The Master of Arts Degree

Students are advised to consult the Bulletin of the Graduate Division for the official requirements. The following information is intended to give a general outline of the program.

Application Deadline for Fall 2008: July 1st
Application Deadline for Spring 2009: November 1st

Admission to the program

In addition to University Admission Requirements (see pages 22-27 of the 2005-06 Bulletin), 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. two sets of official transcripts;

4. three letters of reference;

5. a personal statement; more info

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 3-5 should be mailed to:

Center for Latin American Studies
(Attention: Graduate Coordinator)
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4446

Requirements for the MA Degree

The MA in Latin American Studies is a 30 unit program. There are four areas that need to be completed for the program: 1) 24 units from departmental concentrations 2) LATAM 601 (3 units) 3) Thesis or Comprehensive Exams (3 Units) and 4) Language Competency.

1) Students complete 24 semester units drawn from 3 different departments (disciplines.) The primary concentration, Department A, consists of 12 units or four classes, no more than two of which can be at the 500 level. Departments B and C each consist of six units or two classes. Only one 500 level class can be taken in each of these concentrations.

Approved disciplines (Departments) 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.

2) LATAM 601 (3 Units) is required for all students. LATAM 601 may be included in department A, B, or C if you select Latin American Studies as a concentration. If you include LATAM 601 in department A, B, or C you must take an additional course with Latin American Studies content in order to meet the 30 unit requirement.

3) Students have the option of either doing a Thesis LATAM 799A or of doing a 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, or satisfactory completion of Spanish 201 and 202 and an examination administered by the Latin American Studies program, or satisfactory completion of 3 units of 500 level and above course work in Spanish. In addition all students must satisfactorily complete Portuguese 101.

We invite prospective graduate students to visit our Graduate Access Page, or MyGAP. Using MyGAP you can build a customized web page containing personalized information about SDSU graduate programs of specific interest to you. Please click on the 'MyGap' icon to create your own MyGAP site

Frequently asked questions regarding administration, financial aid, and other general questions. more