Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the MA degree, students should be able to:
- Analyze and evaluate theoretical, methodological, and multidisciplinary approaches to social issues in Latin America.
- Plan and create an original research or cumulative project on Latin America.
- Communicate research to an academic audience in written and verbal formats.
Overview of Requirements
The MA program combines LAS-owned courses, Spanish and Portuguese language skill-building, and a wide-range of electives. You will concentrate on two regional, thematic, and/or disciplinary areas. In order to graduate, you will need to take a total of 36 graduate units and complete the MA Project (thesis or comprehensive exam).
Core Courses
You are required to take the following two core courses:
- LAS 500: Introduction to Latin American Studies (offered every fall semester)
- LAS 550: Qualitative Research Methods (offered every spring semester)
Electives
Graduate courses (500 or 600 catalog numbers) that are LAS-owned or cross-listed with LAS automatically count towards your degree. Other graduate courses may be considered on a case-by-case basis as approved by the Graduate Advisor, Colin Deeds, and the curriculum committee.
LAS-owned electives are taught by one of our core faculty members. We highly encourage you to take as many LAS-owned electives as possible. Your enrollment in these courses not only benefits you, it also benefits our department. **Students joining the program in Fall 2024 and later are required to take a minimum of 4 LAS-owned electives.**
Upcoming LAS-owned Electives
Fall 2024:
LAS 522 Health Beyond Borders, Dr. Stefanie Graeter, Wednesday 2-4:30pm
LAS 589 Central American Migration, Dr. Elizabeth Oglesby, Thursday 3:30-4:45pm
Spring 2025:
LAS 505 Sabores de México, Colin Deeds, Wednesday 3-5:30pm
Fall 2025:
LAS 560 Film and Feminism in Latin America, Dr. Katie O’Brien, Day/time TBD
LAS 566 Racism and Resistance in Latin America, Dr. Antonio da Silva, Day/time TBD
LAS 595N Environment and Conflict in Latin America, Dr. Marcela Vasquez-Leon, Day/time TBD
Spring 2026:
LAS 522 Health Beyond Borders, Dr. Stefanie Graeter, Wednesday 2-4:30pm
LAS 505 Sabores de México, Colin Deeds, Wednesday 3-5:30pm
Concentrations
You will select one primary and one secondary area of concentration from the options below. You must take at least 12 graduate units in the primary concentration and at least 9 graduate units in the secondary.
Thematic
- Borders of the Americas and Immigration
- Environment and Development
- History and Culture
- Power and Inequality
Regional
- Mexico
- Central America
- Brazil
- Andes
Disciplinary
- Anthropology
- Geography and regional development
- History
- Latin American literature
- Art history
- Journalism
- Language, Reading and Culture
- Political science
- Gender and Women’s studies
Language Skills
Because of our program's regional emphasis, both Spanish and Portuguese skills are required. One of the languages should be at the level of competency as demonstrated by completing Portuguese 305a or Spanish 251 with a minimum grade of B or by an equivalency exam. The other language should be at the level of proficiency demonstrated by the completion of Portuguese 325 or Spanish 330 with a minimum grade of B or by an equivalency exam. Students accepted into the program who do not meet one or both of the language requirements may satisfy this deficiency during the course of their graduate studies.
An indigenous language spoken in Latin America may be substituted for Spanish or Portuguese with the approval of the LAS graduate advisor and your faculty advisor.
Note: Portuguese 305a is specifically designed as an intensive course for those fluent in Spanish. An indigenous language spoken in Latin America may be substituted for Spanish or Portuguese with the approval of the LAS graduate advisor and your faculty advisor.
Electives
Graduate courses (500 or 600 catalog numbers) that are LAS-owned or cross-listed with LAS automatically count towards your degree. Other graduate courses may be considered on a case-by-case basis as approved by the LAS graduate advisor and the curriculum committee.
We highly encourage you to take as many LAS-owned graduate courses as possible. LAS-owned courses are taught by one of our core faculty members. Your enrollment in these courses not only benefits you, it also benefits our department. If we don’t reach certain enrollment minimums, we can’t offer the course.
MA Project (Option 1 Thesis or Option 2 Comprehensive exam)
All students are required to either write a thesis or take a comprehensive exam. This is usually done at the end of your fourth semester in the program. However, students who are enrolled in dual degree programs can receive up to two additional semesters. Please consult with LAS Graduate Program Advisor Colin Deeds, to determine your degree completion plan.
Option 1- THESIS
The thesis is a full explication of a significant research problem using primary sources (interviews, archives or analogous materials) and substantive secondary sources. The thesis is based on one’s own research project in Latin America. Committee members will evaluate your thesis based on the following four categories: High Pass, Pass, Low Pass and Fail. Expected length: 80-100 pages
During the defense, you will give a short presentation and respond to questions from committee members. The committee will evaluate your thesis based on the following four categories: High Pass, Pass, Low Pass and Fail.
Option 2-COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
For the comprehensive written examination, students will examine substantive theoretical and methodological issues related to their areas of concentration. Students will respond to a question or set of questions posed by committee members based on three different but related topics. The committee will evaluate your comps based on the following four categories: High Pass, Pass, Low Pass and Fail. Expected length: 30-50 pages
During the defense, your committee will ask you to elaborate on your written answers and comment on one or more of the specific readings. The committee will evaluate your comps based on the following four categories: High Pass, Pass, Low Pass and Fail.
MA Project Rubric
Your MA project, whether it’s a thesis or a comprehensive exam, should successfully meet the three MA program learning outcomes. Data on how well our graduate students have met the three program learning outcomes will be collected and reported to the university using the rubric below.
Forming a Committee
Whether you are pursuing the thesis option or the comprehensive written exam option, you will need to establish a committee. Your committee consists of one chair and two additional faculty members whose interests align with your MA project. The chair should represent your primary field of concentration for the MA degree. Usually the chair is your faculty advisor, but it does not have to be. You are advised to meet with each committee member in order to understand their expectations for the MA project.
The chair and all members must be members of the Graduate College Faculty. Outside and non-tenure track members may be considered, as approved by the faculty advisor, thesis chair and the Graduate College through a Special Member request. At least one member of the committee must be from the LAS core faculty. Consult with the LAS graduate advisor for initial advice about committee selection and again before finalizing your committee.
Note: Not all faculty are equally available to participate on student committees and offer faculty advising. Students are encouraged to determine faculty availability and interest by taking seminars offered by a particular professor, meeting with the professor, and discussing options with Latin American Studies faculty and students.
Schedule for Completion of MA degree
Students should plan to complete the MA degree in two years. However, students who are enrolled in dual degree programs can receive up to two additional semesters. Please consult with the LAS graduate advisor to determine your degree completion plan.
First Semester (Fall)
- Take 9 units of graduate credit
- Take course for language requirement
- Select a core LAS faculty member to be your faculty advisor.
- Select two areas of concentration for the MA degree
Second Semester (Spring)
- Take 9 units of graduate credit
- By March 15: Submit an MA Project statement to Colin Deeds and your committee chair.
- Mid-March: Apply for the Tinker Field Research Grant in order to conduct summer research in Latin America if doing option 1 (thesis).
- By the end of the semester: Finalize committee members.
Summer
- Complete research pursuant to your MA project, intensive language study, and/or internship.
Third Semester (Fall)
- Take 9 units of graduate credit
- By October 15: Submit thesis prospectus (MA Project Option 1) or preliminary reading list + Statement of Interest (MA Project Option 2)
Fourth Semester (Spring)
- Take 9 graduate units. (Students writing a thesis should take 6 credits of LAS 910 thesis writing)
- By March 15: Finalize thesis defense or exam dates. If doing MA Project Option 2, the final reading list must be approved by the committee by this date.
- Complete and defend your MA project by the end of the semester.
Note: Students who are enrolled in dual degree programs can receive up to two additional semesters. See dual degree requirements on the website for more information. Please consult with the LAS Graduate Advisor, Colin Deeds, to determine your degree completion plan.