Master of Arts in Latin American Studies
We are in the process of updating the documentation for our Master of Arts in Latin American Studies Program. Thank you for your patience as we do so.
Please note that the GRE is no longer required for this degree program.
A minimum of 30 credit hours in graduate level (5600 level and above) courses are required of all students. Students are required to earn a grade of at least “B” (3.0) in all courses to remain in the program. At least 18 credits must be from courses with a minimum of 25 percent Latin American content as assessed in the syllabi. Courses with less than 25% Latin American content that have comparative, theoretical, methodological, or professional relevance to the student’s program can be taken in consultation with the academic advisor and the final approval of the Graduate Studies Committee. Some courses offered at the 4500 level can be taken as independent studies with the concurrence of the course instructor, the academic advisor and the final approval of the Graduate Studies Committee. In both cases, the student must write a research paper focused on Latin America as part of the coursework.
- International Studies 5640, Globalization and Latin America: Interdisciplinary Approaches
- One course on research methods, related to the student’s primary area of concentration, selected in consultation with the advisor from a number of qualitative and quantitative methodology courses offered in different departments, with the final approval of the Graduate Studies Committee.
Students will choose or design, in consultation with their advisor and advisory committee, two areas of disciplinary or interdisciplinary concentration. They will take at least four courses for a total of 12 credit hours in the primary concentration and at least three courses for a total of 9 credit hours in the secondary concentration. Students writing a thesis may use up to 3 of the 12 credit hours allocated to the primary concentration toward their thesis writing. Each student is required to take at least two graduate seminars, one in each area of concentration, in which they will produce a research paper that indicates that they have mastered the skills of research, synthesis, and analysis required for academic scholarship.
By the end of the first academic year (if pursuing the degree in the regular two-year model) or by the end of the second quarter (if pursuing the degree in the fast-track one-year model), all students will be required to choose, in consultation with their M.A. advisory committee, either a thesis or non-thesis track.
- Thesis Track: If a student chooses the thesis track, she/he will be expected to complete a substantial monograph (of approximately 80-100 pages in length, depending on the subject) on an original topic (theses overlapping is not allowed), in which she/he will be required to utilize their primary Latin American language as one of the main research tools. The thesis is to be defended orally before the M.A. advisory committee in the last semester of the program. Thesis track students may register for up to 9 credits of thesis-writing without special permission. It is strongly recommended that students planning to apply to a Ph.D. program choose the thesis track.
- Non-thesis Track: If a student chooses the non-thesis track, she/he is required to take two take-home examinations, followed by an oral examination, in both areas of concentration.