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COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
- GRADUATE
www.as.miami.edu
Degree Programs
A. The M.A. in Latin American and Caribbean Studies is a
30-credit interdisciplinary degree that combines the cultural
sensitivity and understanding of place offered by area studies
with an inter-disciplinary, holistic approach to solving problems
and advancing knowledge and practice. The degree can be completed
in two semesters and a summer. Offering students conceptual
and practical tools for innovation, sustainability and enhancing
wellbeing are guiding principles of the program.
After a required survey of the field and a methods course
chosen from a discipline, students take two regional studies
courses from at least two disciplines and then create specialized
inter-disciplinary tracks assisted by a program advisor and
a mentor in their area of interest. Examples of program tracks
include Innovation, Sustainability and Development, Politics
and Democratization, Security Studies, Creative Industries,
Communication and Journalism, and Global Interactions. A track
specializing in the acquisition and application of Geo-spatial
Information System technologies (LAS - GIS) is also offered.
B. The program consists of two core Latin American and Caribbean
seminars, a disciplinary methods course, two regional fundamentals
courses and three elective seminars. Latin American Studies
electives are drawn from across the university.
C. Students are required to either write a master’s
thesis or complete an individual capstone project with an
oversight director and committee. Under special circumstances
students who have acquired 30 credits may fulfill the thesis/capstone
requirement by passing a comprehensive examination.
D. Students must demonstrate advanced language competence
in either Spanish, Portuguese or Haitian Creole by passing
a course taught in the target language at the 500-level or
above, or by passing a equivalent language competency exam.
Students may develop reading or oral proficiency in other
courses through the university’s Modern Language and
Literatures Department (MLL) or, when not offered by MLL,
the university’s Directed Individualized Language Study
(DILS) program.
FILAS (Fellows in Latin American Studies)
In this highly selective Honors Program, students follow
a rigorous, accelerated curriculum to complete a dual degree
(B.A./M.A.) in Latin American and Caribbean Studies in five
years. The program provides exciting collaborative research,
travel, and work opportunities.
Working with UM’s world-class faculty in various academic
disciplines, FILAS participants design individualized curricula.
In addition to the regular general education course requirements
of the College of Arts and Sciences, FILAS students choose
one focus track for their most advanced courses: Social Sciences,
Literature & Culture, Communication, Public Health, Environmental
Studies, or History. For broad-based, multi-disciplinary preparation,
students choose courses that focus on Latin America and the
Caribbean from the following categories (at least ten of these
courses must be taken at the Master’s level):
• One gateway seminar in Latin American
Studies
• Two History courses
• Two International Studies courses
• Two Economics courses
• Three advanced Languages and Literatures
courses
• Seven courses in Study Abroad
• Two courses as internship/co-op
credits
• Three courses above the 300-level
(third-year) in a range of disciplines
• Ten courses in one focus track
150 total credits
FILAS students also write a thesis based on an original
research project. In addition, they present their findings
in a meeting of the UM Center for Latin American Studies in
their final semester.
FILAS ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
• SAT1 composite score of 1360 or
ACT 31.
• Top 10% of high school graduating
class.
• Regular Application for Admission
to the University of Miami. We recommend students submit
their applications by November 15.
• Recommendations from three high
school teachers.
• Statement of interest in FILAS,
emphasizing prior language or area study
• To continue through the Master's
level, students must maintain at least a 3.4 GPA and they
must take the GRE Exam.
Requests for Information
For more information, contact:
LAS Degree Programs
University of Miami
1111 Memorial Drive
Coral Gables, FL 33124-2302
Phone: (305) 284-8180
Fax: (305) 284-2796
lasgrad@miami.edu
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