LAMER-MA - Latin American Studies (MA)

The Master of Arts in Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary program. The curriculum consists of a core set of courses surveying the history, politics, society, ecology, and culture of the Latin American region; advanced language training; and in-depth course work. In consultation with a faculty adviser, students select a course of study suited to their individual interests.

Current Stanford undergraduates may apply for a coterminal M.A. degree in Latin American Studies. Stanford undergraduates interested in applying to the LAS coterm program should use the Co-term On-Line Application to apply. Stanford coterminal applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and meet the language requirement in the menu link. See the How to Apply section on our website for more information.

The Center for Latin American Studies is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the adviser and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the adviser and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Faculty advisers guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.  Program administrative staff are available for advising students on program policies and degree requirements, as well as course selection.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship; they should proactively seek academic and professional guidance, take responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program, and remain aware of all program-specific and University-wide deadlines.  

At or before the start of graduate study, normally at the beginning of Autumn Quarter, each student is assigned an adviser: a member of the program's faculty who provides research advice and guidance in course selection and in exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.  Usually, the same faculty member serves as program adviser for the duration of master's study; however, formal adviser change requests are possible in consultation with CLAS staff.

CLAS students are required to meet with their adviser at least twice per quarter and they must submit an adviser meeting form to the program office as proof.  Students are expected to have a discussion with their adviser during or before the first week of each quarter to agree upon the courses that the student plans to take that quarter.  

The department's student services office is also an important part of the advising team.  It informs students and advisers about University and department requirements, procedures, and opportunities, and it maintains the official records of advising assignments and approvals. 

In addition, MA students are required to participate in the M.A. quarterly meeting, which is held during the second half of each quarter.  The faculty director, associate director, and student services officer meet with all students during these mandatory quarterly meetings, and are available during the academic year by email and during office hours. 

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the Graduate Advising Policies website and the Graduate Advising section of this bulletin. Academic advising by Stanford faculty is a critical component of all graduate students' education and additional resources can be found in the Policies and Best Practices for Advising Relationships at Stanford and the Guidelines for Faculty-Student Advising at Stanford. 

The purpose of the master's program is to further develop knowledge and skills in Latin American Studies and to prepare students for a professional career or doctoral studies.

Students with little prior coursework on Latin America will benefit most from our interdisciplinary curriculum consisting of a core set of courses surveying the history, politics, culture and society, and environment and ecology of the region, along with advanced language training, in-depth courses. Stanford M.A. in Latin American Studies students receive basic training in systems and tools such as visualization, big data analysis, and GIS in order to be current and more effective in their career of choice.

Prior graduates of the Latin American Studies master's degree program have gone into higher education, business and the private sector, government, and non-governmental organizations.

In consultation with a faculty advisor, students select a course of study suited to their individual interests.