LAS 380 - Special Topics in Latin America Topics

One-time course offerings with themes related to the interdisciplinary study of Latin America. Typically taught at an advanced level but with no prerequisites unless otherwise stated.

Spring 2026
LAS 380-A
Cornejo Casares

Who are you? Who am I? Who are we? Who are they? This seminar explores sociological theories of interaction processes and structures to examine the formation and career of the “self” through one of the quintessential “others” of our time: the “illegal alien.”

Bridging microsociology and the sociology of immigration, we evaluate the link between self and society through undocumented immigrants’ social lives in the United States. Our microsociological approach to illegalized social life will focus on identity, emotions, boundaries, embodiment, and power. In addition to theoretical perspectives, we will read qualitative social science research and interpret immigrants’ cultural production, such as films and narratives. Students will thus analyze how society creates undocumented immigrants as a social being, and how undocumented immigrants reproduce society and its legal inequalities.

Counts as an elective in Latin American Studies major and minor.
Satisfies Justice, Equality and Community requirement.
Satisfies Social Scientific Thought Requirement