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Latin American Studies

[ undergraduate program | courses | faculty ]

Room 1, Gildred Latin American Studies Building
Institute of the Americas Complex
http://las.ucsd.edu

All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.

Master of Arts in Latin American Studies

The master of arts in Latin American studies is designed for students who seek to integrate a broad range of disciplinary approaches to a world region of growing international significance. Upon graduation, most students pursue additional advanced degrees in academic or professional fields; others proceed to careers in the private sector, in international organizations, or in government.

To qualify for admission, students must have a BA with a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for the final two years of undergraduate study plus satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination.

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies, a student must

  1. Demonstrate foreign language competence in Spanish or Portuguese.
  2. Maintain a 3.0 GPA in thirty-eight units of course work (about nine courses) to be completed as follows:
    1. Complete the Latin American Studies Basic Seminar Sequence: twelve units must be taken in the required Core Seminar in Latin American Studies (LATI 200, four units), four units in approved theory seminar, and four units in approved methodology seminar.
    2. Courses must be completed in at least three fields, with no more than sixteen units in any one department. Students must include six units of independent research (LATI 299) for work on the master’s thesis.
    3. At least sixteen units must be taken in graduate-level courses, and up to twelve units may be taken in upper-division, undergraduate-level courses.
  3. Successfully complete either a comprehensive exam or master’s thesis.

MA students have the option to upgrade upper-division, undergraduate-level courses to graduate-level courses (contact the Latin American studies student affairs coordinator for information on requirements and procedures). To convert an undergraduate-level course (100 level) into a 298 graduate-level course, a student must attend all of the course meetings and incorporate a component of additional, graduate-level research work, upon arrangement with the faculty member teaching the course (a special form describing the supplementary work must be filled by the student and approved by the instructor and academic coordinator). In all such cases, the supplementary work should (a) increase the amount of reading to match the regular reading expectations of a graduate seminar, (b) include additional meeting time with the professor for a graduate-level discussion of the material, and (c) require the student to write a research paper (which would generally be on the order of fifteen to twenty pages).

Disciplinary and Thematic Concentrations

MA students in Latin American studies who are interested in specific disciplines or research topics may apply for a disciplinary or thematic concentration. Currently students may choose from concentrations in cultural studies, gender studies, international migration, history, and sociology.

In addition to the general requirements for all candidates applying for admission to the master of arts in Latin American studies, applicants to a concentration must submit a statement explaining their intellectual and career interests in that specific area of study. Applications from new students will be considered for the fall quarter. Current students in the Latin American studies master’s program may apply in the spring quarter of their first year.

MA students who were previously enrolled as undergraduates at UC San Diego will not be allowed to repeat courses for credit toward the concentration. In all cases there are alternatives, and those students will be expected to take other classes to fulfill the requirements.

General Concentration Requirements

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies with a concentration, a student must

  1. Demonstrate foreign language competence in Spanish or Portuguese.
  2. Maintain a 3.0 GPA in forty-two units of course work (about ten courses) to be completed as follows:
    1. Complete the Latin American Studies Basic Seminar Sequence: twelve units must be taken in the required Core Seminar in Latin American Studies (LATI 200, four units), four units in approved theory seminar, and four units in approved methodology seminar.
    2. Complete sixteen units within the specifications of the concentration (as specified below). All of the concentration units must be taken at the graduate level (200 level), and a maximum of two undergraduate-level courses (100 level) may be upgraded to graduate-level 298 courses.
    3. Complete twelve units of general electives within the specification of the concentration (as specified below). At least 50 percent of the general elective units must be taken at the graduate level (200 level).
  3. Successfully complete a master’s thesis on a topic relevant to the area of concentration.

Concentration in Cultural Studies

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies (cultural studies), a student must complete the following units as concentration course work and general electives:

  1. Two seminars (eight units) from the approved list of core seminars. These may be used to satisfy the theory and methodology requirements of the LAS MA program (ANTH 234, ANTH 251, ANTH 265, COGR 238, ETHN 257A/B, ETHN 259, ETHN 260, HIGR 200, HIGR 205, HIGR 247A-B, HIGR 248A-B, HIGR 252, LTCS 201, LTCS 210, LTCS 225, LTCS 250, LTCS 260, LTCS 255, LTSP 272, LTSP 275, SOC 216, VIS 259).
  2. Two courses (eight units) from the approved list of elective courses within the thematic specialization (ANAR 100, ANAR 153, ANSC 122, ANSC 131, ANAR 154, ANSC 132, ANSC 135, ANTH 234, ANTH 265, ANTH 269, COMM 140, COMM 114P, COMM 106G, COMM 142, COMM 106T, COMM 179, COMM 175, COMM 111P, COMM 111G, COMM 154, COMM 129, COMM 145, COMM 155, COMM 177, COMM 111M, COMM 156, COMM 168, COMM 128, COMM 105M, COMM 104G, COMM 152, COMM 132, COMM 146, COMM 172, COMM 111W, COMM 114E, ETHN 259, HIGR 245, LTAM 100, LTAM 101, LTAM 102, LTAM 105, LTAM 106, LTAM 107, LTAM 108, LTAM 109, LTAM 110, LTAM 111, LTAM 120, LTAM 130, LTAM 132, LTAM 140, LTEN 180, LTEN 188, LTSP 130A/B, LTSP 133, LTSP 134, LTSP 135A, LTSP 135B, LTSP 136, LTSP 137, LTSP 138, LTSP 140, LTSP 141, LTSP 142, LTSP 150A, LTSP 150B, LTSP 151, LTSP 153, LTSP 154, LTSP 170, LTSP 172, LTSP 173, LTSP 174, LTSP 175, LTSP 176, LTSP 177, LTSP 252, LTSP 258, LTSP 272, MUS 107, MUS 111, MUS 116, MUS 126, MUS 150, MUS 151, SOC 216, TDHT 108, TDHT 110, TDHT 111, TDHT 112, VIS 125F, VIS 126C, VIS 126D, VIS 126AN, VIS 126BN, VIS 126P, VIS 126Q, VIS 126R, VIS 128D, VIS 152, VIS 257, VIS 259).
  3. The selection of these seminars and courses must be formally approved by the student’s personal adviser (by signing the student’s graduate student general petition form). With approval from his/her adviser, however, students in the cultural studies concentration may take other seminars and courses that do not appear in the approved list, provided that the content of the work that they do is directly related to Latin American issues, topics, or themes.
  4. General Electives: The remaining twelve units must be taken as follows: two courses from the approved list of courses on Latin America (eight units), and four units of directed reading (298) or six units of independent research (299).

Concentration in Gender Studies

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies (gender studies), a student must complete the following units as concentration course work and general electives:

  1. One general theoretical course in gender studies (four units in any of the following: ANSC 125, CGS 100, CGS 101, CGS 104, CGS 112, COMM 167, COMM 114E, ETHN 183, ETNH 256, LTCS 250, SOCI 118, SOCI 132, SOCI 139, SOC 267).
  2. One course in feminist theory (four units in any of the following: CGS 103, ETHN 257A/B, HIGR 205, POLI 115A, POLI 116A).
  3. One course focused on gender studies in Latin America (four units in any of the following: ETHN 129, ETHN 148, HILA 164/264, HILA 261, LTAM 105, LTAM 106, LTSP 175, USP 135).
  4. One course of directed reading (298, four units), taken with a faculty member affiliated with the CGS Program, focused on a topic relevant to Latin American gender studies.
  5. General Electives: The remaining twelve units must be taken as follows: one course from the approved list of courses on Latin America (four units), four units of directed reading (298), and six units of independent research (299).

Concentration in History

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies (history), a student must complete the following units as concentration course work and general electives:

  1. A required research seminar sequence in Latin American history (eight units in any of the following: HIGR 245A-B-C, HIGR 247A-B, or HIGR 248A-B).
  2. Two elective courses or seminars in Latin American history (eight units in any two of the following: ETHN 130, ETHN 131, ETHN 180, ETHN 259, HILA 100, HILA 101, HILA 102, HILA 112, HILA 113, HILA 115, HILA 120, HILA 121, HILA 121A, HILA 122, HILA 123, HILA 126, HILA 127, HILA 131, HILA 132, HILA 160/260, HILA 161/261, HILA 162/262, HILA 163/263, HILA 164/264, HILA 167/267, HILA 168/268, HILA 169/269, HIGR 245A-B-C, HIGR 247A-B, HIGR 248A-B, HIGR 252, HIUS 158, HIUS 159, HIUS 167/267, LTSP 116, LTSP 135A).
  3. General Electives: The remaining twelve units must be taken in departments other than the Department of History as follows: one course from the approved list of courses on Latin America (four units), four units of directed reading (298), and six units of independent research (299).

Concentration in International Migration

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies (international migration), a student must complete the following units as concentration course work and general electives:

  1. One course focused on economic and social factors in international migration (four units in any of the following: ECON 114, ECON 162, ETHN 116, ETHN 118, ETHN 129, ETHN 131, ETHN 134, ETHN 144, HIUS 159, ETHN 260, IRGN 490, LTCS 125, POLI 248, SOCI 125, SOCI 127, SOC 282).
  2. One course focused on immigration policy (four units in any of the following: IRGN 432, POLI 150, POLI 236).
  3. One course focused on Latin American international migration (four units in any of the following: COMM 172, ETHN 189, HIUS 180, IRGN 490, LTAM 100, LTAM 101, LTAM 102, LTAM 105, LTAM 106, LTAM 107, LTAM 108, LTAM 109, LTSP 177, SOCI 122A, SOCI 122B, SOCI 122C).
  4. One course of directed reading (four units in a 298 course, focused on a topic relevant to Latin American migratory movements).
  5. General Electives: The remaining twelve units must be taken as follows: one course from the approved list of courses on Latin America (four units), four units of directed reading (298), and six units of Independent Research (299).

Concentration in Sociology

To receive the master of arts in Latin American studies (sociology), a student must complete the following units as concentration course work and general electives:

  1. One seminar in classical sociological theory (four units in SOC 201A or SOC 201B).
  2. One seminar in sociological research methods (four units in any of the following: SOC 203, SOC 204, SOC 205, SOC 206, SOC 207, SOC 227).
  3. One core sociological field seminar (four units in any of the following: SOC 212, SOC 216, SOC 222, SOC 226, SOC 234, SOC 244, SOC 264, SOC 267).
  4. One sociology course or seminar focused on Latin America (four units in any of the following: SOCI 182, SOCI 188D, SOC 258).
  5. General Electives: The remaining twelve units must be taken in departments other than the Department of Sociology as follows: one course from the approved list of courses on Latin America (four units), four units of directed reading (298), and six units of independent research (299).

Courses that Satisfy Graduate Degree Requirements in Latin American Studies

The following is a list of courses available in UC San Diego departments that are approved to satisfy the requirements of the master’s degree in Latin American studies. Master’s degree students may also take up to three of the undergraduate level courses listed to satisfy undergraduate major and minor requirements. They may not take one of the undergraduate methods classes. Please note that these courses may not be offered every quarter or year and new courses may be added. Check the current Schedule of Classes or the Latin American studies website (http://las.ucsd.edu) for updated information.

Anthropology

ANTH 205. Third World Cities

ANTH 225. Andean Prehistory

ANTH 228. Inca Empire: Society and Statecraft

ANTH 242. Anthropology of Latin America

ANTH 244. Andean Prehistory

ANTH 246. The Inca and the Late Horizon

ANTH 269. Current Readings in Latin America

ANTH 291. Archaeology of Highland Mexico

Ethnic Studies

ETHN 260. Transnationalism and Borderlands

School of Global Policy and Strategy

GPEC 409. Economic Policy in Latin America

GPPS 454. Current Issue/US-Latin American Relations

GPPS 479. Politics and Institutions in Latin America

GPEC 480. Comparative Development of the Latin American Economies

GPGN 490. Special Topics (with Latin American content)

History

HILA 261. History of Women in Latin America

HILA 262. Special Topics in Latin American History

HILA 263. History of Chile, 1880–Present

HILA 264. Women’s Work and Family Life in Latin America

HILA 267. Historical Scholarship on Latin American History

HILA 268. Historical Scholarship on Latin American History

HILA 269. Historical Scholarship on Latin American History

HIGR 245A-B-C. Historical Scholarship on Latin America

HIGR 247A-B. Readings and Seminar on Colonial Latin America

HIGR 248A-B. Readings and Seminar on Latin America, National Period

HIGR 252. History, Social Evolution, and Intellectuals in the Andes

Latin American Studies

LATI 200. Core Seminar in Latin American Studies

LATI 220. Special Topics in Latin America

LATI 222A. Field Research Methods for Migration Studies: Seminar

LATI 222B. Field Research Methods for Migration Studies: Practicum

LATI 222C. Field Research Methods for Migration Studies: Data Analysis

LATI 298. Directed Reading

LATI 299. Independent Research

LATI 500. Teaching Apprenticeship

Literature

LTSP 224. Golden Age Studies

LTSP 252. Studies in Modern Hispanic Literature and Culture

LTSP 258. Spanish American Prose

LTSP 272. Literature and Society Studies

LTSP 275. Latin American Literature/Literary and Cultural Theory since the 60s

Political Science

POLI 213. Culture and Political Theory

POLI 229. Special Topics: Comparative Politics (when Latin American content)

POLI 236. Immigration Policy and Politics

POLI 248. Special Topic/International Relations: Latin American Foreign Policy

Sociology

SOCG 203. Field Methods

SOCG 244. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

SOCG 258. Institutional Change in the Contemporary World: Latin American Societies in a Comparative Perspective

SOCG 264. Economic Sociology (if Latin American content)

SOCG 278. Immigration, Assimilation, and Identity 

SOCG 282. Immigration and Citizen

Visual Arts

VIS 257. Seminar in Meso-American Art

VIS 259. Seminar in Latin American Art