Latin American Studies, Certificate
Pair this undergraduate certificate with nearly any major to build the global, intercultural and language skills that employers value. It complements your primary field of study while broadening how you understand the world and connect across cultures.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Certificate description
Latin American Studies undergraduate certificate description
In the Latin American studies certificate program, you gain an understanding of the cultures, economies, politics and history of Latin American nations while developing language proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese.
The program is designed to cross disciplinary boundaries and provide a diverse and global perspective of Latin American experiences. You may take courses in history, culture, transborder studies, geography, colonization, literature, film, theater, the arts and more.
Why earn a Latin American studies undergraduate certificate at ASU?
At ASU, you can pursue study abroad opportunities, dig into internationally focused coursework, and learn from faculty whose expertise spans multiple disciplines.
Courses
This undergraduate certificate includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
2026-2027 Catalog Year
The certificate requires 18 credit hours. A "C" minimum is required for all courses in the certificate, although students must maintain a 3.00 GPA in the post-baccalaureate certificate program.
| Requirement | Minimum grade | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
|
The certificate in Latin American Studies requires 18 credit hours, of which 15 credit hours must be upper-division. A minimum of six upper-division credit hours must be completed through The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. When selecting courses, the college offering the course can be identified by viewing the course details in Class Search. Only courses completed with a grade of "C" (2.00 on a scale of 4.00) or better may be applied toward the certificate requirements. |
||
|
Language Requirement: Students must demonstrate Spanish or Portuguese proficiency through the 313-level of conversation and composition. The language proficiency requirement may be waived for native speakers or those with in-field experience equivalent to SPA 313 or POR 313. |
||
|
Students enrolled in a degree program with similar course enrollment options are recommended to select nine credit hours (three courses) from within their major and nine credit hours (three courses) outside their major. All students are encouraged to select courses in consultation with a Latin American Studies advisor. Language instruction courses dealing with Spanish and Portuguese conversation and composition cannot be used to satisfy the content course requirement. While students are encouraged to enroll in language instruction courses (i.e. conversation and composition) above the 313-level, they cannot apply such coursework to the Latin American studies certificate course requirements.
15 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 15 |
|
Students enrolled in a degree program with similar course enrollment options are recommended to select nine credit hours (three courses) from within their major and nine credit hours (three courses) outside their major. All students are encouraged to select courses in consultation with a Latin American Studies advisor. Language instruction courses dealing with Spanish and Portuguese conversation and composition cannot be used to satisfy the content course requirement. While students are encouraged to enroll in language instruction courses (i.e. conversation and composition) above the 313-level, they cannot apply such coursework to the Latin American studies certificate course requirements.
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
|
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Communicate orally in Spanish at the intermediate level standards according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines.
- Communicate in written Spanish at the intermediate level standards according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines.
Communicate orally in Spanish at the intermediate level standards according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. Enrollment requirements
Requests to declare this certificate are reviewed by the academic advisor in the academic unit offering the certificate. Students may be contacted to discuss the certificate before it is added to their record.
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.
Here are the admission and application details
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this Latin American studies undergraduate certificate prepares you for
Graduates who have combined the certificate in Latin American studies with their major program of study may become more marketable to employers. They often decide to pursue employment in education, political analysis, the military, tourism and hospitality, or marketing.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
School of International Letters and Cultures
|
DH 131
silcadvising@asu.edu
480-965-6281
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
