Courses & Modules Photo by Laura Vera - Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia

Participating departments:

School of Philosophy and Art History; Essex Business School; Government; History; Language and Linguistics; Law; Literature, Film and Theatre Studies; and Sociology. 

Undergraduate Courses

Our BA degrees combine compulsory components with plenty of choice over module options.  Compulsory components include: the Latin American studies core modules; Spanish and/or Portuguese, and the stipulated term/year abroad programme of study.  Students taking Latin American Studies with Human Rights/ with Business Management take fewer options as they have required modules on human rights/ business management.  

Related Courses administered by the Department of Language and Linguistics:

First Year Latin American Studies Core and Compulsory Modules

First Year Core Module (HR141 - Autumn term): Introduction to Latin American History

This module aims to help students understanding broad processes and how economics and politics link with the social and cultural in the particular case of Latin America. It seeks to develop awareness of how the history of Latin America is linked to that of Europe and Africa. Students will be encouraged to make use of concrete case studies to reflect on these broader developments in their essays.

First Year Core Module (CS141- Spring term): Introduction to Contemporary Latin America

This module runs in the spring term and provides an introduction to contemporary Latin America life.  It looks at some of the major trends and processes that have shaped current realities, focusing on those that have occurred over the last thirty years.  During this period, like other world regions, Latin American countries have experienced dramatic changes as a result of (neoliberal) globalisation.  Each week we will look at a different topic, including: democratisation, migration, the rise of the drugs trade, the spread of Protestantism, changing gender relations and patterns of consumption, as well as struggles over the environment. 

First Year Core Module (LA421/422): Intensive Spanish Modules (students with no Spanish)

LA421 and LA422 are 2 Spanish language modules that together make the Intensive Essex Spanish programme which runs for 21 weeks at Essex and 4 weeks in Spain where students do a consolidation course during the summer. No knowledge of Spanish is required and by the end of the 25 weeks students will reach Intermediate Level or Level B1, European Framework. The aim of the module is to guide students in their development of an intuitive knowledge about Spanish structures and lexicon. The materials used explore the historical and cultural diversity of the Spanish-speaking world and the presence of Spanish in Latin America, Spain and Africa.  

First Year Core Module (LA440): Post Advanced Spanish Module (students with A Level in Spanish)

This module focuses on expanding vocabulary and improving listening and oral skills. There is consolidation of grammar and development of advanced structures. Through the use of authentic texts, films and conversation with native speakers, students should acquire a wider knowledge of the Spanish and Latin American culture and history.

First Year Compulsory Module (LA333): Spanish to Portuguese Conversion (students who have an A Level in Spanish)

This introductory Portuguese module is especially devised for students with A-level Spanish knowledge or equivalent. It aims to develop written, aural/oral and reading skills in Portuguese to an advanced level. Students will also be introduced to aspects of Brazilian/Portuguese culture and society.

Second Year Latin American Studies Core and Compulsory Modules

Second Year Core Module (LA440): Post Advanced Spanish Module (students who did Intensive Spanish in their first year)

This module focuses on expanding vocabulary and improving listening and oral skills. There is consolidation of grammar and development of advanced structures. Through the use of authentic texts, films and conversation with native speakers, students should acquire a wider knowledge of the Spanish and Latin American culture and history. Students must pass this module to proceed to their year abroad.

Second Year Core Module (LA450): Proficiency Level Spanish (students who did LA440 Post Advanced Level in their first year)

This is a module for those students who have passed LA440 Post Advanced Spanish or who have an equivalent level of Spanish. The materials deal with important events of Spanish and Latin American culture and the society within which they took place. Constant links with modern issues are introduced in every unit of the module. The aim of the module is to widen the learners' awareness and knowledge about the Spanish-speaking culture worldwide and to provide them with the appropriate training to develop intellectual skills such as critical reasoning, application of concepts and identification and solution of problems. Students must pass this module to proceed to their year abroad.

Second Year Core Module (CS241) Doing Research for a BA Dissertation

This half module prepares students for one of the most enjoyable components of our degrees: the dissertation research during their term/year abroad.  It introduces research methods, while encouraging a creative, systematic approach to research design.

Second Year Compulsory Module (LA333): Spanish to Portuguese Conversion (students who did Intensive Spanish in their first year)

This introductory Portuguese module is especially devised for students with A-level Spanish knowledge or equivalent. It aims to develop written, aural/oral and reading skills in Portuguese to an advanced level. Students will also be introduced to aspects of Brazilian/Portuguese culture and society.

Final Year Core Module (CS831) Dissertation Seminar

The dissertation seminar aims to help students transform the data they’ve collected during their stay in Latin American into a coherent, well-written dissertation.  It has a workshop format, and combines student presentations with short talks about key issues such as data analysis, presentation and writing. Further information is available on the CISH website.

Final Year Core Module (LA460): Mastery Level Spanish

This module takes students coming back from their residence abroad and expands their control over their second language. It equips students with the tools to consolidate and develop the language they have acquired abroad and it fosters in students a practical awareness of registers, styles and rhetorical features of written and spoken Spanish. It allows students to acquire critical, analytical, team work, and problem-solving skills. The materials consist of several units exploring the use of language and covering socio-cultural Latin American and European Spanish issues. Exercises and assessment aim to develop higher level communication skills.

Latin American Optional Modules

The External Examiner for the Latin American Studies degrees and modules is Professor James Dunkerley of Queen Mary University of London.

Postgraduate Study

There are Latin Americanists in all contributing departments, who are able to provide supervision for PhDs. 

Funding opportunities for postgraduate students