The program attempts to develop a thorough and sympathetic understanding of the vast region south of our border. The Iberian culture and languages in Latin America were modified and changed dramatically by the impact of geography, the indigenous population and civilizations, and by the forced African migration. Thus was created a region of vast diversity whose varied population absorbed the religion, culture, and language of Iberia and gave it an American habitat. North Americans know little about this area. This interdisciplinary minor hopes to correct this deficiency by making knowledge of Latin America and its people available to interested students.