What do migration and meteorology have to do with Latin American studies? Bridges across disciplines at the United States Naval Academy

Abstract

This essay explores how faculty from three different disciplines (applied linguistics, history, and meteorology), all with expertise in Latin America, have promoted an interdisciplinary approach toward Latin American studies through their study of migration and climate. The essay begins by reviewing the history and significance of the U.S. Department of Defense’s LREC initiative on tertiary Spanish language education. The essay then describes how climate and human interests in Latin America can be integrated into undergraduate courses and research projects to leverage students’ intellectual interests (in their major subject) with other academic pursuits (via a minor in Spanish). Finally, the essay discusses how demographic changes in the U.S. have impacted higher education in Spanish. The essay concludes by reviewing some of the guidelines that professional organizations and universities have put in place in response to these challenges, and offers some suggestions for how academics might respond in their institutional contexts.