CLAS Academic Programs > Master of Arts in Latin American Studies
Introduction
The one-year Master of Arts program in Latin American Studies at Stanford University is designed for highly qualified graduates who have previous experience working, living, or studying in Latin America. Students with little prior coursework on Latin America will benefit most from our interdisciplinary curriculum consisting of a core set of courses surveying the history, politics, society and culture of the region along with advanced language training and in-depth courses dealing with the region. In consultation with a faculty advisor, students select a course of study suited to their individual interests. One may obtain a dual professional degree concurrently with the MA.
Prior graduates of the Latin American Studies master's degree program have gone into higher education (40%), business and the private sector (30%), the government (10%), and non-governmental organizations (20%).
Please do not hesitate to contact Center Director Herbert Klein, professor of history, Associate Director Megan Gorman, or Program Coordinator Emily Davis, if you have questions about our program.
Coterminal Degree for Current Stanford Students
The program also targets current Stanford undergraduates who wish to earn coterminal BA and MA degrees. Stanford undergraduates interested in applying to the LAS coterm program do not need to submit an application for graduate study; pick up a coterm application at the Office of the Registrar. Stanford coterminal applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and meet the language requirement above.
Admissions Information for ALL Applicants
Deadline: January 6, 2009
Stanford University accepts only online submissions. Please visit the Graduate Admissions home page to create an electronic application account.
Applicants must meet the University admission requirements, have a working knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese at the university third-year level, and have experience working, living, or studying in Latin America or Iberia prior to admission.
CLAS takes a broad approach to evaluating applications for admission. As important as GRE scores and grades are the applicant's essay, letters of recommendation, and the experiences and goals conveyed through the personal statement and curriculum vitae.
Required Supplementary Materials
1) official transcripts
(2 copies of each)
2) resume or curriculum vitae
3) 10-15 page double-spaced academic writing sample
4) three letters of recommendation
Supplementary materials should be addressed to and sent directly to:
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
ICA- Latin American Studies
216 Encina Hall West
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6045
GRE & TOEFL
The GRE is required of all applicants, regardless of nationality. Those applicants who completed their undergraduate degrees in a non-English speaking environment must submit TOEFL scores as well.
Joint Degree Programs
To be eligible for a dual degree program with the Graduate School of Business (MBA), School of Law (JD),or School of Medicine (MD), candidates must apply and be accepted independently to both programs.
Course Requirements
The program requires completion of 45 graduate units. Upon entering, each student is assigned a faculty advisor who works with the student to develop a customized program of study. Students are required to take three core courses in three fields of specialization, select three more courses in these three fields from the cognate curriculum of approved courses, and select three elective courses in one field from across the university's offerings. The fields of specialization are Culture and Society, Environment and Ecology, and Political Economy.
Core Courses
Culture and Society: LATINAM 301 (also HISTORY 375F), Social Change in Latin America Since 1900 (Fall. Klein, 5 units)
Political Economy: POLISCI 248S, Latin American Politics (Winter. Magaloni, 5 units)
Environment and Ecology: ANTHRO 262, Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Problems (Spring. Durham, 5 units)
Cognate Courses
Students must take a minimum of 15 units in three courses, selecting one from each of the three fields of specialization in the cognate curriculum with the consent of their faculty advisor.
Elective Courses
Students select three related elective courses (10-15 units) across the Stanford curriculum, with the agreement of one's faculty advisor, in one field of specialization (Culture and Society, Environment and Ecology, or Political Economy).
Language Requirement
Students must take at least 3 units of coursework in a second Latin American language. Students must take either an advanced third year language course if they are proficient in both Spanish and Portuguese, or take a basic course in the language in which they do not possess competence.
Seminar Requirement
Students enroll each quarter in a one-unit seminar (LATINAM 200) on "Contemporary Issues in Latin American Studies," where invited scholars present lectures on major Latin American themes and topics, followed by questions and discussion.
Thesis Option
Students may elect to write a master's thesis; they may register for up to 10 units of thesis research under the guidance of an Academic Council faculty member. Thesis units may be counted toward the elective field unit requirements.
Financial Aid
The Center for Latin American Studies has several graduate fellowships as well as limited research and course assistantship positions with our Tinker Visiting Professors each quarter.
Resources for Current MA Students
This page was last updated September 22, 2008