Interdisciplinary Concentration in Caribbean Studies

The purpose of the Concentration in Caribbean Studies is to provide students with the opportunity to study and do research on the cultures and societies of the Caribbean from a wide array of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives that include African American studies, Anthropology, Communications, Economics, History, International Business, International studies, Literature, Political Science, Sociology, and Women’s and Gender studies. Although we are very much aware of the current debates about “the Caribbean” as a geographical, political, cultural or analytical category, for our immediate purposes we define the region to include the English, French, Dutch and Spanish-speaking islands, as well as the South American states on the Caribbean littoral, and the Central American nations that share a Caribbean heritage.

The value of this concentration is twofold. First, we have on our campus many students from the Caribbean, or who are of Caribbean descent, or who are simply interested in Caribbean culture and history. Thus, the concentration responds to significant student interest. Second, we see the need for heightened awareness of the role of Caribbean countries in Western Hemisphere relations in general, and the United States in particular and thus view this concentration as a core piece of the International Studies program at the college.

Faculty Sponsors

Rachel Adler (Anthropology), Diane Bates (Sociology), Gloria Dickinson (African American Studies), Alvin Figueroa (Modern Languages), Chris Fisher (African American Studies/History), Janet Gray (Women’s & Gender Studies), Piper Kendrix-Williams (African American Studies/English), John Landreau (Modern Languages/Women’s & Gender Studies), Larry McCauley (English), Lisa Ortiz (English), Susan Ryan (Communications), Teresa San Pedro (Modern Languages), Moussa Sow (African American Studies & Modern Languages)

Curriculum

Core Course

• HIS 364/INT 352 History of the Caribbean

Arts and Humanities

              Take at least two from the following:

 

African American Studies

 

• AAS 201 African and Diaspora Religious Traditions
• AAS 202 African Diaspora Arts and Culture
• AAS 205 African American History to 1865
• AAS 220 Honors African Diaspora Religions and Culture
• AAS 280 Africana Women in Historical Perspective *
• AAS 311 Great Lives in Caribbean History 
• AAS 335 Caribbean Women Writers
• AAS 370 Topics *

Communications

• COM 370 National Cinemas*

English

 

• LIT 216 Global Women Writers *
• LIT 334 Literature by Latinas and Latin American Women
• ENG 335 Caribbean Women Writers

French

• FREN 241 Introduction to Francophone Literature

Spanish

• SPA 304 Culture and Society of Latin America
• SPA 348 Seminar in Hispanic Film *
• SPA 370 Topics in Spanish

Women’s and Gender Studies

• WGS 275 Global Women Writers *
• WGS 375 Global Feminisms *

Social Sciences and History

Take at least two from the following:

Anthropology

• ANT 210 Social Change in Latin America
• ANT 311 Women and Migration*
• ANT 335 Global Urbanization *

History

• HIS 350 Topics
• HIS 356 State and Slavery in West Africa
• HIS 358 Colonial Latin America*
• HIS 359 Modern Latin America*
• HIS 360 Latin American Studies
• HIS 364 Caribbean History
• INT 362 Caribbean History

 Honors

• HON 332 Gender and National ID in Latin America *

International Business

• INB 250 Travel Study Tour of the Caribbean
• INB 260 Multinational Firms and Economic Development in the Caribbean
• INB 350 International Trade in the Caribbean

Political Science

• POL 150 Comparative Politics of Development*
• POL 230 International Relations
• POL 250 Politics and Society in Developing Countries *
• POL 370 Topics
• POL 380 International Political Economy

Sociology

• SOC 214 Social Change in Latin America
• SOC 315 Racism, Power and Privilege

In addition to courses required by this concentration, a student must complete one approved course in quantitative reasoning and one approved course in laboratory science to satisfy breadth requirements in liberal learning. Students should consult their major or open option advisors about how best to complete other liberal learning requirements.