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Studies & Degrees in Argentine Studies

Argentine studies is the study of Argentina as a country: its history, politics, economy, society, literature, cinema and music, together with the Spanish spoken there. It is a branch of area studies. Very few universities award a degree with this name. Students usually reach the subject in one of two ways: as a specialisation within a degree in Latin American studies, or through a study abroad programme in Argentina that combines Spanish with courses on the country.

The field draws on several disciplines. A student may read Argentine literature, follow the country's political and economic history, study its cinema and popular culture, including tango and folk traditions, and look at present-day Argentina within Latin America.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees in Latin American studies. In the United States the usual frame is a major in Latin American studies. The University of Texas at Austin, through its Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS), offers interdisciplinary degrees in Latin American Studies at bachelor's, master's and PhD level. Its bachelor's degree gives a general, broad-based knowledge of the region, with courses in history, culture, film and music and Indigenous languages. Study abroad at a Latin American university can in many cases be included in the degree.
  • Master's degrees. The LLILAS master's degree lasts two years, and students declare a major and a minor focus of work. Dual degrees with professional programmes normally take three years.
  • Courses in Argentina for international students. The Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC) runs the Spanish and Latin American Culture Program (PECLA) for international students who are not Spanish speakers. Besides four levels of Spanish, the course list includes Argentine Literature, Argentine Cinema, Argentine Culture and Latin American Culture. The courses are certified by the UNC and carry between 1 and 6 college credits, and the programme includes cultural activities such as tango lessons.
  • Spanish courses with immersion. Private Spanish schools offer short courses that start every week. COINED, an organisation founded in 1971 to run exchanges between German and Argentine secondary school students, teaches Spanish in Buenos Aires and Córdoba: group courses of 20 or 30 lessons per week and a minimum stay of one week. In Buenos Aires the groups have up to 8 students and the minimum age is 16.

Language and admission

Courses on Argentina taught in the country are normally in Spanish, so the level of Spanish decides what a student can follow. Argentina has its own certificate of Spanish as a foreign language, the CELU (Certificado de Español: Lengua y Uso), which has been awarded since 2004. According to the CELU consortium it is the only exam officially recognised by the Argentine Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It certifies three levels, basic, intermediate and advanced, and since 2020 it can be taken fully online. The consortium describes the intermediate level as the threshold for university study.

Students who want to take a full degree in Argentina should ask the university about admission for foreign applicants, recognition of their school certificate and the level of Spanish required. COINED notes that public universities in Argentina are free for citizens and residents; check with the university what applies to international students.

Where to study

SpainExchange currently lists one active school under Argentine studies: COINED Antigua, the school in Antigua, Guatemala, of COINED. In Antigua it teaches Spanish, with an intensive course of 20 group lessons per week and a minimum stay of one week. The courses that deal with Argentina itself take place at the organisation's schools in Buenos Aires and Córdoba, so ask the school which location and programme fit this interest.

Within Argentina, COINED mentions the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) and the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC) among the country's universities. Outside Argentina, the subject is taught mainly within Latin American studies.

Careers

Argentine studies is not a professional qualification in itself. It gives regional knowledge and Spanish, which graduates combine with another field. The University of Texas at Austin says its master's degree in Latin American Studies prepares students to work in nonprofit organisations, the private sector, government, higher education and think tanks. A short course in Argentina does not replace a degree, but it adds language practice and first-hand knowledge of the country. There are no official employment statistics for this subject on its own.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a degree in Argentine studies?

Rarely under that name. Most students take Latin American studies and focus on Argentina through elective courses, a thesis or a period of study in the country.

Do I need Spanish to study Argentina?

For courses taught in Argentina, yes. Programmes such as PECLA at the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba teach Spanish at several levels alongside courses on Argentine literature, cinema and culture.

Which Spanish certificate is recognised in Argentina?

The CELU. According to its consortium it is the only Spanish exam officially recognised by the Argentine Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it certifies basic, intermediate and advanced levels.

How long does a course last?

It varies widely. Spanish courses at COINED can be booked from one week, the master's degree in Latin American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin takes two years, and university courses for foreign students carry a set number of credits each.