Latin American Studies

Return to: Curricula by Department

OFFICE: Arts and Letters 377
TELEPHONE: 619-594-1104
WEBSITE: http://latinamericanstudies.sdsu.edu

Undergraduate Information

Faculty

Latin American studies is administered by the Latin American Studies Committee. Faculty assigned to teach courses in Latin American studies are drawn from Anthropology, Art and Design, Chicana and Chicano Studies, Communication, Comparative Literature, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Public Affairs, Sociology, Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures, Women’s Studies; and the Fowler College of Business.

Chair: Ramona L. Pérez (Anthropology)
Undergraduate Adviser: David Carruthers (Political Science)
Committee: Lauer, Mayes, Pérez (Anthropology); González-Rivera, Ibarra, Iglesias Prieto (Chicana and Chicano Studies); Nericcio (English and Comparative Literature); Bosco, Swanson (Geography); Ben, DeVos (History); Carruthers, Graubart, Maher, O’Brien (Political Science); Talavera (Psychology); Esbenshade, Marcelli, Ojeda (Sociology); Schmitz Weiss (Journalism and Media Studies), Vasconcelos (Portuguese); Camargo, Espinosa, Flanigan, Herzog [Emeritus] (Public Affairs); Blanco [Emeritus], Godoy Marquet, Martín-Flores (Spanish); Lara, Mattingly (Women’s Studies)

The Major

The major in Latin American studies is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide an effective understanding of the cultures, histories, societies, economies, and governments of Latin America, offering basic education and training for business or professional careers that require specialized knowledge of this exciting and diverse area of the world.

A major in Latin American studies provides a multitude of career opportunities. Employment possibilities exist not only in Latin America, but throughout the world. Graduates can apply their specialization to service in international organizations and government positions at the federal or state level. Numerous employment situations can be found in the private sector. Private agencies and corporations have significant interests in Latin America and are looking for area specialists. Those students who wish to continue in their studies will find opportunities in teaching at all levels. A major in Latin American studies opens many avenues in the choice of a career.

High school students preparing to enter this program should include in the high school course of study not less than three years of study in one language other than English, preferably Spanish or Portuguese. Proficiency in either of these languages is indispensable to a successful career in this area of study.

Advising

All College of Arts and Letters majors are urged to consult with their department adviser as soon as possible. Students are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after declaration or change of major.

Impacted Program

The Latin American studies major is an impacted program. To be admitted to the Latin American studies major, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Complete preparation for the major;
2. Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units;
3. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

To complete the major, students must fulfill the degree requirements for the major described in the catalog in effect at the time they are accepted into the premajor at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.

Graduate Information

Faculty

Committee for Latin American Studies

Ramona L. Pérez, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology, Chair of Committee and Director of the Center for Latin American Studies (Graduate Coordinator)
Rebecca C. Bartel, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Associate Director for the Center for Latin American Studies
Guadalupe X. Ayala, Ph.D., Professor of Public Health
Alda Blanco, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures, Emeritus
Catalina Amuedo-Dorantes, Ph.D., Professor of Economics
Fernando J. Bosco, Ph.D., Professor of Geography
Stephanie K. Brodine, M.D., Professor of Public Health, Emeritus
David Carruthers, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science (Undergraduate Adviser)
Paula S. DeVos, Ph.D., Professor of History
Jill Esbenshade, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology
Shawn T. Flanigan, Ph.D., Professor of Public Affairs
Juan M. Godoy Marquet, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish
Norma V. Iglesias Prieto, Ph.D., Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies
Matthew T. Lauer, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology
José Mario Martín-Flores, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish
Doreen J. Mattingly, Ph.D., Professor of Women’s Studies
William A. Nericcio, Ph.D., Professor of English and Comparative Literature
Norma Ojeda, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology and Chicana and Chicano Studies
P.J.E. (Jenny) Quintana, Professor of Public Health
Katherine E. Swanson, Ph.D., Professor of Geography
Gregory A. Talavera, M.D., Professor of Public Health
Pablo E. Ben, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History
Roddrick A. Colvin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Affairs
Salvador Espinosa, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Affairs
Victoria C. González-Rivera, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies
Maria de la Luz Ibarra, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies
Irene Lara, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Women’s Studies
Kristen Hill Maher, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science
Enrico A. Marcelli, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology
Arion T. Mayes, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anthropology
Erika M. Robb Larkins, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology
Amy Schmitz Weiss, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies
Ricardo Vasconcelos, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures
Esperanza Camargo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Public Affairs (SDSU-IV)
Cheryl M. O’Brien, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science

Admission to Graduate Study

Students applying for admission should electronically submit the university application available at http://www.calstate.edu/apply along with the application fee.

All applicants must submit admissions materials separately to SDSU Graduate Admissions and to the Center for Latin American Studies.

Graduate Admissions

The following materials should be submitted as a complete package directly to:

Graduate Admissions
Enrollment Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

1. Official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all postsecondary institutions attended;
   
   NOTE:
   • Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.
   • Students with international coursework must submit both the official transcript and proof of degree. If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
2. GRE scores (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682);
3. English language score, if medium of instruction was in a language other than English (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682).

Master of Arts Degree in Latin American Studies

The following materials should be mailed or delivered to:

Center for Latin American Studies
(Attention: Graduate Adviser)
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4446

1. Personal statement;
2. Three letters of reference.

Master of Business Administration Degree and Master of Arts Degree in Latin American Studies

The following materials should be submitted by May 1 for the fall semester to:

Center for Latin American Studies
(Attention: Graduate Adviser)
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4446

1. Personal statement;
2. Curriculum vitae or resume;
3. Letters of reference (optional, maximum three).

Master of Public Administration Degree and Master of Arts Degree in Latin American Studies

The following materials should be mailed or delivered to:

Center for Latin American Studies
(Attention: Graduate Adviser)
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-6038

1. Personal statement;
2. Three letters of reference from individuals who have known the student’s academic performance (one letter may be from an individual who knows the employment performance of the student).

Master of Public Health Degree and Master of Arts Degree in Latin American Studies

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Public Health and Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies should contact the School of Public Health requesting appropriate descriptive materials. Detailed application instructions can be obtained from our website at http://publichealth.sdsu.edu.

Students who do not fully meet the requirements for admission with classified graduate standing may be considered for conditionally classified graduate standing upon recommendation of the admissions committee and the graduate adviser.

Programs

• Latin American Studies Minor
• Latin American Studies, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Latin American Studies, M.A.
• Public Administration, M.P.A. and Latin American Studies, M.A.
• Public Administration, M.P.H. and Latin American Studies, M.A.

Return to: Curricula by Department