Academic Programs>Graduate

The Master of Arts Degree

Students are advised to consult the Bulletin of the Graduate Division for the official requirements.

For advising information, please visit our Contact Us page.

The following information is intended to give a general outline of the program. You may also visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for further information.

Fall Deadline

Step 1: CSU Mentor Application - February 1
Step 2 and 3: File Completion - March 1

All application materials including departmental requirements must be submitted by the file completion date.

Admission to the program

In addition to University Admission Requirements, students must submit:

1. A completed application (may be submitted electronically from www.csumentor.edu)
2. GRE scores (SDSU code: 4682. No department code is needed);
3. One set of official transcripts;
4. Three letters of reference;
5. A personal statement;
6. TOEFL (if medium of instruction was in a language other than English).
7. International students should visit the International Student Center website for specific application requirements for admission.

Items 4-5 should be mailed to:

Center for Latin American Studies
(Attention: Graduate Coordinator)
San Diego State University 5
500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-4446

Requirements for the MA Degree

Summary of Requirements

The MA in Latin American Studies is a 30-unit program. There are four areas that need to be completed for the degree:

1. 21 units from departmental concentrations
2. LATAM 600 and LATAM 601 (6 units)
3. Thesis or Comprehensive Exams (3 Units)
4. Language Competency

Requirement Details

1. Students must complete 21 semester units drawn from 3 different departments (disciplines.) The primary concentration, Department A, consists of 12 units or four classes of which no more than two can be at the 500 level. Departments B and C each consist of six units or two classes of which only one may be at the 500 level.

Approved disciplines include Anthropology, Art, Communication, Economics, English, Geography, History, Latin American Studies, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Spanish, Television-Film and New Media, and Women's Studies. Within these departments, please see the graduate bulletin for courses with sufficient Latin American content to be acceptable for the degree.

2. LATAM 600 and 601 (6 Units) is required for all students. LATAM 600 and LATAM 601 automatically satisfy the requirements of department B or C; with two additional LATAM courses they can be used to satisfy Department A.

3. Students have two options, either

• A thesis (LATAM 799A) or
• The Comprehensive Written and Oral Exam and an additional course with Latin American content (3 Units).

4. Graduate Students are expected to fulfill their language proficiency requirements in addition to the 30 units required for the Master's degree. Students must demonstrate proficiency in Spanish through either

• the satisfactory completion of an oral and written examination
• the satisfactory completion of Spanish 201 and 202 and an examination administered by the Latin American Studies program, or
• the satisfactory completion of 3 units of 500 level and above course work in Spanish. In addition all students must satisfactorily complete Portuguese 101.

>> Current SDSU Class Schedule

Prospective graduate students, visit the Graduate Access Page (MyGAP). Using MyGAP you can build a customized web page containing personalized information about SDSU programs of specific interest to you.

Joint MA Programs

In addition to offering an MA in Latin American Studies, the Center for Latin American Studies also offers other graduate degrees in conjunction with other programs at San Diego State University. These programs include:

• Master of Arts in LAS and Master of Business Administration (MA/MBA)
  
  
• Master of Arts in LAS and Master in Public Health (MA/MPH) 
  
  
• Joint Master of Arts in LAS and Master in Public Administration (MA/MPA)