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Dec 21, 2024
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University Catalog 2009-2011 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Latin American Studies, M.A.
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A master’s degree in Latin American Studies affords students a wide range of career opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. Students are able to tailor their programs to fit career interests and goals. The program provides training and research as well as opportunity to work with community groups. A master’s degree prepares students to work in policy-making management-level positions, to teach in community colleges, or to pursue Ph.D. study. Opportunities abroad are available to graduates with a master’s degree who are qualified to teach at the university level in Latin American educational institutions.
Admission to the MA Program
Admission is governed by University requirements for admission to graduate study. New graduate students must consult with the Latin American Studies graduate adviser before registration to evaluate their program prerequisites and for assistance in planning their program.
Master of Arts Program Requirements
A minimum of 20 units in upper division Latin American content courses is prerequisite to the program; LAS 497A and 497B are corequisites. Students who have not met these requirements through courses taken as an undergraduate must take courses in two or more departments in postbaccalaureate standing. In exceptional cases, the Latin American Studies graduate studies committee may waive a portion of these prerequisites.
Language Requirement
Before they may be advanced to candidacy, students must demonstrate written and oral competence in Spanish or Portuguese by passing a foreign language reading examination (ML 901 ) in the language selected, as offered by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures and with approval of that department.
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Requirements for the Degree (minimum 45 units)
A total of 45 units is required, with at least 23 in 500-level courses. The program involves study in seminars and lecture courses. It offers considerable flexibility for students to pursue individual interests and particular career goals. Students must have a minimum of 5 graduate level courses, distributed in at least 3 fields, chosen from: anthropology, art, business, economics, education, geography, history, political science, sociology, and Spanish. Other fields may be included in consultation with the adviser. The necessary language proficiency is established by examination. Students have the option of passing a comprehensive examination or writing a thesis as the final phase of the degree program. Those who elect the thesis track work with three members of the faculty in choosing a thesis topic, developing a research plan and writing the thesis. To prepare for the comprehensive examination those who select that option will be given assigned readings to supplement class work by the examining faculty in each of the three fields selected. An oral defense of the thesis or examination completes the degree. Required Course (4 units)
Additional Seminars (19–20 units)
Select 500-level courses from the following (include seminars in at least three disciplines): *when emphasis is on Latin America * * Area of emphasis should be applied to Latin America Electives (21–22 units)
Additional units from among Latin American content courses, including appropriate departmental 499 and 598 courses, selected in consultation with the Latin American Studies graduate adviser. 400-level Courses
All 400-level courses listed in the undergraduate major, general option, may be applied toward master’s degree requirements except the following, subject to limits established by the department and approval of the graduate adviser: Comprehensive Examinations or Thesis (0, 2–9 units)
Students must successfully complete either comprehensive examinations or a thesis. Immediately following completion of the comprehensive examinations or thesis, students must pass an oral examination conducted by a three-member faculty committee. Comprehensive Examinations (0 units)
Comprehensive written examinations about Latin America must be passed successfully in three of the following academic fields: anthropology, art, comparative education, economics, geography, history, marketing, political science, or other fields approved by the graduate committee in Latin American Studies. Students should expect to take the comprehensive examinations (LAS 596 ) the quarter they complete all course work on their program and must comply with college and program requirements. Students must notify the Coordinator of Latin American Studies in writing of their intention to take the examinations. Thesis (2–9 units)
Instead of the comprehensive examinations, students may choose to write an interdisciplinary thesis under the guidance of a three-member faculty committee selected in consultation with an adviser. Students who make this choice must enroll in LAS 599 , in which a maximum of 9 units may be taken. |
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