Latin America and the Caribbean: Regional Studies

专业详情

The interdisciplinary MA program in Regional Studies: Latin America and the Caribbean (MARSLAC) provides a broad social science-based approach to modern and contemporary Latin America and the Caribbean. The curriculum combines core seminars on region-specific scholarship and research with the opportunity to take graduate-level courses in different disciplines throughout Columbia University. During the first semester, students obtain solid foundations in the most relevant scholarship on key issues of contemporary Latin America (democratization, rule of law, urban development, environmental change, trade and immigration, gender relations, and cultural expression of diversity, among others). In the second semester, they hone research methodologies and the critical use of scholarship in order to develop their own projects and complete an MA thesis.

Latin American countries have developed increasingly strong ties within and beyond the region while consolidating democratic institutions and the rule of law. MARSLAC students deepen their knowledge of the political, economic, social, and cultural processes shaping the region, and graduate with the expertise to be leaders in their chosen fields. Ideal both for professionals seeking regional knowledge and students intending to pursue the PhD, the program prepares graduates for careers in government, public policy, non-profit organizations, journalism, the private sector, and academia. The program also assists K- 12 educators in the metropolitan area to develop curricula that address the specific needs of the increasing numbers of students from this region in New York City schools.

Applicants come from a diversity of backgrounds: they may be, for example, health professionals collaborating with colleagues in Latin American countries; government and NGO professionals working in the region; or business people seeking to develop expertise in a region increasingly linked to the US and global economies.

The MA program is supported by the expertise of Columbia’s faculty in the social sciences and humanities, in addition to Columbia’s research infrastructure and access to other resources in New York City. It builds upon the unique synergy created between the programs of the Institute of Latin American Studies and various institutions in the New York City area and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The educational experiences of MA students are enriched by participating in the various lecture series, conferences, and other activities sponsored by the Institute.