Why Study El Camino?
The El Camino Path immerses you in the cultures, histories, and politics of Latinx and Latin American communities while preparing you for meaningful careers in education and beyond. Gain real-world experience through community-based projects, internships, and study abroad. Along the way, you’ll develop in-demand skills in teaching, research, critical thinking, and cross-cultural communication, using both English and Spanish with confidence.
At Evergreen, language learning goes deeper. You’ll explore Spanish within its cultural and historical contexts, connecting what you study to the communities you engage with. With close faculty mentorship and interdisciplinary learning, you’ll turn your interests into a clear path forward.
Join the El Camino Path
By joining this Path, you will receive advising opportunities specific to this Path.
Contact an Advisor to Get Started
Affiliate with the El Camino Path
Follow this Path
Exploratory interdisciplinary programs in this Path include elements of three main fields of study: Latinx Studies, Latin American Studies, and Multilingual Education. Exploratory programs combine work in El Camino with other Paths of study and offer an introduction to key themes in these three fields while developing reading, writing, communication, teaching, and critical thinking skills.
Students can continue building skills and knowledge through intermediate and advanced programs that engage with multilingual education and/or issues relevant to Latinx and Latin American communities.
Getting Started
Get Involved with El Camino
Whether you are a new student or just new to this path, check out the New Student Handbook to learn how to get started at Evergreen and find your people on campus.
- Affiliate with El Camino to receive news about path events, new program and course offerings, and upcoming curriculum
- Attend the Academic Fair to meet faculty and learn about upcoming programs
- Get guidance on your academic journey and career goals by meeting with an Academic Advisor or Faculty member
- Meet students and faculty by attending path events, like peñas (collaborative concerts), exhibitions, conferences, and guest speakers
- Come by El Barrio, a community hub on the 3rd floor of SEM II E where students can find tea, a community library, and a place to connect with fellow students and faculty
- Engage in campus culture by attending meetings and other events organized by clubs like Familia
Years 1 - 2
Try new things and explore all your options
- Take an entry level program associated with El Camino to prepare you for intermediate and advanced study later—possible programs include “Diversity and Dissent in Education and the Media”
- Take a Spanish language course or a program with a language component to deepen or jump-start your Spanish-language skills
- Visit the Office of International Studies to learn about study abroad opportunities and plan for future study abroad
- Stay in touch with your faculty and get support and mentorship by attending their office hours
Years 2 - 3
Dig deep and strengthen your connections
- Take intermediate and intermediate-to-advanced level programs that incorporate individual projects and out-of-class experiences
- Consider our signature Spanish-language and Study Abroad program “The Spanish-Speaking World” which is sophomore-senior level and offered every two years (2024-25, 2026-27, etc.)
- Consider registering for a Summer course or program or applying for a paid Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
- Plan your final year by connecting with your faculty and Academic Advisor to plan your capstone, your final programs, and what you may need for careers or graduate school
- Gain hands-on experience through Internships or volunteer work, offered through programs like “Education and Media in Contested Times” (offered every two years, 2027-28, etc.) or “Community-Based Learning” (repeating every quarter, taught in collaboration with the Center for Community-Based Learning and Action)
Years 3 - 4
Finish strong and get ready for your next steps
- Take advanced level programs focusing on your chosen field or discipline—examples in our path include “The Spanish-Speaking World” which is offered every two years (2024-25, 2026-27, etc.), “The Literature of Empowerment” (2027) or “Language Arts and Pedagogy: Education Within Our Community” (2028)
- Design and complete a capstone project, internship, or individual learning contract with the support of your faculty
- Connect with your faculty and Academic Advisor to make plans for applying for jobs or graduate school
Capstone
A Capstone is a final project or experience, usually done in your final year, that demonstrates your knowledge and abilities in your chosen skill area while synthesizing your learning across disciplines.
Planning your Capstone
Students can pursue capstone opportunities in the form of advanced research and creative projects developed within programs, through Individual Study, Experiential Learning, or Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships. Examples of capstones within El Camino include:
- Qualitative research methods, action research projects, and data analysis in education
- Culturally responsive curriculum development
- Research projects or culminating thesis in Latin American or Latinx Studies
- Art/ creative writing/ multimedia projects with a focus on Latinx and Latin American communities in English and/or Spanish
- Internships with organizations serving Latinx communities
- Study abroad in Latin America and internships with organizations abroad
Faculty Mentorship and Support
Faculty mentorship is a key piece of an Evergreen education. Come by faculty office hours to discuss your interests, ask questions about your faculty's Field of Study or get advice on the best way to navigate your Path. Faculty are excited to talk to students about their work and will be a valuable resource throughout your academic journey and beyond as you move on to other experiences.
We have a wide variety of faculty covering a range of disciplines ready to support you during your time at Evergreen.
Experiential Learning
El Barrio
“El Barrio” translates to “the neighborhood.” It’s a community hub for everyone on the El Camino Path to connect on shared interests, host events like game nights, celebrate holidays like El Día de los Muertos, and more.
This space is home for El Camino students, but also welcomes students from other Paths to share their experiences and learn from others. Having a shared space creates a supportive community you’ll grow with on your journey through college.
Centers and Institutes
The El Camino Path gives you many of opportunities to take your education beyond the classroom. Through partnerships with Evergreen’s Centers and Institutes, this Path helps you find opportunities to engage with the community and build skills you’ll use in your career or graduate studies after Evergreen.
Individual Study
El Camino faculty want you to pursue what you’re passionate about. You’ll have opportunities to connect with local organizations through internships or even start your own project related to topics within El Camino’s Path.
For example, you could do an internship with an immigrant justice organization, pursue creative work in Spanish, do advanced qualitative research, and more.
Study Abroad
This Path offers study abroad opportunities in Latin America designed for Evergreen students in collaboration with community partners in Mérida, Mexico, and Santo Tomás, Nicaragua. Travel with a tight-knit group of students and faculty to explore the cultures and histories of communities in these two locations, while engaging in community-based work and staying with local families.
You’ll grow by immersing yourself in a community, mutually sharing knowledge and experiences, and learn to apply your new skills to your pursuits after college.