Latin American and Latino/a Studies welcomes students from Languages, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, the Health Sciences, Hard Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Design, and the Arts. Why? Because Latin America is building some of the most dynamic cities, fastest-growing economies, cutting-edge production of music and film, intriguing political movements, and programs of environmental sustainability, to name a few reasons. Both professionals and scholars enjoy exploring, traveling, and trying to understand life and the world within the framework of this most vibrant region of the globe. If you are interested in Latin America, take a minor in Latin American and Latino/a Studies. It will enthrall you. It will push you to learn new languages. It will give you the edge to get a job.

Knowledge of Latin America and its people, including those in the United States, is an essential part of a liberal education today. Not only is the Latino population of West Michigan growing rapidly but Latinos now constitute the most populous ethnic group in the United States. In the meantime, U.S. economic, political, and cultural relations with our Latin American neighbors -from Mexico and the Caribbean to Central and South America- continue to grow in importance.

Our mission is:

To educate students and the university community about Latino/a and Latin American matters with our courses and event programming.

To support internationalization, diversity, and interdisciplinary efforts on campus and in the community.

To promote an increase the size of the Latino/a and Latin American student body, faculty and staff.

To serve and educate West Michigan communities. The LAS Program enhances GVSU's relations with the regional Latino/a community.

LAS Coordinator
Professor Andrew Schlewitz
103 Lake Ontario Hall
Phone: (616) 331-8158
Email: [email protected]

What is Latin America?

• A region of twenty different nations and territories in the Americas where people speak mostly Spanish and Portuguese as well as a host of different native and creole languages.

• A region of intense ethnic and cultural fusion of African, European, and Native American origins.  

• A region where most African-descended peoples of the Americas live.

• A region with some of the largest industrial economies of the world.  

• A region of impressive biological diversity and ecological richness.