About the Latin American Studies Program

The Latin American Studies Program (LASP) at The University of Iowa is a unique interdisciplinary, international program of study for undergraduate students. Established in 1978, the program is governed by a faculty steering committee whose primary teaching and research interests focus on Latin America.

The Latin American Studies Program fosters cross-disciplinary teaching and research on Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Through academic programs and opportunities on campus, LASP uses this region as a framework for exploring thematic issues in such disciplines as anthropology, art, history, political science, Spanish and Portuguese, and communication studies.

Latin American Studies Program faculty and students consult, partner, and collaborate with faculty and disciplines across the UI campus and worldwide. In addition to its instructional activity, the program sponsors lectures, film series, exhibitions, conferences and round table discussions, works to expand research and teaching in Latin American Studies, and seeks to bring Latin American scholars to the campus and fosters institutional linkages.