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Studies & Degrees in Latin American Studies

Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary field: instead of one discipline, students combine history, politics, economics, anthropology, literature, geography and the arts to understand one region, Latin America and often the Caribbean. Language study is part of the degree, normally Spanish or Portuguese and sometimes an Indigenous language. The field is international. The Latin American Studies Association (LASA) describes itself as the largest professional association in the world for people and institutions engaged in the study of Latin America, with over 13,000 members, more than 60% of whom live outside the United States.

Programmes are usually run by a centre or institute that draws on teachers from many departments. At The University of Texas at Austin, for example, master's students can take classes from more than 150 affiliated faculty in over 30 departments.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's level: majors, minors and certificates. In the United States the subject is taken as a major or minor within a bachelor's degree, often next to a second major. The University of Washington offers a major and a minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies that combine regional expertise with foreign language experience and analytical and writing skills. Duke University offers an undergraduate certificate instead of a major: an introductory course, a capstone seminar and four additional courses with at least half of the graded work on Latin America and the Caribbean, from at least three departments, plus a language requirement.
  • Master's degrees. The Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS) at The University of Texas at Austin, created in 1940, offers degrees at bachelor's, master's and PhD level; its master's programme lasts two years and lets students declare a major and a minor focus. The University of California, Los Angeles offers a Master of Arts of one to two years that requires proficiency in two languages spoken in Latin America. At Stanford University the Master of Arts covers the region's history, politics, society, ecology and culture, advanced language training and research methods, with three fields of specialisation: humanities, environment and health, and social sciences.
  • Dual degrees. Several universities pair the master's with a professional degree. At UT Austin dual degrees normally take three years, or four with the School of Law; the University of Wisconsin-Madison allows students to complete a law degree (J.D.) and the M.A. in a minimum of seven semesters; UCLA lists joint degrees with public health, urban planning, library and information science, and business administration.
  • Doctorates. Most doctoral students specialise in Latin America from within a discipline such as history or political science; a few centres, such as LLILAS, award a PhD in Latin American Studies itself.

Languages

Language requirements set this subject apart from a general international studies degree. Duke University accepts Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mayan languages or Haitian Kreyol for its certificate. UCLA offers Spanish, Portuguese, Nahuatl and Kichwa, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison periodically offers Ecuadorian Quechua and Yucatec Maya. Teaching outside the language classes is in the language of the university, English in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 77 active schools for Latin American Studies. The United States has by far the most (52), followed by Spain (6), the United Kingdom (4) and Canada (3); the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark and Argentina have two each. The list includes The University of Texas at Austin, Stanford University, The University of California Los Angeles, Duke University, the University of Washington, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, The University of Chicago, Yale University, Vanderbilt University and the University of Miami.

When comparing programmes, look at which countries and themes the affiliated teachers work on, which languages are taught, the library collections, and the funding for fieldwork or study in the region.

Careers

There are no official employment statistics for this specific degree, so the best evidence comes from the universities. UT Austin states that its master's prepares students to work in nonprofit organisations, the private sector, government, higher education and think tanks. Stanford reports graduates in higher education, business, government and nonprofit organisations. UCLA mentions graduates at the United Nations, the Library of Congress and consulates, and the University of Washington lists non-profit organisations, political parties, consulting firms and the media. The master's is also used as preparation for a doctorate.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Spanish or Portuguese to study Latin American Studies?

You will need at least one language of the region to graduate, and some programmes ask for more: the master's at UCLA requires proficiency in two languages spoken in Latin America. Check whether a language level is required at admission or can be reached during the degree.

How long does a master's in Latin American Studies take?

One to two years. The master's at UT Austin lasts two years, the Master of Arts at UCLA one to two years, and dual degrees with a professional school normally three years or more.

Can I combine Latin American Studies with another subject?

Yes, and many students do. It is taken as a second major, a minor or a certificate at bachelor's level, and as a dual degree with law, business, public health or other professional programmes at master's level.

What jobs do graduates do?

Universities report graduates in government and diplomacy, international and nonprofit organisations, education, business, consulting and the media.