Senior Elective Course on Contemporary Latin America. Units I-VII.

This semester course has been designed as a capstone to previous sequential units developed by the Latin American Curriculum Project. It originally consisted of five units, however, two formerly optional units are now included in the packet. The development of understanding of contemporary Latin America-its history and culture, its contemporary problems, and its prospects for the future, is considered as the overall course objective. The units included are: Geographic Setting and Historical Background; Contemporary Society and Selected Institutions; Government and Politics; Economic Development; Contemporary Inter-American Relations; Selected Contemporary Problems of Latin America: Population and Urbanization. Land Reform; Latin American Creative Expressions. This is a multidisciplinary approach through which students are expected to gain experience in: reading, analysis, research technique, critical thinking, and, in opinion formation and articulation. Main ideas, activities, readings, and materials are suggested as guides for the teacher to allow flexibility. Recommended texts and references are listed for each unit. Related reports are: ED 036 679, SO 000 019, SO 000 020, SO 000 021, SO 000 022. (SBE)