Requirements for Certificates
CLAS offers two graduate certificates: the Certificate in Latin American Studies and the Certificate in Latin American Social and Public Policy. Requirements for each are detailed below. For a list of approved courses, click here.
Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies
To fulfill the requirements for this certificate, students must complete six Latin American area studies courses: two courses in the student’s major department or school and four courses in at least two departments/schools other than that in which the student is receiving the advanced degree. The courses should total 18 credits. In addition, students are required to be proficient in a language of the area and to submit a research paper as detailed below.
Graduate Certificate in Latin American Social and Public Policy
To fulfill the requirements for this certificate, students must complete six courses focusing on social and public policy issues of Latin America: three courses should be in the student’s major department or school and three courses should be in at least two departments/schools other than that in which the student is receiving the advanced degree. The courses should total 18 credits. In addition, students are required to be proficient in a language in their area and to present a research paper as detailed below.
Language Proficiency
The certificates in CLAS require three years, or the equivalent, of college-level Spanish, Portuguese, or an Amerindian language of the area. Students must have adequate proficiency to converse and conduct research in Latin America. A standardized examination is given to each candidate by a faculty member of the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures.
Interdisciplinary Research Paper
Students in CLAS certificate programs must complete a research paper on Latin America that reflects competence in at least two disciplines. The master’s thesis or a revised research paper may be used to fulfill this requirement.
Return to: