Undergraduate Program
Children in Rama Cay. Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua. © 2014 Ana Hernandez
This caption describes the image above.
Fall 2026 Undergraduate Courses
Check out selected Latin American Studies course offerings in a variety of disciplines, including history, culture, film & music, Indigenous languages, and a special offering from the fall 2026 Tinker Visiting Professor.
Click to view Fall 2026 Undergrad Courses
Some courses are cross-listed with other disciplines. Contact your adviser for more information.
Double Major News – Scholarships Available
Latin American Studies majors can now pursue a double major in either History or International Relations & Global Studies (IRG) with few extra courses and a generous financial incentive!
Students who declare the LAS major and enroll in LAS 301 for fall 2026 by July 31 will be eligible to receive a $1,500 targeted scholarship. Learn more about the double major below.
Contact David Valenzuela, LAS Undergraduate Adviser, at d.valenzuela@austin.utexas.edu to learn how easy it is to combine LAS with one of these majors.
- LAS and History Double Major
What if you could turn your degree into a powerful global specialization—with just a few extra courses?
The Department of History and the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS) have strengthened their collaboration to make it easier to pursue a double major in History (HIS) and Latin American Studies (LAS).
Will this be complicated? — Probably not. You are likely already on your way!
Several courses are already cross-listed between HIS and LAS. For example:
- LAS 301 (Introduction to Latin American Studies) = HIS 306N (Key Ideas and Issues in Latin America)
- LAS 366 (Topics in Latin American History) overlaps with multiple HIS courses
- Up to 12 additional LAS credits can be fulfilled through History coursework
Bottom line: You may only need 3–4 additional courses to complete a double major.Advantages of a double major in LAS and HIS
- Gain a competitive edge for careers in education, law, government, NGOs, and international fields
- Deepen your regional expertise in a highly relevant part of the world
- Access exclusive funding and opportunities
Funding & OpportunitiesLLILAS offers a wide range of scholarships and awards every year, including:
- Davidson Scholarship
- Elio King Excellence Endowment
- Lozano Long Travel Scholarships (Study Abroad)
- Undergraduate Academic Scholarships
- E.D. Farmer Fellowships
- Academic Excellence Award (COLA)
- Francisco J. Garza Endowment
- IBC Bank Foundation Fund
- Sherzer Latin American Studies Scholarship
- Jordan Family Foundation Scholarship
- Indigenous Language Scholarships (FLAS)
- LLILAS Benson Community Engagement Award
In addition, LLILAS offers:
- Paid study abroad programs and internships
- Research and work opportunities through the Benson Latin American Collection
- Digital scholarship initiatives
Get Started – We strongly encourage you to reach out to David Valenzuela, LAS Undergraduate Adviser, at d.valenzuela@austin.utexas.edu to explore how easy it is to add this double major.
Take advantage of this opportunity to expand your academic profile and open new doors. Your second major might be closer than you think!
- IRG (International Relations & Global Studies)
What if you could turn your degree into a powerful global specialization—with just a few extra courses?
The International Relations & Global Studies program and the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS) have strengthened their collaboration to make it easier to pursue a double major in IRG and Latin American Studies (LAS).
Will this be complicated? — Probably not. You are likely already on your way!
- The LAS major requires 27 credit hours, while IRG requires 48 credit hours.
- Many IRG courses can count toward LAS requirements.
Bottom line: With careful planning, you may be able to complete the double major with little additional coursework.Advantages of a double major in LAS and IRG:
- Gain a competitive edge for careers in education, law, government, NGOs, and international fields
- Deepen your regional expertise in a highly relevant part of the world
- Access exclusive funding and opportunities
Funding & OpportunitiesLLILAS offers a wide range of scholarships and awards every year, including:
- Davidson Scholarship
- Elio King Excellence Endowment
- Lozano Long Travel Scholarships (Study Abroad)
- Undergraduate Academic Scholarships
- E.D. Farmer Fellowships
- Academic Excellence Award (COLA)
- Francisco J. Garza Endowment
- IBC Bank Foundation Fund
- Sherzer Latin American Studies Scholarship
- Jordan Family Foundation Scholarship
- Indigenous Language Scholarships (FLAS)
- LLILAS Benson Community Engagement Award
In addition, LLILAS offers:
- Paid study abroad programs and internships
- Research and work opportunities through the Benson Latin American Collection
- Digital scholarship initiatives
Get Started – We strongly encourage you to reach out to David Valenzuela, LAS Undergraduate Adviser, at d.valenzuela@austin.utexas.edu to explore how easy it is to add this double major.
Take advantage of this opportunity to expand your academic profile and open new doors. Your second major might be closer than you think!
- Accordion 3Panel 3. Add body text in this space.
- Accordion 4Panel 4. Add body text in this space.
- Accordion 5Panel 5. Add body text in this space.
Fall 2026 Undergraduate Courses
Check out selected Latin American Studies course offerings in a variety of disciplines, including history, culture, film & music, Indigenous languages, and a special offering from the fall 2026 Tinker Visiting Professor.
Click to view Fall 2026 Undergrad Courses
Some courses are cross-listed with other disciplines. Contact your adviser for more information.
This caption describes the image above.
LAS major information and funding news
Questions? Contact us:
Freddy Sanchez, Senior Academic Adviser
Professor Sandro Sessarego, Undergrad Faculty Adviser
Apply to UT Austin with the Common App (first-year and transfer students)
Undergraduate studies leading to the bachelor of arts degree in Latin American Studies is designed to provide a general, broad-based knowledge of Latin America through an interdisciplinary program.
Please consult with Freddy Sanchez, Senior Academic Adviser, for major requirements and course planning. In many cases, study abroad at a Latin American university can be included in the degree program.
We are LLILAS . . .
Add Video Headline Here
Add video description here.
Why major in Latin American Studies?
"Paving Tradition," photo by Diana Hernández
Latin American Studies (LAS) prepares students for a rapidly evolving job market that demands adaptable thinkers with a global knowledge base who are capable of cross-cultural collaboration. Through the LAS major, students engage a broad spectrum of global phenomena with intellectual rigor and flexibility.
Students gain:
- Deeper understanding of the links between global and local politics and economies.
- Regional expertise through interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives.
- Understanding of vital transnational themes like climate change, indigeneity, economic development, community activism, the media, security, democracy, immigration, and human rights.
Advantages of LAS
LAS student Briza Maldonado displays her research poster
Because it is interdisciplinary, Latin American Studies gives students flexibility and better access to the full resources of the university than can be had within the confines of a single department.
Courses provide a core foundation in the humanities, social sciences, communications, and the arts. Our program integrates more than 30 academic departments and over 165 faculty across the university.
Scroll down to learn about funding opportunities from LLILAS.
Funding and Financial Opportunities
LAS undergrad Gabriela Torres during a trip abroad
Each academic year, the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies awards over $100,000 to deserving undergraduates (the majority to Latin American Studies majors). The funds include merit- and needs-based scholarships.
Other Awards
- 10 study abroad scholarships for Latin America annually
- Yearly prize for Best Honors/Capstone Thesis, open to all LAS majors
- Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowships (FLAS), a U.S. Department of Education grant that provides training in less-commonly-taught foreign languages or area studies
What jobs do LAS majors get?
Tanya Velazquez, Class of 2024, is a TV journalist
Latin American Studies majors graduate with a broad range of highly marketable skills that prepare them for virtually any profession, as well as for graduate school.
Common career paths for LAS majors:
- International organizations
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- News and international media
- Law
- Education and academia
- Government service
- International business
Undergraduate Forms
- Permission for LAS 379 (Independent Studies) (PDF, 54K)
- Permission for LAS 679HA or 679HB (use for either Thesis A or Thesis B) (PDF, 42K)
- Selected Study Abroad Programs in Latin America (PDF, 1.6MB)