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Programs of Study

Graduate

• Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies
• Graduate Certificate in Latin American Social and Public Policy
• Focus on Latin American Archaeology
• Application for the Graduate Certificate

Undergraduate

• Related Concentration in Latin American Studies
• Undergraduate Certificate in Latin American Studies
• Application for the Undergraduate Certificate

Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies

The Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies is a multidisciplinary program of study designed for students who want to graduate with a master’s or doctorate as well as a credential that indicates a specialization on this region of the world.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies:

• Proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese or an Amerindian language of the region -- Ordinarily interpreted as a level of language proficiency equivalent to three years of college work.  The student should be able to carry out research in the field and to easily converse with native speakers.  Proficiency may have been attained through class work or informal education.  Proficiency will be determined through an exam conducted by a faculty member of the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures or Linguistics.
• TWO (2) courses in the student's major department and FOUR (4) courses in at least two departments or schools outside the student's major -- Graduate students who are registered in a department or school in which Latin American area studies courses are not offered can complete the Latin American Certificate by taking 6 Latin American area courses in at least three separate schools/departments. 
• Interdisciplinary Research Paper in the Field of Latin American Studies -- The research paper should show interdisciplinary competence in the field of Latin American Studies; it should not be a narrow essay, circumscribed in scope to the limits of the candidate's major.  Therefore, a candidate for the certificate is encouraged to write the research paper towards the end of his/her coursework—after some Latin American courses outside the major department have been completed.  The master's thesis or a carefully designed research paper may serve as the certificate paper.  The paper must be interdisciplinary, focus on a Latin American topic, and reflect good quality analytical research.
• Receipt of Degree -- The graduate certificate in Latin American Studies will be awarded only after successful completion of the above-stated requirements and only after completion of all requirements for the master's degree or successful performance on the preliminary examinations for the doctorate.

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Graduate Certificate in Latin American Social and Public Policy

The Graduate Certificate in Latin American Social and Public Policy is a multidisciplinary program of study designed to train future leaders, public officials, and analysts capable of designing social and public programs that meet the needs of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean .

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Latin American Social and Public Policy:

• Proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese or an Amerindian language of the region -- Ordinarily interpreted as a level of language proficiency equivalent to three years of college work.  The student should be able to carry out research in the field and to easily converse with native speakers.  Proficiency may have been attained through class work or informal education.  Proficiency will be determined through an exam conducted by a faculty member of the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures or Linguistics.
• TWO (2) courses in the student's major department and FOUR (4) courses in at least two departments or schools outside the student's major -- The Latin American Social and Public Policy Certificate Program requires students to complete six Latin American area studies courses in social and public policy.  Two of these courses should be from the student's major department or school and four courses from at least two departments­/schools other than that in which the student is receiving the advanced degree.   Course work for the Latin American Social and Public Policy Certificate will normally involve a focus on particular areas of social and public policy.  These areas can be designed by the student in consultation with his or her academic advisor.
• Interdisciplinary Research Paper in the Field of Latin American Studies -- The research paper should show interdisciplinary competence in the field of Latin American Studies; it should not be a narrow essay, circumscribed in scope to the limits of the candidate's major.  Therefore, a candidate for the certificate is encouraged to write the research paper towards the end of his/her coursework—after some Latin American courses outside the major department have been completed.  The master's thesis or a carefully designed research paper may serve as the certificate paper.  The paper must be interdisciplinary, focus on a Latin American topic, and reflect good quality analytical research.
• Receipt of Degree -- The graduate certificate in Latin American Studies will be awarded only after successful completion of the above-stated requirements and only after completion of all requirements for the master's degree or successful performance on the preliminary examinations for the doctorate.

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Focus on Latin American Archaeology

Latin America is the principal geographical focus of archaeology at the University of Pittsburgh. Administered by the Department of Anthropology, with the cooperation and support of CLAS, the Latin American Archaeology Program involves research, training, and publication. Its objective is to maintain an international community of graduate students in archaeology at the University of Pittsburgh. This objective is promoted in part through fellowships for outstanding graduate students to study any area of Latin American prehistory. Many of these fellowships are awarded to students from Latin America who constitute nearly half of the students in the program. The commitment to Latin American archaeology also is illustrated by collaborative ties with numerous Latin American institutions and by the bilingual publication series which makes the results of primary field research available to a worldwide audience. The Latin American Archaeology Publications Program publishes the bilingual Memoirs in Latin American Archaeology and Latin American Archaeology Reports, co-publishes the collaborative series Arqueología de México, and distributes internationally volumes on Latin American archaeology and related subjects from more than nine publishers in Latin America. For more information, please click here.

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Related Concentration in Latin American Studies

Students may begin their work on Latin America through the Related Concentration in Latin American Studies. This program of study, similar to a minor, is designed for students who want to learn about the cultures and societies of our neighbors to the south, as well as for those who are considering a career with a specialization in the Latin American area.

Requirements for the Related Concentration in Latin American Studies:

• ONE (1) Latin American area studies course in the student's major and FOUR (4) Latin American area studies courses in at least two departments other than the major -- For students majoring in departments in which no Latin American courses are offered, the requirement is 5 Latin American area courses in at least three different departments
• 2 years (four terms) of college-level Spanish or Portuguese or the equivalent -- Equivalent proficiency in the language may be proven through examination.

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Undergraduate Certificate in Latin American Studies

Students who want to gain first-hand experience by studying in Latin America for a minimum of six weeks in addition to taking courses about the area and in an appropriate language can earn the Undergraduate Certificate in Latin American Studies.

Requirements for the Undergraduate Certificate in Latin American Studies:

• TWO (2) Latin American area studies courses in the student's major and FIVE (5) Latin American area studies courses in at least two departments other than the major -- For students majoring in departments in which no Latin American courses are offered, the requirement is 7 Latin American area courses in at least three different departments
• 3 years (six terms) of college-level Spanish or Portuguese or the equivalent -- Equivalent proficiency in the language may be proven through examination.
• Study abroad program of at least 6 weeks' duration -- for which academic credit is received.
  The study abroad requirement for the certificate may be fulfilled by participation in the CLAS Undergraduate Seminar/Field Trip.

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