raduate Program

The LAIS program's admission policy is based on intellectual potential and promise, academic records and programmatic fit. Graduate admission to the LAIS program is an academic decision involving factors beyond scores and grades made exclusively by the faculty of the graduate program.

In addition to program requirements, candidates for graduate degrees must fulfill the university degree requirements found in the section "Graduate Education at UCSB".

The M.A. in Latin American and Iberian studies is designed for students wishing to pursue an interdisciplinary degree at the graduate level. Although there is no doctoral program in Latin American and Iberian studies, many successful graduates of the M.A. program pursue doctoral study in traditional academic departments such as anthropology, communication, economics, history, literature, or political science, or enter professional schools to study business administration, education, law, or public health. The broad, interdisciplinary nature of the program allows students a great deal of scope to define and develop special interests.

Prospective students can see the range of interdisciplinary projects that Latin American and Iberian Studies graduate students pursue by viewing the titles of completed Master of Arts thesis.

Latin American and Iberian Studies graduate students organize events and activities and have a representative to the UCSB Graduate Students Association, which organizes events and activities.

In addition to program requirements for admission, applicants must also meet the university requirements for admission described in the chapter "Graduate Education at UCSB". Completion of the undergraduate major in Latin American and Iberian Studies is desirable but not necessary. Undergraduate deficiencies as stipulated by the Latin American and Iberian Studies committee must be remedied within the the first year and do not count toward the minimum course requirements for completion of the M.A.

• Latin American and Iberian Studies Graduate Admissions
• Graduate Handbook
• Forms and Petitions

Students will plan their programs with an advisor in their major area of concentration, selected from the affiliated faculty and with the approval of the Director.

All graduate students are required to take the proseminar in Latin American and Iberian studies LAIS 200. The course has two purposes. It is designed (1) to provide a broad overview of the fields available at UCSB; and (2) to provide insight into the particular interests and approaches of the faculty who teach Latin American and Iberian courses at UCSB. The presentations by UCSB faculty will allow graduate students to find promptly an area of interest for their continued studies in the program.

Two M.A. plans are available. Under Plan 1 (thesis), at least 32 units of upper-division and graduate coursework in Latin American and Iberian studies plus a thesis (6 additional units, Latin American and Iberian Studies 598) are required. The 32 units (8 courses generally) must include no fewer than 20 units (5 courses) of graduate courses numbered between 200 and 299 or 596, with a maximum of 8 units of 596 coursework being eligible to count toward the master's degree. The distribution of units should be 16 units (4 courses) in the major area (department) of concentration, and the remaining 8 units from two other areas. Students wishing to write a thesis must carefully prepare a proposal, including provisions for funding of any field research. The thesis proposal must be approved by a thesis committee. The final draft of the thesis itself must be approved by that committee, and by the director of Latin American and Iberian studies.

Under Plan 2 (comprehensive examination), at least 36 units of upper-division and graduate coursework in Latin American and Iberian studies are required, including no fewer than 24 units of graduate courses numbered between 200 and 299 or 596, with a maximum of 8 units of 596 coursework being eligible to count toward the master's degree. Distribution of courses should be 16 units in one area (department), 12 units in a second area, and the remaining 8 units in two other areas. A comprehensive two-part examination will be required, based on coursework and on a reading list previously approved by the advisors in consultation with the chair.

In both M.A. tracks, a grade of B or better is required for each course to count toward the master's degree. Additionally, graduate students will meet with the program director for advising by the second week of each quarter to review their course plans and progress toward the degree.

• Anthropology 209, 218, 225
• Art History 254, 254 D, 262 A-B-C, 254
• Dramatic Art 273-A-B
• Economics 214 A, 280 A-B
• Education 270 A-D-G-H, 274
• History 200 LA, 201 LA, 201 LI, 250 A-B-C, 251 A-B, 253, 268 A-B
• LAIS 200 Introduction to Latin American and Iberian Studies, 201, 202, 294 AA-ZZ
• Music 293 A
• Political Science 236, 282 A, 282 C
• Portuguese 205 A-B-C, 206 A-B-C, 222, 232 A, 260, 265, 283, 295 A-B
• Sociology 214 B, 265 G, 265 GS
• Spanish 200, 202, 207, 209, 210 A-B-C, 211 A-B-C, 212 A-B, 213, 218, 219, 222 A, 224 A-B, 230 A-B-C-D-E-F, 240 A-B, 245, 260, 270, 275, 281, 283, 285, 287, 290, 294 A-B, 295 A-B, 296 A-B, 297