Requirements

  1. Students must be enrolled in a regular M.A., M.S., M.B.A., M.Ed., Ph.D. or Ed.D. program.
  2. Four area study courses at the 500 to 800 level in three disciplines from a listing of "core" courses. Core courses are defined as those containing at least 25 percent Latin American, Caribbean or Latino studies content.*
    1. One of the four courses may be a "support" course if the student writes a research paper on a Latin American, Caribbean or Latino studies theme.*
    2. One of the four courses may be an independent study.
    3. Up to two undergraduate courses may be taken as graduate independent studies if the student writes an additional research paper on a Latin American, Caribbean or Latino studies theme for the course. This option is subject to the instructor's approval.
    4. Two undergraduate courses at the 300 or 400 level may be substituted for one graduate level course.
    5. A grade of B or better must be obtained in all courses; only one course may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis.
  3. All course work must be above and beyond that completed as an undergraduate, with the exception of language proficiency (see number 4 below).
  4. Language Proficiency: demonstrated reading knowledge and conversational ability in Spanish or Portuguese. This may be met by having completed language studies through the third year (Spanish 301 and 310, 311 or 312; or Portuguese 301 and 302 at the university, or their equivalent at other institutions) or by examination.
  5. Master's thesis or doctoral dissertation on a Latin American, Caribbean or Latino studies theme. In departments in which qualifying exams are offered in the field of Latin American, Caribbean or Latino studies, these may be substituted for the Master’s thesis. In departments that offer a Master’s degree without a thesis requirement or a comprehensive exam in Latin American Studies, students complete a special Master's Project, of at least three credits, with the approval of the Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies Executive Committee. Credits toward the master's Project will be above and beyond the credits required in number 2 above.

*A list of available courses that may be applied to the requirements is compiled every semester, and may be obtained at the Center website: www.umass.edu/clacls 
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