Why Study Latino & Latin American Studies?

Welcome to the homepage of the Latino/Latin American Studies program at Central Washington University! Latin America is an extremely diverse and vital region, whose peoples, histories, and cultures are tied to our own. The peoples of the Americas are united by much more than a hemisphere. We share common histories of colonialism, and movements of national independence aimed at shattering the chains of European imperialism. We share common experiences of race relations, as Europeans, Amerindians, and Africans came to constitute wholly new worlds. We share common bonds of globalization, from the Age of Columbus to the twenty-first century. By studying Latin America, then, we study ourselves. Join us in an interdisciplinary study of our fellow Americans!

At Central Washington University, we view Latino/Latin American Studies and central Washington state as a natural mix. Right next door to one of our nation's fastest growing Latina/o communities, we in the LLAS program also invite our students and surrounding community to join us in the process of transforming the experience of Central Washington University. On our site, one can find information about our minor program, our faculty and courses, and much, much more with time. That is, our website, like our program, is a work in progress, a work in transformation, just like our broader university and community.