School of Global and International Studies

College of Arts and Sciences

Departmental E-mail: clacs [at] indiana [dot] edu (clacs@indiana.edu)

Departmental URL: https://clacs.indiana.edu/

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies is part of the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies (HLS) in the College of Arts and Sciences, dedicated to providing Indiana University graduate students with the intellectual tools they will need to live, work, and thrive in the globalized world of the twenty-first century.  Degree programs associated with HLS emphasize language proficiency, cultural competency, and in-depth training in qualitative and quantitative methodologies.  HLS students enjoy unparalleled access to a stellar faculty and professional development opportunities.  For further information regarding the mission, structure and resources of the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies see http://hls.indiana.edu/.

(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin.)

Curriculum
Courses
Crosslisted Courses
Faculty

Program Information

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies fulfills a direct teaching function through its M.A. program and its doctoral-level certificate and minor, as well as serving as a highly important liaison and coordinator among departments and schools with teaching, research, and contract responsibilities related to Latin America and the Caribbean.

The teaching mission aims toward interdisciplinary training in the Latin American and Caribbean area in a three- to four-semester (30 credit hours) M.A. program, specifically tailored to those preparing for business, government, foreign service, or secondary school and junior college teaching opportunities. Advanced work in at least two fields and one interdisciplinary seminar give depth and breadth to such an education.

Students working on the Ph.D. in other departments may also qualify for an area certificate or outside minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

Special Program Requirements

(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)

Master of Arts Degree

Admission Requirement

Graduate Record Examination general test scores are required before candidates can be considered for admission. A Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution with an overall undergraduate B (3.0) average is also required. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit results from the TOEFL exam.

Course Requirements

A total of 30 credit hours from graduate courses (500 level or above) related to Latin America and the Caribbean: a major concentration of at least 12 credit hours, and a minor concentration of 9 credit hours; 3 credit hours of the interdisciplinary seminar L501 (which should be taken the first semester of graduate study); the remaining 6 credit electives can be selected from the approved list of courses located on the CLACS website.  Courses may be selected from CLACS courses or joint and cross-listed courses.  Other courses may qualify with the approval of the Director. 

Students may focus their major or minor concentrations in discrete disciplinary fields, like Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Education Policy Studies, Folklore and Ethnomusicology, History, or Gender Studies as well as interdisciplinary/thematic fields like critical race studies, environmental studies, indigenous studies, social movements, or political ecology and development. Students can also focus on geographical or regional fields including Andes, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and the Southern Cone. Students are not limited to the above mentioned fields and are encouraged to craft fields based on interests, course availability and discussions with the Director. No more than a total of 6 credits of graduate-level (500 or above) language study may be used toward the major or minor concentrations. Up to 6 credits of independent study or thesis preparation may be used to research and write the thesis, but normally no more than 3 of these 6 can be used for the major or minor concentration. Students pursuing a dual degree cannot use more than 3 credits of thesis preparation toward the CLACS degree.

Grades

A 3.4 overall grade point average or above must be maintained. Additionally, a minimum of a B (3.0) is required for any courses desired to count towards the Master’s degree.

Foreign Language Requirement

Certification of reading knowledge in one foreign language is required for the MA degree. The language required will be determined by the student’s major field of study; students should consult the Director for guidance if needed. Students may demonstrate proficiency in the following languages: Portuguese, Spanish, Quechua, Haitian Creole, Maya, or others appropriate to the student’s program of study, if approved by the Director.  Native speakers or those who are Associate Instructors for the respective language may contact the Director to see if a waiver may be obtained.

Entering students should obtain certification of reading knowledge or begin appropriate language study in the first term of enrollment. Proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese may be demonstrated following the requirements of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Graduate students (whether CLACS graduate students or students from other departments) who wish to meet their language requirement with Haitian Creole, Maya, or Quechua have two options to demonstrate proficiency: 1) They may take two language courses during the first year, Elementary I and II. Students should receive a B (3.0) or better in both courses. 2) They may pass a reading examination prepared by CLACS. The examination includes two texts of approximately 400 words each, one drawn from primary sources and the other drawn from secondary sources. A student will be expected to translate the first text and answer critical questions about the second. 

Final Degree Requirement

The student shall choose one of the following as a final project for the degree:

1. A written examination consisting of two essays, administered in the last semester of course work. The Director shall appoint an Examination Committee consisting of at least three faculty members to supervise the preparation of reading lists and to evaluate the written essays. At the discretion of the Director or Examination Committee Chair, an oral examination may be required following the written examination.
2. A polished and publication-quality research paper of approximately 10,000 words oriented to a peer-reviewed journal and presented in the last semester of course work. The paper may or may not incorporate originally gathered data or source material, but it should in every case demonstrate the ability to synthesize, analyze, and critique a body of literature or evidence in the service of an original argument. The Director and the student shall appoint a Paper Committee of a least three faculty members to evaluate the research paper. At the discretion of the Committee, an oral exam may be required following the submission of the paper.
3. A formal thesis of approximately 50-100 pages, based on a significant amount of primary source material such as ethnographic field data, historical archives, electronic media and texts, artistic products, policy documents, and the like. Subject to the approval of the Director, the student shall prepare a written thesis proposal and nominate a Thesis Committee consisting of at least three graduate faculty members, who will supervise the research, evaluate preliminary and final versions of the text, and conduct an oral examination on the thesis at least two weeks before the end of the term in which the degree is to be granted. The final, approved version of the thesis must be submitted according to the guidelines published by the University Graduate School.

Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Doctor of Jurisprudence

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) offers a joint degree program in cooperation with the Maurer School of Law. The program is designed to provide students with a thorough grounding in the Latin American region together with professional legal training. The joint degree program allows students to complete the M.A. and J.D. with a total of 103 credit hours rather than the 118 hours that would be required to complete the two degrees separately. Students take at least 24 credit hours in CLACS and 79 credit hours in Law, including all required courses for the J.D. Under this program, the two degrees must be awarded concurrently.

Students must apply separately for admission to the M.A. program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the J.D. program in the Maurer School of Law, and must be accepted by both units in order to be admitted to the joint degree program. Students may apply for admission to both programs simultaneously. Alternatively, students enrolled in one program may apply for admission to the other any time before the completion of their degree.

Students must complete 24 credit hours of advanced courses relating to Latin American and Caribbean studies with a minimum GPA of 3.4. The interdisciplinary seminar LTAM-L501 (3 credits) must be taken, together with 21 credit hours in other LTAM courses or those Latin American and Caribbean studies courses that are cross-listed with other departments. No courses satisfying the 79 credits for the J.D. may be used simultaneously toward the CLACS M.A., and students will be expected to take the majority of coursework toward the CLACS degree in graduate-level courses offered within the College of Arts and Sciences. Prior approval from the Director of Graduate Studies must be obtained for enrollment in any courses outside the College or for courses that are not cross-listed. All other requirements for completion of the Latin American Studies M.A., including language proficiency and thesis or final paper/examination, remain as listed in this bulletin.

Students must complete 79 semester hours of credit in the School of Law, including all its required coursework, and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.3 to be eligible for graduation. Required coursework includes: the first-year courses in Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Profession, Legal Research and Writing I and II, Property, and Torts; a Research Seminar; an upper-level writing experience (seminar or writing course); and the Clinical/Practical Skills Requirement.

Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Master of Business Adminis­tration

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the Kelley School of Business jointly offer a three-year program that qualifies students for two master’s degrees. Study for these two degrees in the dual degree (M.A./M.B.A.) can be complet­ed in a total of 66 credit hours rather than the 84 credit hours that would otherwise be required to take the two degrees separately (since certain courses contribute to both degrees). The two degrees must be awarded simultaneously.

The Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LTAM) M.A. degree requires a total of 30 credit hours, 24 credits of which must be taken in Latin American and Caribbean Studies under the requirements established for the M.A. Of these, the inter­disciplinary seminar L501 must be taken, together with 21 credit hours in other LTAM courses or those Latin American and Caribbean Studies courses that are cross-listed with other departments or schools, except the Kelley School of Business. Other courses may qualify with the approval of the Director.  All other requirements for completion of the Latin American Studies M.A., including language proficiency and thesis or oral examination, remain as listed in this bulletin.

Students must also take 42 credit hours in the Kelley School of Business under the requirements of the M.A./M.B.A. degree, including the Foundations and Functional Cores through the M.B.A. program, L506, L509, and the Strategy Component. Up to 6 credit hours taken in the Kelley School of Business may be counted as part of the 30 credit hours normally required for the M.A. degree in LTAM.

Application for admission to the dual M.A./M.B.A. degree program must be made to the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the University Graduate School for study toward the M.A. and to the Kelley School of Business for study toward the M.B.A. Students must be accepted by all three units in order to be admitted to the program.

Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Master of Information Science

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) offers this dual degree program in cooperation with the Department of Information and Library Science (ILS). The program prepares students for a wide range of careers requiring a combination of technical skills in information science, foreign language proficiency, and area expertise. Study in the dual degree program allows students to complete the M.A. and M.I.S. with a total of 54 credit hours rather than the 72 hours that would be required to take the two degrees separately. Students take at least 24 credit hours in CLACS and at least 30 graduate credit hours in Information and Library Science. Under this program, the two degrees must be awarded simultaneously.

Students must take 24 credit hours of advanced courses relating to Latin American and Caribbean studies. The interdisciplinary seminar LTAM-L501 (3 credits) must be taken, together with 21 credit hours in other LTAM courses or those Latin American and Caribbean studies courses that are cross-listed with other departments. Students will be expected to take the majority of coursework toward the CLACS degree in graduate-level courses offered within the College of Arts and Sciences. Prior approval from the Director of Graduate Studies must be obtained for enrollment in any courses outside the College or for courses that are not cross-listed. All other requirements for completion of the Latin American Studies M.A., including language proficiency and thesis or final paper/examination, remain as listed in this bulletin.

Students must take 18 credit hours of required M.I.S. courses (Z510, Z511, Z515, Z516, and either Z556 or Z513 and a 3cr. programming course), 9 additional required courses (Z533, Z605 and Z629) and a 3 credit elective in M.I.S. 

Students must apply separately for admission to the M.A. program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the M.I.S. program in the Department of Information and Library Science, and must be accepted by both units in order to be admitted to the dual degree program. Students may apply for admission to both programs simultaneously. Alternatively, students enrolled in one program may apply for admission to the other any time before the completion of their degree.

Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Master of Library Science

The Department of Information and Library Science (ILS) and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies jointly offer a three-year program that qualifies students for two master’s de­grees. Study for these two degrees in the dual degree (M.A./M.L.S.) can be completed in a total of 54 credit hours rather than the 66 credit hours that would otherwise be required to complete the two degrees separately. During the dual degree, specific courses contribute to both degrees. The two degrees must be awarded simultaneously.

Students must take 24 credit hours of advanced courses relat­ing to Latin American and Caribbean Studies. The interdisciplin­ary seminar L501 (3 credits) must be taken, together with 21 credit hours in other LTAM courses or those Latin American and Caribbean Studies courses that are cross-listed with other departments. Other courses may qualify with the approval of the Director.  A further 6 credit hours may be taken in Information and Library Science and will count toward both degrees: Z629 Topics in Information Sources and Services with the topic: Latin American Bibliography (if Z629 is not offered, Z521, Z522, Z523, Z525, or Z526 can be substituted if the course project involves Latin American materials) or Z605 Internship in Information and Library Science (under the super­vision of the Latin American bibliographer). All other requirements for completion of the Latin American Studies M.A., including language proficiency and thesis or oral examination, remain as listed in this bulletin. 

For the M.L.S. degree, admission requirements remain as listed in the Department of Information and Library Science (ILS) Bulletin, and the proposed dual program requires 30 credit hours of Information and Library Science graduate courses. These must include three M.L.S. Foundation courses (18 credit hours) and other required ILS courses and electives (12 credit hours).

Application for admission to the dual M.A./M.L.S. degree pro­gram must be made to the Center for Latin American and Carib­bean Studies for study toward the M.A. and to Information and Library Science for study toward the M.L.S. Students must be accepted by both units in order to be admitted to the program.

Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Master of Public Affairs

The O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies jointly offer a three-year program that qualifies students for two master’s de­grees. Study for these two degrees in the dual degree (M.A./M.P.A.) can be completed in a total of 60 credit hours rather than the 78 credit hours that would otherwise be required to complete the two degrees separately. The two degrees must be awarded simultaneously.

Students must take 24 credit hours of advanced courses relat­ing to Latin American and Caribbean studies. The interdisciplin­ary seminar L501 (3 credits) must be taken, together with 21 credit hours in other LTAM courses or those Latin American and Caribbean studies courses that are cross-listed with other de­partments. Other courses may qualify with the approval of the Director.  All other requirements for completion of the Latin American Studies M.A., including language proficiency and thesis or oral examination, remain as listed in this bulletin.

For the M.P.A. degree, admission requirements remain as listed in the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs Bul­letin, and the proposed dual program requires 36 credit hours of SPEA graduate courses. These must include the M.P.A. core requirements (18 credit hours): V502 Public Management (3 cr.), V506 Statistical Analysis for Policy and Management (3 cr.), V517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.), V540 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.), V560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.), V600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.), and students are required to develop a Specialized Concentration comprised of 18 credit hours of coursework approved by SPEA faculty advisors.

Application for admission to the dual M.A./M.P.A. degree program must be made to the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies for study toward the M.A. and to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs for study toward the M.P.A. Students must be accepted by both units in order to be admit­ted to the program.

Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Master of Public Health

This dual degree program takes advantage of the ability of students to specialize in Latin American and Caribbean-related public health issues in a way that enables specific coursework to be counted toward elective and research requirements for both degrees. The dual degree pairs a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Latin American and Caribbean Studies with a Master of Public Health (MPH) that includes a Behavioral, Social and Community Health Concentration (BSCH).

This 65 credit dual degree program provides for each student to complete the minimum requirements for each degree independently, with 44 credits counting toward the MPH degree and 21 credits counting toward the MA degree. Follow the link for more on MPH coursework.

Students pursuing the dual degrees will be required to select readings and independent research projects that are focused on issues related to public health in the Latin American and Caribbean region. The Director of Graduate Studies within each academic unit will help students to select appropriate courses. The public health internship must be focused on issues related to public health in the Latin American and Caribbean region and must be jointly approved by the respective academic advisor in each degree program.

MPH students are required to complete a comprehensive exam and other requirements as described under HPER C-650. As the MPH students are not required to complete a thesis, the thesis process, if chosen, will be administered by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies in accordance with their established policies and procedures. The student’s thesis committee must include a representative from each academic unit.

Students interested in pursuing the dual degree will submit written notice of their intent to pursue the dual degrees to the Director, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the Coordinator, Master of Public Health program. Students will submit full applications for admission to both graduate programs using existing systems. A prospective dual degree student must be admitted to both degree programs by the faculty of that program using existing admissions systems.

4+1 Pathway Bachelor’s /MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Admission Requirement

Undergraduate students from all majors who have attained between 30-59 credit hours (sophomore or above) are eligible to apply annually during the spring semester. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the major and overall is required.

Course Requirements

A total of 30 credit hours from graduate courses (500 level or above) related to Latin America and the Caribbean: a major concentration of at least 12 credit hours, and a minor concentration of 9 credit hours; 3 credit hours of the interdisciplinary seminar LTAM-L501 (which should be taken the first semester of the fourth year); and 6 credit hours of electives can be selected from the approved list of courses located on the CLACS website. Courses may be selected from CLACS courses or joint and cross listed courses. Other courses may qualify with the approval of the Director. 

Students may focus their major or minor concentrations in discrete disciplinary fields, like Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Education Policy Studies, Folklore and Ethnomusicology, History, or Gender Studies as well as interdisciplinary/thematic fields like critical race studies, environmental studies, indigenous studies, social movements, political ecology, development, and human rights. Students can also focus on geographical or regional fields including Andes, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and the Southern Cone. Students are not limited to the above mentioned fields and are encouraged to craft fields based on interests, course availability and discussions with the Director. No more than a total of 6 credits of graduate-level (500 or above) language study may be used toward the major or minor concentrations. Up to 6 credits of independent study or thesis preparation may be used to research and write the thesis, but normally no more than 3 of these 6 can be used for the major or minor concentration. Students pursuing the 4+1 BA/MA degree cannot use more than 3 credits of thesis preparation toward the CLACS degree.

Grades

A 3.4 overall GPA or above is required. Additionally, a minimum of a B (3.0) is required for any courses desired to count toward the Master’s degree.

Foreign Language Requirement

Certification of reading knowledge in one foreign language is required for the MA degree. The language required will be determined by the student’s major field of study; students should consult the Director for guidance if needed. Students may demonstrate proficiency in the following languages: Portuguese, Spanish, Quechua, Haitian Creole, Maya, or others appropriate to the student’s program of study, if approved by the Director. Reading proficiency may be demonstrated in one of three ways: students can pass a proficiency examination administered by one of IU’s foreign language departments; students can demonstrate proficiency by earning a grade of B (3.0) or better in a graduate reading course offered by a foreign language department; or students can demonstrate proficiency in Maya, Haitian Creole, or Quechua by passing a reading examination prepared by CLACS.

Final Degree Requirements

Both the BA and MA degree conferrals must be awarded simultaneously.

The student shall choose one of the following as a final project for the degree:

1. A written examination consisting of two essays, administered in the last semester of course work. The Director shall appoint an Examination Committee consisting of at least three faculty members to supervise the preparation of reading lists and to evaluate the written essays. At the discretion of the Director or Examination Committee Chair, an oral examination may be required following the written examination.
2. A polished and publication-quality research paper of approximately 10,000 words, oriented to a peer-reviewed journal and presented in the last semester of course work. The paper may or may not incorporate originally gathered data or source material, but it should in every case demonstrate the ability to synthesize, analyze, and critique a body of literature or evidence in the service of an original argument. The Director and student shall appoint a Paper Committee of a least three faculty members to evaluate the research paper. At the discretion of the Committee, an oral exam may be required following the submission of the paper.
3. A formal thesis of approximately 50-100 pages, based on a significant amount of primary source material such as ethnographic field data, historical archives, electronic media and texts, artistic products, policy documents, and the like. Subject to the approval of the Director, the student shall prepare a written thesis proposal and nominate a Thesis Committee consisting of at least three graduate faculty members, who will supervise the research, evaluate preliminary and final versions of the text, and conduct an oral examination on the thesis at least two weeks before the end of the term in which the degree is to be granted. The final, approved version of the thesis must be submitted according to the guidelines published by the University Graduate School. 

Graduate Area Certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Admission Requirement

Acceptance into a Ph.D. program. Area certificate awarded only upon completion of the Ph.D. degree.

Course Requirements

A total of 18 credit hours with Latin American and/or Caribbean emphases, including the L501 graduate seminar (3 cr.) and a dissertation on a Latin American or Caribbean topic. The remaining 15 credits can be selected from the approved list of courses found on the department website. Students need to obtain approval from the Director for courses not on the approved list. Six credits can be within the student’s home department, as long as they contain Latin American or Caribbean content and have been approved by the Director to count towards the certificate.

Grades

A minimum grade of B (3.0) is required in each course that is to count toward certificate requirements.

Foreign Language Requirements

Reading proficiency in a Latin American or Caribbean Language (such as Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Maya, or Quechua). Reading proficiency may be demonstrated in one of three ways: students can pass a proficiency examination administered by one of IU’s foreign language departments; students can demonstrate proficiency by earning a grade of B (3.0) or better in a graduate reading course offered by a foreign language department; or students can demonstrate proficiency in Maya, Haitian Creole, or Quechua by passing a reading examination prepared by CLACS.

Ph.D. Minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

The requirements for the Ph.D. minor are flexible. Each pro­gram is developed in consultations between the student, the academic advisor of the student’s major department, and the director of Latin American and Caribbean studies, though cer­tain basic requirements are common to all programs.

Course Requirements

Twelve (12) credit hours of graduate level course work (500 and above) directly related to Latin American or Caribbean subject matter, including The LTAM-L 501 graduate seminar (3 credit hours) plus 9 additional credit hours of graduate level course work (500 and above) directly related to Latin American or Caribbean subject matter. This includes courses from the approved course list on the Latin American and Caribbean Studies website. Students need to obtain approval from the Director for courses not on the approved list. Courses from the student’s Ph.D. degree cannot also count toward the minor. 

Examination

If a grade point average of at least 3.7 is maintained, no examination will be required. Otherwise, the director of Latin American and Caribbean Studies may stipulate that the student take a written examination.

Program Certification

Certification that all requirements for the program have been met must come from the director of Latin American and Carib­bean Studies.