Kate Mann ’08
LALACS and History Major
X06-S07 D-plan: R-L-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: Although the LALACS department is relatively unknown and small, I have found that it is a great asset. Unlike larger departments, students in the LACS department not only get to know one another well, but also the Professors that teach their classes. Classes are a little bit smaller, and the number of Professors is such that you are almost guaranteed to have each more than once. I also really enjoy the interdisciplinary requirement of the major in which 4 classes must be cross-listed with another department. In my case, I focused in government, and this allowed me to really pursue a specific dynamic of the major.

Important info for potential majors: Because the major allows for quite a bit of flexibility, I think the most important aspect to think about is the area in which to concentrate. The number of departments isn’t limiting, but finding four classes that fall between the two departments can take a bit of planning ahead of time.

Most valuable academic information learned: The only bit of information that I wish I had received earlier, was the importance of connecting with Professors. Especially in a smaller department like LALACS, the Professors are really willing and interesting in getting to know the students. Relationships with Professors can help in everything from getting into classes, to choosing a major advisor, to lasting connections within your field of interest.

Favorite class and professor: My favorite class was this fall, Gender and Politics in Latin America, with Professor Lisa Baldez. The class was listed in the LACS, Government, and Women & Gender Studies departments, bringing students from all three majors. I had never taken a class that explored the significance and implications of gender roles, and it was a little outside of my comfort zone, since I didn’t have any background knowledge to bring into the class. We started the term by defining gender, from stereotypes to cultural differences in definition. The class then focused on how gender was constructed in Latin America, and how it has shaped revolutions, regimes and women’s mobilization efforts.

Major classes taken: LACS 1, 32.1, 33, 52, 53; LATS 44; HIST 82; ART 16.3

Major journey: I thought that I wanted to be a History major, with a Latin American concentration. Freshman fall, I ended up taking this Govt/LACS class taught by Professor Baldez: Protests and Parties in Latin America. Even though it was an upper-level class, everyone was really open and genuinely interested in the topic. I continued to take a class in the LACS department every term realizing that while a History major would only allow me to take 5 or so classes in the topic, with a LALACS major I could take as many as I wanted.

Other activities: Women’s Crew team; campus tour guide; Special Olympics volunteer; Kappa Kappa Gamma.

Off Campus Program: While I have not participated in a Dartmouth Foreign Study, I did take this past winter abroad (06W). I traveled with a British organization to Guatemala, where I lived with a host family and taught elementary education in a Mayan village. We taught in Spanish, everything from reading and writing, to mathematics, and even geography and science. My students ranged from about 8 years old to 12.