Course Description
01:595:412 Seminar: Latino New Jersey History
- Course Code: 01:595:412
- Semester(s) Offered: Fall
- Major Requirement: Capstone, Upper-Level Elective
- Instructor: Kathleen López, Ph.D.
- Description:
Although people from Latin American and the Caribbean have been in New Jersey since the nineteenth century, it was not until the 1950s that their population increased significantly. Today, Latina/o/xs make up nearly twenty percent of New Jersey’s population. Yet we know surprisingly little about their origins and histories. Who are the Garden State’s Latina/o/xs? When did they arrive? Where did they come from? Why did they choose to settle here? How have they interacted with other ethnic groups?
In this seminar, students will work with each other and Professor López to explore and document the histories of diverse Latina/o/x communities at Rutgers University and in New Jersey. Students will gain essential research skills through newspapers, archival documents, census data, maps, photographs, and oral histories and contribute to the public humanities Latino New Jersey History Project. The seminar will focus on students collectively producing new knowledge about the past.
- Learning Goals:
Upon completion of the course, students will:
- Compare and contrast the settlement and experiences of different Latina/o/x groups in the New Jersey and the nation, including Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, Mexicans, and Central and South Americans
- Define and understand the basic concepts of immigration, migration, assimilation, generation, transnationalism, and diaspora
- Critically assess the presence and impact of Latinas/os/xs on the economy, society, politics, and culture in New Jersey and the northeast
- Learn fundamental theory and methods in the field of oral history
- Develop effective writing and communication skills by researching a topic in Latina/o/x New Jersey history through scholarly books and articles, local archives, newspapers, and interviews
- Required Reading:
Readings and other materials are in Canvas.
Consult Rutgers Barnes & Noble for current books for the course.
- Evaluation:
Research Practicum Assignments = 40%
Oral History = 25%
Digital Project = 25%
Class Participation = 10% - Credits: 3
- Disclaimer: The information in this course description is subject to change. For up-to-date course information, please refer to the syllabus on Canvas.