Latin American Studies, M.A.

(Major Code: 03081) (SIMS Code: 114301)

General Information

The Master of Arts degree administered by the Center for Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary program drawing on the expertise of an outstanding Latin Americanist faculty from the following departments: Anthropology, Art, Communication, Comparative Literature, Economics, Geography, History, Journalism and Media Studiesy, Political Science, Public Affairs, Public Health, Sociology, Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures, Women’s Studies, and the Fowler College of Business.

Research interests and areas of expertise of the faculty include: applied social science, art and art history, demography, economic development, education, food and nutrition, health, immigration, Indigenous cultures and languages, land tenure systems, the Latin American press, politics and governance, religion, social movements, Spanish American prose, poetry and criticism, transborder populations and life, U.S.-Latin American relations, and the U.S.-Mexico border.

Admission to the Degree Curriculum

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to the university with classified graduate standing, as described in Admission and Registration , the student must present the Bachelor of Arts degree with not less than 18 units of courses of Latin American content in three areas. A student whose preparation is deemed insufficient by his graduate adviser or by the Latin American Studies committee will be required to complete specified courses in addition to the minimum of 30 units required for the degree.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees . Moreover, students must demonstrate an oral and reading proficiency in Spanish through either the satisfactory completion of an oral and a written examination, or: (1) complete Spanish 302 with a grade of B (3.0) or better, or (2) complete three units of 500-level or graduate coursework in Spanish, LATAM 550 , or PORT for Spanish Speakers with a grade of B (3.0) or better, or (3) pass the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) oral proficiency examination in Spanish with a score of 2.0 or above. In addition, students must complete either Portuguese 101 or one semester of an indigenous Latin American language (such as Mixtec, Náhuatl, or Zapotec) with a grade of B (3.0) or better. Coursework at or above the 500-level may be included as a part of the official program with the approval of the graduate coordinator.

Specific Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the Master of Arts degree, as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees , the student must complete at least 30 units of upper division and graduate coursework, including LATAM 600  and LATAM 601 , with not less than 24 units in courses of Latin American content selected from those listed below and distributed as follows:

	600- and 700-numbered Courses	500-, 600-, and 700-numbered Courses	Total
Department A	6 units	6 units	12 units
Department B	3 units	3 units	6 units
Department C	3 units	3 units	6 units
Total	12 units	12 units	24 units **

** A total of 30 units are required for the degree. Please see Culminating Experience below for the options available. The total program shall include a minimum of 18 units in 600- and 700-numbered courses.

Culminating Experience: Students may select either Plan A or Plan B in consultation with the graduate adviser.

Plan A Thesis: Students selecting the thesis shall produce a written work that evidences mastery in the chosen topic and approved by a thesis committee of at least three faculty, two of whom must be Latin American Studies affiliated faculty and one faculty outside of Latin American Studies. Students selecting Plan A must complete LATAM 797  Research (3 units) and the LATAM 799A  Thesis (3 units) course and present their thesis research as an oral examination with all committee members present. Successful presentation of thesis research is a requirement for the degree.

Plan B Comprehensive Exam: Students electing Plan B must pass a comprehensive written and oral examination in lieu of the thesis in the Spring semester. It is recommended that the student register for LATAM 797  Research (3 units) to prepare for the exam. The comprehensive exam consists of three essays from the three disciplinary areas selected by the student (Departments A, B, C). The student shall form a comprehensive exam committee of faculty representing those subject areas and shall work with them during the Spring semester to prepare for the exam. The exam consists of one long essay on a major topic and is written over the course of the spring semester. An in-person exam consisting of two shorter essays is arranged with Administrative Coordinator in Latin American Studies. A final oral exam to review the three essays completes the comprehensive exam. Students selecting this option will need to take an additional 3 units of coursework from any approved course listed under Curriculum to accomplish 30 units for the degree.