Curriculum for Graduate Certificate

Latin American and Caribbean Studies Certificate

In recent years, students in several departments have inquired with CLACS about a “graduate minor” or certificate in Latin American & Caribbean Studies. Many of our graduate students build their expertise by taking courses on Latin America and the Caribbean, although their degrees in their home departments do not necessarily reflect this content knowledge. Yet, graduate certificates in Latin American and/or Caribbean Studies are not currently offered at any nearby university. The interdisciplinary nature of CLACS, recently drawing students from Anthropology, History, Global Studies, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Geography, and Spanish & Portuguese, etc., requires a broader graduate certificate for this very reason. 

CLACS is therefore pleased to announce a new Graduate Certificate in Latin American & Caribbean Studies, which promotes interdisciplinary perspectives and provides greater flexibility to students. The certificate is intended to a) encourage current and future graduate students to deepen their training in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, b) document and highlight the expertise of current graduate students who are already engaged in a course of study with substantial Latin American & Caribbean content, and c) allow non-matriculated students, who do not have the time or money to pursue a graduate degree, to earn a recognized credential demonstrating their expertise in Latin America for the purposes of employment or personal interests.

The Graduate Certificate in Latin American & Caribbean Studies requires 12 credits completed through 4 courses at the 500-level and above. Three tracks are available for students:

Graduate students interested in broad training on Latin America and the Caribbean or in a Latin American or Caribbean region other than Central America, Mexico, and Brazil may complete the new, general certificate in Latin American & Caribbean Studies.

The Latin American & Caribbean Studies Certificate requires four courses (12 hours) that include the following: 

  • LAA 701: Interdisciplinary Seminar on Latin American Cultures & Problems
  • Three additional electives (9 hours) from the Center's current approved list of Latin American & Caribbean Studies courses. Courses must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. Up to six hours in a less commonly taught Latin American / Caribbean language may count towards the 9 hours, but only 3 hours of a beginning level of the language (Beginning I or II) may count. 

The Central American & Mexican Studies Track recognizes students with a working knowledge of all of Latin America and the Caribbean but also intensive training specific to the geographical region running from the U.S. border to Panama.

The Central American & Mexican studies track requires language proficiency in Spanish - which includes aural, speaking, reading and writing ability - and four courses (12 hours) that include:

  • LAA 701: Interdisciplinary Seminar on Latin American Cultures & Problems   
  • Three additional electives (9 hours) from the Center's approved list of Latin American and Caribbean Studies courses with at least 50% content on Central America, Mexico, or both. Courses must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. 

The Brazilian Track recognizes students with a working knowledge of all of Latin America and the Caribbean but also intensive training specific to Brazil. 

The Brazilian Studies track requires Portuguese language proficiency - which includes aural, speaking, reading and writing ability and can be demonstrated in a variety of ways - and four courses (12 hours) that include: 

  • LAA 701: Interdisciplinary Seminar on Latin American Cultures & Problems
  • Three additional electives (9 hours) from the Center's current approved list of Latin American and Caribbean Studies courses with at least 50% content on Brazil. Courses must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.