Department of Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Guidelines for the Preparation of the Required

Master’s Project in LACS

MASTER’S PROJECT TIMELINE (LCS 697)

The MA degree in Latin American, Caribbean , and US Latino Studies is designed to be completed in one and a half to two years of full-time study. Some students might choose to accelerate this timeline, by completing more than the recommended 9-12 credits per semester or by attending summer school. Students may choose either the MA Project degree option (LCS 697), which is required of all students planning to continue in the doctoral program, or the Comprehensive Exam option (MA terminal degree). They should begin to think about a research topic for their project not later than their first two semesters of coursework and after taking the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar in LACS (LCS 500), offered once a year in the Fall semester. Research and writing for the Master’s Project may take the larger part of an academic year, and students should allow a minimum of one semester for writing the project. Students should also allow three to four weeks for the Project Director and the Second Reader to review any project drafts and suggest revisions. Please note that faculty are not usually available for project consultation during the summer months or University breaks. To expedite the project’s revision process, students should remember to submit to the committee members, with any new versions, all revised draft copies with the marginal and other comments of the readers intact, so that the reader might see how changes recommended in a prior version of the project have been incorporated in the most recent version.

MA PROJECT PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

Having thought about a Master’s project in a timely fashion, the student should submit a 10-15 page typed double-spaced proposal to the faculty member selected to direct the project. The project proposal must also include a reading list divided into three sections: 1) items related directly to the project; 2) items related to the background areas around the project; 3) items about theory and methods necessary for research on the project. In consultation with the selected MA project director, the student will also select a second reader for the project at this time, and also submit the proposal to the second reader. After the project director and second reader have approved the project, the Project Director will submit the “LACS Master’s Project Proposal Form” to the Director of Graduate Studies for the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee.

A complete MA Project Proposal should include the following:

A brief introduction describing the selected topic.

A narrative which should include a brief review of the literature.

A description of specific research questions and objectives.

A description of methodsto be usedin the research[For most MA students the main method will be a critical literature review since LACS does not require field research at the MA level, but some students may choose to carry out quantitative or qualitative research or analyze websites, images, texts, etc.]

Before registering for the LCS 697 Master’s Project, all students choosing this option must complete the required LCS 691 Directed Reading and Annotated Bibliography. This reading list should be divided into three sections: 1) items related directly to the MA Project topic; 2) items related to the background areas around the project; 3) items about theory and methods necessary for research on the chosen research topic.

DIRECTED READINGS (LCS 691)

Once the proposal has been approved by the Project Committee and by the Graduate Studies Committee, the student will enroll in LCS 691(Directed Readings) under the supervision of the project director. For successful completion of LCS 691, the student will prepare an annotated bibliography of the approved reading list. Annotations will demonstrate that the student has studied each item on the reading list and will explain briefly (in one paragraph) how each item on the reading list will be used for the MA Project. The project director will transmit a copy of the approved annotated reading list to the Director of Graduate Studies for placement in the student’s departmental file.

CREDIT REQUIREMENT

Students choosing the MA Project option must register for LCS 697, Directed Master’s Project (3 credits), with the course SKN number provided by the Project Director who has agreed to supervise the research, after the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee. Students choosing the Comprehensive Exam, MA terminal degree option, must take 3 additional elective credits in order to complete the total of 30 credits required for the MA degree in Latin American, Caribbean , and US Latino Studies.

PROJECT FORMAT

Master’s Projects should demonstrate writing skills as well as a command of theoretical and methodological skills in a particular discipline or area of study. They should also provide convincing evidence of the student’s ability to conduct independent research creatively, or they may attest to a special skill in a particular area (for example, creative writing, computer programming, photography, etc.). Creative writing projects and those that make use of multimedia or computer programs are acceptable only if they are accompanied by a written text that demonstrates extensive research and the appropriate application of analytical skills. All bibliographic references should follow a consistent format using a style sheet published by professional organizations, such as the Chicago Manual of Style, the MLA Handbook or the most appropriate style manual for the field chosen by the student. Projects may be written in English or in any of the Latin American languages. Depending on the nature of the project, the length of the text may vary from at least 50 to 75 typed, double-spaced pages. The M.A. Project is not the equivalent of a thesis.

PROJECT COMMITTEE

To avoid conflicts of interest, the Project Director and the second reader should not be related to each other as spouses or partners. If the Graduate Studies Committee (which includes the Chair of LACS) determines that there is a potential for conflict of interest in the composition of any project committee, it will appoint a new project committee in consultation with the Project Director and the candidate.

DEGREE CLEARANCE

To receive grade credits and satisfy the requirements for LCS 697 Master’s Project, the following conditions must be met: 1) two identical copies of the final corrected typescript of the project incorporating all corrections and revisions must be submitted by the student for approval in writing by the Project Director and the Second Reader; 2) one of these approved identical copies must be presented by the Project Director to the Director of Graduate Studies for approval by the Graduate Studies Committee before degree clearance can be authorized .

CLARIFICATION OF PROCEDURES

Students should seek clarification of these procedures first from their LACS Faculty Advisor, Project Director, or Second Reader. Further clarification can also be sought from the Director of Graduate Studies or from the Department Chair.

( Revised Fall 2008)