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This archived information is dated to the 2008-09 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Graduate Programs in Latin American Studies

In this section:

Master of Arts in Latin American Studies

Up one level:

Latin American Studies

The one-year master's program in Latin American Studies is designed for students who have experience working, living, or studying in Latin America or Iberia and little prior course work on the region.

Although the center does not offer a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies, Stanford has several departmental programs through which a student may concentrate on Latin America. These include Anthropology, History, Political Science, and Spanish and Portuguese. Contact the respective departments for admission information.

Admission—The application deadline is January 6. Applicants submit an online application, including a 500-word statement of purpose, resume, 10-15 page double-spaced academic writing sample, and three letters of recommendation; official transcripts; and Graduate Record Examination scores. TOEFL scores are required of applicants for whom English is not their first language or who did not attend an undergraduate institution where English is the language of instruction. To apply online or for information on graduate admissions, go to http://gradadmissions.stanford.edu.

The joint Latin American Studies and Law program allows students to work toward an M.A. in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree simultaneously, with a substantial number of courses allowed to count toward both degrees. Students must apply separately for admission to the School of Law and the School of Humanities and Sciences Latin American Studies program. (Note, Latin American Studies appears under the division of International Comparative and Area Studies.) For more information about joint degree programs in the School of Law, please visit the following web site: http://www.law.stanford.edu/program/degrees/joint/#joint_degrees.

To be eligible for a dual degree program with the Graduate School of Business (M.B.A.) or School of Medicine (M.D.), candidates must apply and be accepted independently to both programs.

Applicants must meet the University admission requirements, have a working knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese at the third-year level, and have experience working, living, or studying in Latin America or Iberia prior to admission.

CLAS takes a broad approach to evaluating applications for admission. As important as GRE scores and grades are the applicant's essay, letters of recommendation, academic writing sample, and the experiences and goals conveyed through the personal statement and resume.

Financial Aid—The Center for Latin American Studies has several graduate fellowships as well as limited research and course assistantship positions with the Tinker Visiting Professors each quarter.

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