Founded in 1965, the Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program (LACIS) at UW–Madison is a prestigious Title VI National Resource Center, offering a variety of academic undergraduate and graduate programs. Located within the Institute for Regional and International Studies – a unit of the International Division – their interdisciplinary approach extends beyond the classroom. They provide K-12 outreach, local community collaboration, fellowship opportunities, and more. Fostering a diverse and academically strong environment, LACIS students can also learn Spanish, Portuguese, Yucatec Maya, and Ecuadorian Quichua.
Academic opportunities
LACIS offers an esteemed learning environment for university students. They cultivate a deep understanding of the region through a range of academic tracks, empowering students to shape their educational journey according to their goals. LACIS offers several types of degrees and minors, including:
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science: This multidisciplinary undergraduate program provides students with the knowledge to understand the social and cultural processes that occur in Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, and Portugal.
- Master of Arts: This interdisciplinary graduate program guides students to focus on specific problems of Latin American reality and offers opportunities for a solid foundation in the history and dynamics of the region.
- PhD minor: This minor is offered to candidates obtaining a PhD in other departments by taking a minimum of 12 credits in graduate courses related to Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain or Portugal.
- Dual degree: This dual degree program established by the Law School and LACIS allows students to complete a JD and an MA in a minimum of seven semesters.
LACIS offers several courses, including but not limited to:
- LACIS 376: First Semester Yucatec Maya
- LACIS 361: Elementary Quichua
- LACIS 260: Latin America: An Introduction
- LACIS 440: Current Issues in Latin America
- LACIS 982: Graduate Seminar in Latin America
Signature events and activities
LACIS offers a variety of programs that expand the knowledge and perspectives of both students and faculty, including:
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Outreach activities
Through a diverse range of outreach programs, LACIS supports K-12 learning, fosters international collaboration with universities worldwide, and empowers educators to globalize their curriculum. Below are just a few of the ways LACIS provides vital outreach to the community and beyond:
Local: Going beyond the classroom, LACIS cultivates environmental exploration for all ages. They offer a variety of K-12 educator workshops every year, discussing topics such as climate change, indigenous cultural activism, and more. They also support a vibrant research community through their weekly Tuesday Lunchtime Lectures. These sessions provide a platform for affiliated faculty to learn from visiting scholars, collaborate, and showcase their research.
Statewide: LACIS works with the College of Menominee Nation and UW-Milwaukee to increase connections with the Global Indigenous Movement, host workshops, and share research and practices via seminars. They also provide funding to NatureNet, an initiative of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, in producing free “Nature Passports” for children and families. Available in English and Spanish, these passports encourage outdoor exploration by encouraging participants to visit natural spaces in the area.
International: LACIS collaborates through a network of university partnerships, including the Universidad de Guadalajara (Mexico) and Universidad de La Salle (Mexico), as well as the many university connections they cultivate through the long-standing Tinker visiting professorships and other faculty collaborations. Several faculty members from the Universidad de Guadalajara have visited UW–Madison to collaborate in research and education. At Universidad de La Salle, UW–Madison graduate student Francisca Nuñez, recipient of the Neale Silva Fellowship, spent a week at the Comarca Minera Geoparque to share resources and review research and outreach projects. In turn, in November 2023, Dr. Eduardo García Alonso, architect and Executive Director of the Comarca Minera World Geopark, presented during LACIS’ weekly lecture series.
Fellowships and grants
LACIS also provides a wide range of fellowships and grants, including but not limited to:
- Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS): FLAS fellowships are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the UW’s National Resource Centers to assist students in acquiring foreign language and either area or international studies competencies.
- Tinker Visitor Professorship: Tinker professors are highly distinguished scholars who are citizens of Latin America, the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, or Canada.
- Neal Silva Scholarship: This scholarship is intended specifically for Chilean citizens who would like to attend UW–Madison for up to two years at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Research
With over 100 affiliated faculty conducting research across nearly all campus units, LACIS actively supports their work through:
Seed funding
Seed funding includes grant opportunities for faculty to develop new research ideas.
The Nave Visiting Scholars and Artists Program
This program is designed to bring distinguished scholars, artists, public figures, or activists specializing in Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, or Portugal to the UW-Madison campus for short visits. Each visitor is expected to deliver one formal public lecture or performance.
Conference travel support
Allowing researchers to connect and share their findings at major conferences, these grants are intended to promote faculty participation in professional meetings. They also advance professional exchange and the dissemination of Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies research.
Interested in learning more? Contact LACIS below and follow them on their social media to stay up to date on the latest news and events!
Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies
209 Ingraham Hall
Email: lacis@lacis.wisc.edu
Phone: 608-262-2811 / 608-265-5851
Address: 1155 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706
Web: lacis.wisc.edu
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