o and M.A. in Ethnic Studies SF State Scholars Roadmap

B.A. in Latina/Latino Studies and Master of Public Administration SF State Scholars Roadmap

Transfer Student Roadmap (2 Year)

Students with an AA-T in Social Justice Studies.
SJS ADT Roadmap

for students with an AA-T in Spanish.
SPAN ADT Roadmap

This degree program is an approved pathway (“similar” major) for students earning the ADT in Social Justice Studies or Spanish

California legislation SB 1440 (2009) mandated the creation of the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) to be awarded by the California Community Colleges. Two types of ADTs are awarded: Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T). 

Note: no specific degree is required for admission as an upper-division student. However, the ADT includes specific guarantees related to admission and graduation and is designed to clarify the transfer process and strengthen lower-division preparation for the major.

An ADT totals 60 units and in most cases includes completion of all lower-division General Education requirements and at least 18 units in a specific major. (The Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science AS-T degrees defer 3 units in lower-division GE area C and 3 units in lower-division GE area D until after transfer.) Students pursuing an ADT are guaranteed admission to the CSU if minimum eligibility requirements are met, though not necessarily to the CSU campus of primary choice.

Upon verification that the ADT has been awarded prior to matriculation at SF State, students are guaranteed B.A. or B.S. completion in 60 units if pursuing a “similar” major after transfer. Determinations about “similar” majors at SF State are made by faculty in the discipline.

Degree completion in 60 units cannot be guaranteed when a student simultaneously pursues an additional major, a minor, certificate, or credential.

A sample advising roadmap for students who have earned an ADT and continue in a "similar" major at SF State is available on the Roadmaps tab on the degree requirements page for the major. The roadmap displays:

  • How many lower-division units required for the major have been completed upon entry based on the award of a specific ADT;
  • Which lower-division requirements are considered complete upon entry based on the award of a specific ADT;
  • How to complete the remaining 60 units for the degree in four semesters.

Students who have earned an ADT should seek advising in the major department during the first semester of attendance.

General Advising Information for Transfer Students

  1. Before transfer, complete as many lower-division requirements or electives for this major as possible.
  2. The following courses are not required for admission but are required for graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to complete these units before transfer; doing so will provide more flexibility in course selection after transfer.
    • a course in U.S. History
    • a course in U.S. & California Government

For information about satisfying the requirements described in (1) and (2) above at a California Community College (CCC), please visit http://www.assist.org. Check any geographically accessible CCCs; sometimes options include more than one college. Use ASSIST to determine:

  • Which courses at a CCC satisfy any lower-division major requirements for this major;
  • Which courses at a CCC satisfy CSU GE, US History, and US & CA Government requirements.

Remedial courses are not transferable and do not apply to the minimum 60 semester units/90 quarter units required for admission.

Additional units for courses that are repeated do not apply to the minimum 60 units required for upper-division transfer (for example, if a course was not passed on the first attempt or was taken to earn a better grade).

Before leaving the last California Community College of attendance, obtain a summary of completion of lower-division General Education units (IGETC or CSU GE Breadth). This is often referred to as a GE certification worksheet. SF State does not require delivery of this certification to Admissions, but students should retain this document for verifying degree progress after transfer.

Credit for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or College-Level Examination Program courses: AP/IB/CLEP credit is not automatically transferred from the previous institution. Units are transferred only when an official score report is delivered to SF State. Credit is based on the academic year during which exams were taken. Refer to the University Bulletin in effect during the year of AP/IB/CLEP examination(s) for details regarding the award of credit for AP/IB/CLEP.

Students pursuing majors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines often defer 6-9 units of lower-division General Education in Areas C and D until after transfer to focus on preparation courses for the major. This advice does not apply to students pursuing associate degree completion before transfer.

Transferring From Institutions Other Than CCCs or CSUs

Review SF State's lower-division General Education requirements. Note that, as described below, the four basic skills courses required for admission meet A1, A2, A3, and B4 in the SF State GE pattern. Courses that fulfill the remaining areas of SF State’s lower-division GE pattern are available at most two-year and four-year colleges and universities.

Of the four required basic skills courses, a course in critical thinking (A3) may not be widely offered outside the CCC and CSU systems. Students should attempt to identify and take an appropriate course no later than the term of application to the CSU. To review more information about the A3 requirement, please visit bulletin.sfsu.edu/undergraduate-education/general-education/lower-division/#AAEL.

Waiting until after transfer to take a single course at SF State that meets both US and CA/local government requirements may be an appropriate option, particularly if transferring from outside of California.