University Center for International Studies—Latin American Studies
Contact Information
- Graduate Advisor: Shirley A. Kregar
- Associate Director for Academic Affairs
- Center for Latin American Studies
- 4208 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
- 412-648-7396
- Fax: 412-648-2199
- E-mail: kregar@pitt.edu
- www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas
The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), established in 1964, is internationally recognized for excellence in undergraduate, graduate, and professional education. In 1979 the U.S. Department of Education designated CLAS as a comprehensive National Resource Center (NRC) on Latin America. In 1983, the University of Pittsburgh and Cornell University combined their resources to form a consortium on Latin American studies, which has been awarded an NRC since its formation.
CLAS' programs cover the entire Latin American and Caribbean region. The expertise of its faculty members clusters around the Southern Cone, Brazil, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean Basin. Two academic programs are especially noteworthy: The Latin American Archaeology Program, housed in the Department of Anthropology, involves research, training, and publications and emphasizes collaboration between North American and Latin American archaeologists. Fellowships and a bilingual publication series (funded by the Howard Heinz Endowment and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation) further enhance this exceptional program.
The Latin American Social and Public Policy Program draws on the impressive array of faculty and student expertise on Latin American policy issues available at the University of Pittsburgh. The program brings together researchers from different fields with the goal of contributing information of relevance to policy decisions facing Latin America. Social and Public Policy Fellowships are annually awarded to scholars interested in studying various dimensions of social policy at the University of Pittsburgh. The Latin American Social and Public Policy Graduate Certificate is available to students in this more specialized program.
One of the major resources on Latin America available to students at the University of Pittsburgh is the Eduardo Lozano Latin American Library Collection. Its resources include exceptional collections on Bolivia and Cuba as well as extensive holdings on Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
Applications to the Center for Latin American Studies may be submitted either at the same time as applications to the University or after the student has been admitted. In either case, the center cannot accept students until they have received notification of admission to the University.
Financial Assistance
The Latin American Studies program offers several means of financial assistance to students in its certificate program. Please visit www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/academic/funding/graduate.html for further details.
Requirements for Certificates
CLAS offers two graduate certificates: the Certificate in Latin American Studies and the Certificate in Latin American Social and Public Policy. The requirements of each are detailed below:
Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies
To fulfill the requirements for this certificate, students must complete six Latin American area studies courses: two courses in the student's major department or school and four courses in at least two departments/schools other than that in which the student is receiving the advanced degree. The courses should total 18 credits. In addition, students are required to have language proficiency and to write a research paper as detailed below.
Graduate Certificate in Latin American Social and Public Policy
To fulfill the requirements for this certificate, students must complete six courses focusing on social and public policy; two courses should be in the student's major department or school and four courses should be in at least two departments/schools other than that in which the student is receiving the advanced degree. The courses should total 18 credits. In addition, students are required to have language proficiency and to write a research paper as detailed below.
Language proficiency
Both certificates in CLAS require three years, or the equivalent, of college-level Spanish or Portuguese or an Amerindian language of the area. Students must have adequate proficiency to converse and conduct research; a standardized examination is given to each candidate through the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures.
Interdisciplinary research paper
Students in both certificate programs must complete a research paper on Latin America that reflects competence in at least two disciplines. The master's thesis or a revised research paper may be used to fulfill this requirement.
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