This minor is designed for students working toward careers in the social services, criminal justice, education, business, international entrepreneurship, government, community service, advocacy or similar fields who have an interest in Hispanic cultures but have not yet developed the language skills and abilities necessary for the Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures Minor.

The general focus is on Hispanic cultures. You will be expected to attain specific course-based outcomes relative to Hispanic culture, history and literature. You will attain a basic understanding of the philosophical perspectives (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, and values), the behavioral practices (patterns of social interactions), the customs, and creative patterns (literature, art, music, etc.) of the Hispanic cultures addressed by your learning experiences.

As career preparation and enhancement, a Hispanic Cultures and History Minor integrates well with all other CSUMB majors, especially Human Communication, Social and Behavioral Sciences, the arts, Liberal Studies, Business, and Health and Human Services.

Required Courses

You must complete at least one of the following literature-based courses:

  • SPAN 261: Contemp Chicano Lit:Survy (4 units)
  • SPAN 262: Latin Amer Lit in Translation (4 units)
  • SPAN 365: The Chicano Narrative (4 units)

You must complete at least one of the following history-based courses:

In addition to these learning experiences, you must complete two additional Hispanic culture or history courses from the lists above to complete the 16-credit requirement. In order to promote interdisciplinarity within the minor, you may take one related course from another CSUMB academic program:

  • HCOM 328: Latina Life Stories (4 units)
  • HCOM 329: Auto/Biografias (4 units)
  • HCOM 344: Chicana/Latina Experiences (4 units)
  • HCOM 345: Chicanx Life & Culture (4 units)
  • HCOM 455: Paradigms Of Chicanx Comm (4 units)
  • SBS 325: Art of the Aztec Empire (4 units)
  • SBS 348: Maya Civilization (4 units)

Learning Outcomes

Cultural Knowledge

Students can provide a comparative description and basic analysis of the peoples, history, and culture of the Spanish-speaking world (including the Hispanic Southwest). Students engage in the learning of cultural customs (e.g. quinceañera, compadrazgo, Día de los muertos, Carnaval_), practices (e.g. religious, of_rendas, fiestas, curanderismo, Cuaresma_), products (e.g. literature, art, music), and perspectives (e.g. _cosmovisión, worldviews, cultural values, national & cultural identity, etc.); and other skills necessary for crosscultural communication.

Historical Knowledge

Students can provide a comparative description and analysis of the diverse peoples and histories of the Spanish-speaking world over a significant time period (at least one hundred years), which must include the Hispanic peoples of the United States.