Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization

Information about the Latinx Studies Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization

The Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Latinx Studies requires 10 credit hours of coursework, including the four credit hour core course CS 6425/SPAN 6705: Graduate Introduction to Latinx Studies, and two additional electives from the courses listed below. The goal of the GIS is to assist graduate students in gaining advanced knowledge of Latinx Studies and training in its interdisciplinary methods.
 
Per Graduate School guidelines, “The total credit hours must include at least 3 different courses, 9 credit hours of which must be taken in two different graduate programs outside of the student's home program. A grade of B or better (or S when applicable) is required in each course comprising the specialization. The graduate interdisciplinary specialization will appear on the student's transcript.”
 
All courses that count for the GIS must be at the 5000 - 8000 level, however, only one course at the 5000 level will count toward the GIS. All other courses must be at the 6000-8000 level. In this way, students are strongly encouraged to take courses at a level that puts them in conversation with other graduate students across disciplines.
 
In courses focused on culture, literature, or the arts, students will study multiple forms of Latinx creative expression with a focus on analysis of expressive forms themselves; theoretical frameworks for the interpretation of culture, literature, and art; the historical, social, and aesthetic contexts of Latinx cultural production; and its intertextualities. Students will also consider the reception, impact and transformative power of Latinx creative expression.  
 
In courses focused on history and social issues, students will examine the histories and lived experiences of multiple Latinx groups in the U.S., gaining greater understanding of the relationship between power and difference (Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran American, Dominican American and others). Students will learn about the experiences of communities who had been rendered invisible by canonical histories in the U.S. and Latin America as well as acquire new methodologies for historical research. Students will also consider the complexity of current issues affecting the Latinx population in the U.S. such as immigration, educational policy, language, labor, voting trends, etc. 

General Advising Information for GIS Program 

Students interested in the GIS should consult with the program director regarding a plan of study. The links to the right provide a term-by-term list of courses offered for credit toward the program. Once the director has confirmed the plan, the student can submit the GIS application form through the Graduate School's web site.  For more details regarding this application, please see the Graduate School Instructions.

The Graduate School has moved to an electronic forms processing system called GRADFORMS.OSU.EDU.  Presently, applications to graduate and all degree examination forms are being handled by this system, as well as the minor and interdisciplinary specialization forms. After logging into GRADFORMS, click "Graduation and Examination Forms," and then scroll down to "Minors and Interdisciplinary Specializations." The GIS form is located here.

According to the new system, the student fills out the form for the GIS, and then it is sent to the program director for review.  Then, the director approves the form, and it goes to the Graduate School for their review. Please let the director know if you have submitted a form because the Graduate School only informs the director "as a courtesy," which means the director might not actually get a notification. The same applies to changes in your graduate program.  Also, please let the director know if you submit a request for changes so they may be approved. 

After completing the required credit hours, please return to the GRADFORMS page and complete the “Transcript Designation Form” so that the GIS appears in your transcript.

General questions about Graduate School degree options and specializations may be directed to Tim Watson, director of Graduation Services, at (614) 247-7292. Questions regarding the GradForms system may be directed to Wilma Barnfather at barnfather.1@osu.edu.

Faculty Advisor for the GIS

Paloma Martinez-Cruz
Program Director, Latinx Studies and Professor, Department of Spanish and Portuguese
283 Hagerty Hall
1775 S College Rd
Columbus, OH 43210
For more information about Latinx Studies GIS, please contact Dr. Martinez-Cruz.

Core GIS Requirements

Required Course (4 credits): 

Comparative Studies 6425 / Spanish 6705: Graduate Introduction to LatinxStudies
 

This course offers an introduction to interdisciplinary research, an overview of Latinx Studies research in multiple fields, and training in teaching an undergraduate interdisciplinary course. It is likely to be offered at least once every academic year but we encourage you to take it earlier rather than later in order to make sure you will be able to complete it before graduation.

 

Elective Courses (6 credits):

Two additional courses at the 5000-8000 level, but only one of these may be at the 5000 level and all must be outside the student's home department.
 
*Courses marked with an asterisk (*) indicate that the course only counts for the GIS when the syllabus contains significant Latinx Studies readings and content. Students may confirm this by consulting with the instructor prior to enrollment or by submitting syllabus to Latinx Studies Faculty Coordinator. In general, a course must include at least 30% Latinx Studies content in order to be counted in the GIS, and this will normally be the case when the course is taught by Latinx Studies Affiliated Faculty. 
 
Directed Reading or Independent Study courses in any department may count for GIS credit provided that the focus of Directed Reading or Independent Study is in Latinx Studies, and that the student submits a copy of the course contract to the Latinx Studies Program Coordinator for approval. 

African American and African Studies

  • *African American & African Studies 7756: Theorizing Race and Ethnicity

Business Admin: Management and Human Resources

  • Business Admin: Management and Human Resources (BUSMHR) 7355: Managing Diversity

Comparative Studies

  • *Comparative Studies 5691: Topics in Comparative Studies
  • *Comparative Studies 7320: Theorizing Race and Ethnicity
  • *Comparative Studies 7380: Theorizing America 
  • *Comparative Studies 7888: Interdepartmental Studies in the Humanities (for example, Survey of Latina/o Literature for Graduate Students)
  • *Comparative Studies 8792: Seminar in Interdisciplinary Theory
  • *Comparative Studies 8888: Interdepartmental Seminar in Critical Theory

City and Regional Planning

  • * City and Regional Planning 6310:  Law and Planning II - Environment and Society  

Education: Teaching and Learning

  • *Teaching and Learning 6808: Multicultural and Global Perspectives on Teaching and Learning 
  • Teaching and Learning 7344: Bilingualism & Biliteracy
  • *Teaching and Learning 7364: Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults 
  • *Teaching and Learning 8890: Advanced Seminar - Bilingual and Biliterate Development in Children and Adolescents

English

  • *English 6758.01: Intro to US Ethnic Literature and Culture 
  • *English 7858.01: U.S. Ethnic Literatures and Culture
  • *English 7888.01: Interdepartmental Studies in the Humanities 

History

  • *History 5750: Special Topics in the History of Ethnicity, Race, and the Nation
  • *History 7600: Transnational History of Women, Gender, and Sexuality
  • *History 7630: Studies in the History of Sexuality
  • *History 8010: Seminar in Modern U.S. History 

Law

  • Law 8303: Immigration Law

Political Science

  • *Political Science 7140: Race and Ethnicity
  • *Political Science 7910: Identity Politics

Sociology

  • Sociology 7756: Sociology of Immigration

Spanish

  • Spanish 5389: US Latino Languages and Communities
  • Spanish 5620: Gender and Power in the Americas
  • *Spanish 5640: Globalization and Latin America - Multidisciplinary Approaches
  • *Spanish 5660: Seminar in Latin American Literatures and Cultures 
  • Spanish 5689S: Spanish in Ohio (service learning/language) 
  • *Spanish 8580: Seminar in Contemporary Spanish American Literature

Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

  • *Women’s Studies 5620: Topics in Feminist Studies
  • *Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 7710: Theorizing Race, Sexualities, and Social Justice