Q: What is the minimum GPA for incoming students?
A: The Center for Latin American Studies does not have a minimum GPA requirement. Therefore, we carry the same standards of the Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions Office which is 2.85.

Q: What is the minimum GRE score for incoming students?
The minimum scores for the GRE are a comcined score of 950 for the verbal and quantitative portion and a score of 4.0 on the analytical portion.

Q: What degrees are available in Latin American Studies at SDSU?
A: A minor, a major (BA), a MA, a joint MA and MBA with the College of Business.


Q: What are the guidelines to writing the personal statement?
A: Fundamentally, the statement of purpose should explain why you want to attend our program.  Why are you continuing with your formal education--is this a career move, a desire to prepare for a PhD program, a personal growth decision? Further, what do you intend to do in order to realize your goals?  Do you know what topics and/or regions of Latin America you want to research and study?  Do you need to fill some langauge gaps in Spanish, or are you intending to focus on Portuguese?  Are there specific faculty you would like to study under?  Are you interested in larning an indigenous language like Mixtec, Nahuatl, Zapotec, or Aymara?  Do you want to do field research in Latin America and if so, on what issues and in what locales?

You do not need to answer all of these questions, most students do not, but at least give us some idea who you are, what your interests are, and how a degree from LAS at SDSU will help you realize some of your goals.
The essay need not be long, generally 1.5-3 pages of doublespacing is sufficient.

Q: Is a BA or MA in Latin American Studies useful?
A: Yes, but like all things, it depends on what your career goals are. The advantages of the LAS degrees are that they develop cross-cultural communication and understanding, prepare you to continue with your studies if you want to go on, and enable you to seek employment in a wide variety of areas, including business, social services, education, and government service among others. Given that Americans of Latin American heritage are now the largest minority in the United States, there is an increasing demand for people who know the histories, cultures, languages, and other characteristics of the nations that comprise Latin America.

Q: How long does it take to get an MA in Latin American Studies?
A: About 2 years of full time study. It can be done in 3 semesters, most students take longer than that, however.

Q: How do I find advising in LAS?
A: The Director of LAS (Dr. Gerber) and the Associate Director (Dr. Perez) both have office hours several times a week. You may make an appointment (594-1104), or drop-in during office hours. Both Dr. Gerber and Dr. Perez are located next to the Center which is in Storm Hall 146.

Q: The class schedule lists a really interesting class on Latin America but according to the SDSU catalog, it does not count toward the degree. Can I take it anyway, and can I count it towards my degree?
A: Possibly. Talk to an advisor. It is possible to substitute classes in the degree program if (1) it has significant Latin American content and (2) you get an advisor’s signature. The form you need is called a Request for Adjustment of Academic Requirement.

Q: I am in the MA program and I would like to do an internship. Can this count towards my MA degree?
A: Yes, but you must (1) have the internship approved by an advisor and (2) file a Request for Adjustment of Academic Requirement form.

Q: Does the MA program require me to write a thesis?
A: You have two options, a thesis option (Option A) and a non-thesis option (Option B). Option B requires a comprehensive exam.

Q: I am in the MA program. Do I really have to take Portuguese?
A: You need at least one semester of a Latin American language other than Spanish. You may substitute an indigenous language such as Mixtec.