Center for Latin American & Carribbean Studies

Academic Programs in Latin American Studies

Students at the University of Connecticut are able to pursue academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The following programs are available:

Undergraduate Major in Latin American Studies
Undergraduate Minor in Latin American Studies
MA in Latin American Studies
Dual MA/MBA program
Concurrent MA/MPA
Concurrent MA in International Studies/ Master Survey Research
Doctor of Philosophy offered in specific academic departments throughout the University.

To see a list of the classes that will be offered in the Fall 2006 semester that have a Latin American content please click here.

Undergraduate LAMS majors and minors: Plan of Study form

undergraduate Programs in Latin American Studies

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies administers programs of study leading to the BA and Minor in Latin American Studies. Both the major and minor in Latin American Studies respond to a need in the New England region and nationally for a deeper understanding of the peoples and cultures of Latin America, its history and contemporary economic, social, and political problems, and its relations with the United States.

Latin American Studies Major

The major in Latin American Studies prepares the student to work effectively and knowledgeably in government, international organizations, business, journalism, and communications, or to pursue graduate studies which lead to careers in research and/or teaching in the social sciences and humanities. The major in Latin American Studies consists of a minimum of 36 credit hours of interdisciplinary course work built around 5 core courses (15 credit hours) and 7 related courses (21 credits).

Core Courses:

Anthropology: One course selected from:

3021 Anthropological Perspectives on Latin America today
3022 Peoples of South America
3042 Contemporary Mexico
3029 Caribbean Cultures

History: One course selected from:

3607 Latin America in the Colonial Period
3609 Latin America in the National Period
3608 Hispanic America in the Ages of Reason and Revolution

Political Science:

3235 Latin American Politics

Humanities: One course selected from Latin American art of literature:

SPAN 3233 Spanish-American Literature: formative years
SPAN 3234 Great Works of Modern Spanish-American Literature
SPAN 3266 Spanish-American Fiction
ARTH 3610 Art of MesoAmerica
ARTH 3620 Colonial Mexican Art
ARTH 3630 Modern Latin American Art

Latin American Studies:

LAMS 4994 Latin American Studies Research Seminar

Related courses:
At least 5 of the 7 related courses required to complete the major must constitute a concentration in a single discipline or an interdisciplinary field. Students select the courses needed to develop a concentration and to complete the major in consultation with their Latin American Studies undergraduate advisor.

Language Requirement:
Completion with grades C or better of two courses in Spanish as follows:

Spanish:

3170 Business Spanish
3178 Intermediate Composition
3179 Intermediate Conversation
3241 Spanish Phonetics
3240W Advanced Composition

Students may also demonstrate proficiency in Spanish or via an examination administered by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages.

Study Abroad
All students majoring or minoring in Latin American Studies are urged to participate in a study abroad program in Latin America or the Caribbean for a summer, a semester, or a year. The University of Connecticut sponsors programs in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Mexico. Students may also participate in other programs in Latin America with the prior approval of the Study Abroad Office and the Director of Latin American Studies.

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Latin American Studies Minor

The minor in Latin American Studies enables students, regardless of their major, to develop an understanding of a vital but too often neglected part of the world. The course of study is not as extensive as the major in Latin American Studies; it is designed to provide an interdisciplinary base for students interested in acquiring a general knowledge of the region. The minor in Latin American Studies consists of a minimum of 15 credit hours of interdisciplinary course work as follows:

Area Courses: 12 credits
Completion, with grades of C or better, of a minimum of four 3000-level courses on Latin America selected from at least three disciplines. At least two of the four courses must be selected from the following:

Anthropology:

3021 Anthropological Perspectives on Latin America
3029 Caribbean Cultures

History:

3607 Latin America in the Colonial Period
3609 Latin America in the National Period
3608W Hispanic World in the Ages of Reason and Revolution

Political Science:

3235 Latin American Politics

Spanish:

3205 Modern Latin America

Only one course (i.e., 3 credits) may also count toward the student's major. LAMS 1190 (Perspectives on Latin America) is recommended as background preparation for the 3000-level courses taken to satisfy the 12-credit area course requirement.

Research Skills and Synthesis: 3 credits
Completion of LAMS 4994W, Senior Research Seminar in Latin American Studies.

Language Requirement:
Completion, with grade of C or better, of at least one 3000-level course in Spanish.

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Graduate Programs in Latin American Studies

The Latin American Studies Program offers multidisciplinary graduate work leading to the degree of Master of Arts, MA/MBA, MA/MPA, Master of International Studies and Survey Research or Doctor of Philosophy. The program's overall objective is to instruct students, at an advanced level, in Latin America's rich and varied cultures, and to prepare them for careers in public and private organizations, government, and business with a Latin American dimension, and for additional advanced study of Latin America.

To find out more, read our graduate program brochure

MA in Latin American Studies

Major Concentrations:
All students may specialize in Latin American Studies while concentrating upon one of the following disciplines: Anthropology, History, Political Science or Latin American Language and Literature, Latin American Art History. Alternatively, students may choose one of the following interdisciplinary concentrations: Latin American Area Studies, Latin American Cultural Studies, Development Studies, Latin American Public Opinion Research, Latin American Business, or Public Affairs.

The minimum number of credit hours for the MA is 30. Students accepted into the program may complete the requirements under Plan A (thesis option) or Plan B (course work plus comprehensive exam which includes a final project).

Plan A: Thesis Option

Students selecting Plan A will complete the following courses, which total a minimum of 21 course credits and 9 thesis credits:

A 3-credit theory/methodology course in the discipline of choice
6 credits in Latin American Studies
- LAMS 5105, Seminar in Latin American Studies
- Another 3 credit course in Latin American Studies at the 5000 level
12 credits in a specific major
The 9 credit thesis must be completed under the supervision of a major advisor and 2 readers

Plan B: Course Work plus Comprehensive Examination

Students choosing Plan B will complete the following courses, which total 27 credits for coursework and 3 credits for the final project:

A 3-credit theory/methodology course in the discipline of choice
9 credits in Latin American Studies
- LAMS 5105, Seminar in Latin American Studies
- Another 3 credit course in Latin American Studies at the 5000 level or a special topics seminar
- LAMS 5890 (Latin American Studies Project), which constitutes the written portion of the comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam includes an oral presentation of the project.
12 credits in a specific major
6 credits of electives

Language Proficiency

Candidates for the MA in Latin American Studies must demonstrate advanced proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese to complete the degree requirements. Except in the cases of native speakers of Spanish or Portuguese, all MA candidates must take the language proficiency examination administered by the department of Modern and Classical Languages. MA candidates are encouraged to pursue study abroad in Latin America during the summer or winter break to improve their language proficiency.

GRE

The GRE is highly recommended but not required for entrance to the MA program in Latin American Studies.

Admission

Prospective students must complete the University of Connecticut graduate application, which is available on-line at www.grad.uconn.edu. Please also send a copy directly to the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies so that we are aware of your application.

The personal statement should include information on the applicant's background related to his/her interest in Latin America, a review of his/her proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese and plans for meeting the rigorous language proficiency requirement. The statement should also explain how the applicant's long term goals will be served by earning an MA, MA/MBA of MA/MPA in Latin American Studies, as well as a statement of what the applicant has to offer to fellow students and the program as a whole.

Applicants are expected to have a survey knowledge of Latin American history, an average of at least B in undergraduate course work related to Latin America. Students lacking this background may be admitted provisionally and required to complete nine credits of appropriate undergraduate course work, which will not count towards the MA, before being granted regular status.

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Master of Arts and Master of Business Administration

The MA/MBA program combines course work from both business administration and Latin American Studies. If the student chooses to complete the MA portion under Plan A, a minimum of 66 credits are required. Most often, however, students working toward the MA/MBA choose Plan B and complete 72 credit hours. Either way, completion of the dual degree usually requires 3 years. The MBA portion of the program comprises 42 credits in business, plus 15 credits of electives chosen from the Latin American Studies graduate course offerings. The MA portion of the program consists of 30 credits (under Plan B). Up to 12 credits of graduate business course work may be counted towards the MA in Latin American Studies.

Students opting for the dual MA/MBA degree program must apply and be admitted to both the School of Business Administration MBA program and the MA program in International Studies. Once accepted, they must meet all the requirements of both graduate programs. Students generally take business administration courses during the initial year of study, courses from business and Latin American Studies during the second year, and courses from Latin American Studies during the third year.

How to Apply:

Only one application for admission needs to be submitted. However, all of the admission requirements for both the MBA and the MA programs must be fulfilled: scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT); undergraduate transcript(s); two letters of recommendation; and a personal statement from the applicant are required. Application materials can be obtained by writing to the Graduate Admissions Office, 438 Whitney Road Extension, U-6A, Room 108, Storrs, CT 06269- 1006.

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Master of Arts and Master of Public Administration

Students wishing to earn the concurrent MA/MPA must apply and be admitted to both graduate programs, and meet all the requirements of each program. Because students generally opt to complete the MA portion under Plan B, the dual MA/MPA generally requires three years to complete and consists of 60 credits of course work. To satisfy the requirements of the MA degree in Latin American Studies, students complete 30 credits, 6 of which may be earned in MPA courses. To complete the MPA portion of the degree, students complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of MPA courses, plus a 12-credit hour concentration in Latin American Studies. Please check the MPA website for exact curriculum. Students generally concentrate on courses in one program during the initial year of study and on courses in the other program during the second year. Courses from both programs are taken during the third year.

MA in International Studies and Survey Research

This concurrent degree program is appropriate for students who wish to combine the Master of Arts in Survey Research theory and skill-based courses with in-depth knowledge of International Studies or one of the area studies concentrations: African Studies, European Studies, or Latin American Studies. Students wishing to earn the concurrent MA in International Studies and Survey Research must apply and be admitted to both graduate programs, and, once accepted meet all the requirements of each program. The dual MA requires a minimum of 48 graduate credits. To satisfy the requirements of the MA degree in International Studies or one of the area studies concentrations, students complete a minimum of 30 credits, 6 credits of which may be earned in Survey Research courses. The MSR portion of the degree requires a minimum of 24 credit hours of courses. For information about the MSR program, visit their website.

Doctor of Philosophy

Students may specialize in Latin America at the doctoral level while enrolled in Ph.D. programs in individual departments. Applications should be directed to the pertinent departments.

Several UConn departments offer doctoral programs where significant expertise exists in Latin American & Caribbean. The newest focal program is in the History Department. Latin American, Caribbean and Latino History at the University of Connecticut examines the study of societies, politics, cultures, and economies of the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean from a regional perspective. Global economic and cultural changes are taking place in the region and among its Latina/o and African Diaspora communities, while deep historical legacies persist. The faculty share a commitment to explore the cross-border, transnational experiences that link the Americas as well as their relationship to national and local histories. In both research and teaching, the faculty aim to bridge divides among Latino, African Diaspora, and Latin American/Caribbean Studies approaches.

Other outstanding doctoral programs at UConn which provide significant expertise in Latin American Studies are: Spanish, Political Science, Anthropology, and Education. Additional opportunities for focused study in Latin America & the Caribbean are found in Ecology, Agricultural & Resource Economics, and Natural Resources Management & Engineering.

For information on applying to these doctoral programs visit the on-line graduate school site.

Deadlines

Deadlines for admission to the Graduate School and for financial aid differ; it is wise to use the earlier dates. For admission to the Graduate School, which is only for the fall semester, the deadline for complete applications is June 1st. Applications for financial aid awards based on merit must be in the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies by March 1st. Fellowships are awarded by the Center in the spring for the full academic year only.

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