The Department of Latin American and Iberian Studies encourages its students to complete a portion of their undergraduate study through the university’s Education Abroad Program. By studying in countries like Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, and Spain, students can deepen their understanding of this important world region and add an international dimension to their undergraduate education.
For students in the Latin American and Iberian Studies program, the benefits of
study abroad are immense. No amount of classroom work can replace living for
an extended period of time immersed in the culture of the countries we study.
Some go in order to improve language skills. Others go to gain access to the
best libraries, museums, art galleries, and universities of Spain and the Americas. Most find that they have a wider choice of course offerings on Latin
America and Spain than at their home universities. Some use the experience to build their resumes in preparation for government service, grad school applica- tions, or international business. And some go just for the adventures: watching flamenco in a smoky Madrid bar, taking a local bus along hair-raising mountain roads, seeing a Mayan pyramid take shape through a jungle mist, hearing the slang of a group of teenagers in the subway, dancing the samba during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, sampling roast guinea pig, or shopping for textiles in an open-air market.
Regardless of the reasons for going, nearly all return with a new perspective not only on the social, cultural, and political context of a foreign country, but a new appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of their own country as well. Most people do not find their lives or career choices radically transformed (although some do!). But many find that the experience of adjusting to a foreign way of living and studying is a time of great personal growth that enhances their confidence and sense of self in ways that translate to many other pursuits. LAIS students already find the world interesting to read about and often have personal or family connections to the region they study. College is the time to explore it for yourself for about the same cost as staying in Santa Barbara. Don’t cheat yourself out of an EAP experience.
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There are a variety of ways in which LAIS majors can incorporate study abroad
into their studies. If you have taken less than two years of university-level Spanish
or Portuguese you can participate in a language and culture program in Mexico,
Chile, Spain or Brazil. If you have already completed two or more years of university-level Spanish (Span 1-6), you can do a fall or spring semester or full year abroad in Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Spain or Brazil.
Most students go abroad their sophomore or junior year. It’s best to begin planning as early as your freshman year. If you want to go abroad your senior
year, you should complete all your major requirements or plan to take courses meeting your remaining requirements while abroad. It is possible to graduate
while abroad, but close consultation with your department and college advisors is essential.
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EAP offers a variety of short-term and long-term study experiences in various
locations in Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, and Spain. There are programs for every level of Spanish, from those who wish to begin study of the language to
fluent Spanish speakers. In addition, students with a working knowledge of Portuguese have two programs to choose from in Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro
and Salvador. Each location offers particular advantages depending on the
student’s additional interests. Those interested in ecology or environmental
studies, for example, might choose to study in Costa Rica. The rich literary
production of Chile and Spain make both excellent locations for language and culture students. Those interested in colonial history might find Mexico or Spain particularly attractive. Students studying the politics or sociology of race and ethnic identity might prefer Brazil or Mexico.
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All EAP students automatically earn UC credit for the work they complete abroad. However, the application of credit to major requirements is subject
to the discretion of the department and approval of the college. Plan ahead and
consult with your advisors before leaving and while abroad.
The easiest way to figure out if a course is going to count for a particular Area requirement is to compare a course description from your host university to that of the General Catalog course description of an approved LAIS course at UCSB. If it sounds similar then it will most likely count. Art History, Music, Film, Drama, History, Literature, Linguistics, Anthropology, Religious Studies and Sociology courses focusing on Latin America or Iberia will most likely count as well. If you are unsure if a course will count while signing up for courses abroad, feel free to e-mail the department advisor.
Keep in mind that at least 20 units of upper-division major coursework (or
12 upper-division minor units) must be completed in residence at UCSB along with other residence requirements. Consult an advisor in the College of Letters & Science for more information.
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Come by the EAP office, 2431 South Hall, to speak with staff advisors and peer advisors who have recently returned from studying abroad.
Make appointments with the LAIS undergraduate advisor and a Letters & Science advisor to discuss major, general education, residence and other requirements.
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If you go abroad your junior year, you should strongly consider doing a senior
honors thesis based on the coursework and intellectual interests you developed
abroad. This provides an ideal way of integrating time abroad with the completion of the LAIS major. For senior honors thesis requirements, see the
LAIS Department.
Returnees must submit a Petition for Degree Requirements EAP in order to receive LAIS major credit for work completed abroad.
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