The program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Spanish with a specialty track in Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Cultural Studies requires a total of 60 graduate credits (30 beyond the Master’s) for completion of the degree. The Department of Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies (LACS) administers this new specialty, in collaboration with the Hispanic Studies Program of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures.   Students who already hold an M.A. degree in LACS (33 credits) will only have to complete a minimum of 27 additional credits and satisfy all degree requirements. Students who already hold an M.A. degree in any other appropriate field will need to complete a minimum of 30 additional credits and satisfy all degree requirements.  This Ph.D. specialty is conceived of as qualitatively different from conventional language and literature programs. Its originality lies in the integration of area and ethnic studies within a disciplinary framework that includes the humanities as well as the social sciences. Broadly defined, cultural studies reflects a theoretical emphasis on the critical theories that focus on how issues of diversity, such as nationality, ethnicity, gender, and race shape cultural, historical, socioeconomic, political, and educational processes. The program also pays attention to the manner in which globalization, (im)migration, and transnationalism are forging new hemispheric visions of Latin American and Caribbean Studies. In light of this reality, our research and teaching agenda is also focused on the U.S. Latino experience and its relationship to the countries of origin. This feature of our program reflects faculty interest and expertise and distinguishes us from other institutions in the field of Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies.

The program is recognized as a viable alternative to the single department/discipline based structures that dominate most university settings. "Alternative" does not mean substitution; it means a valid, complementary, and different model with its own set of persuasive advantages.  These advantages include paradigmatic shifts in the context of scholarship, a novel and inclusive curriculum, as well as research in frontier territory not chartered inside more conventional structures. LACS' multidisciplinary approaches are integral to its impressive basic and applied research and service outreach activities to institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean and in local, national, and international multicultural communities.

Some of the main areas of expertise of LACS faculty include development studies, women's studies, cultural studies, migration studies, Mesoamerican anthropology, Caribbean literature, education, and Puerto Rican studies. Study abroad and field research opportunities are available with institutions in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Nicaragua. The Department of Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies (LACS) at the University at Albany is the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive program of its kind within the SUNY system. It is the only academic department that currently offers an M.A. graduate degree and a graduate certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, in addition to undergraduate majors in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and Puerto Rican Studies. Its twenty-two jointly appointed faculty, includes six core faculty, and its cross-listed courses now represent a total of twelve University departments and three colleges or schools.

The Center for Latino, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies (CELAC) and the Institute for Mesoamerican Studies (IMS), autonomous research units overlapping LACS in geographical coverage and faculty, also have made significant contributions with their publications, conferences, and attracting grant resources and promoting international collaborations. Most LACS graduates pursue careers in education, international business, government service, public policy, law, criminal justice, and social work. Degree candidates are also expected to demonstrate advanced language proficiency in Spanish and another language spoken in Latin America and the Caribbean (other than English).  A limited number of fellowships and assistantships are available to applicants on a competitive basis.  Graduate students receiving these awards must maintain good academic standing and will be subject to annual review.  The maximum assistantship/fellowship funding allowed will be two years for the M.A. and two years for the Ph.D.

Ph.D. Requirements

1. CORE SEQUENCE: 18 CREDITS

LCS 500: Interdisciplinary Research Seminar (3 credits)
LCS 502: Latin American & Caribbean Cultures & Societies I (3 credits)
LCS 503: Latin American & Caribbean Cultures & Societies II (3 credits)
LCS 504: Seminar: Latin America or LCS 505: Seminar: The Caribbean or LCS 508: Seminar: U.S. Latinos (select 2 to make a total of 6 credits)
One approved graduate methods course (3 credits)

2. FOCUS AREAS SEQUENCE: 9 Credits with a LACS M.A. or 12 Credits without
(See List of Supporting Courses)

1. Culture, History, and Society or Language, Fine Arts, and Literature (6 or 9 credits)
2. LCS 781: Directed Readings (3 credits)

3. FORMAL PH.D. REQUIREMENTS: Load credits only with the exception of LCS 781

1. Dissertation Committee approved by Graduate Studies Committee (see Department Guidelines)
2. Reading list approved by Graduate Studies Committee (see Department Guidelines)
3. LCS 781 Directed Readings (3 credits and see Department Guidelines)
4. Ph.D. qualifying exam approved and completed (see Department Guidelines)
5. Dissertation proposal approved by Graduate Committee (see Department Guidelines)
6. LCS 899 Dissertation defended (see Department Guidelines)
7. Recommendation for conferral of doctoral degree submitted (see Department Guidelines)

TOTAL GRADUATE CREDITS: 60

NOTE: A terminal 33 credit Master of Arts Degree in Latin American and Caribbean Studies is still possible under this structure.

The Department of Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies (LACS) at the University at Albany, State University of New York invites inquiries and applications from prospective students interested in obtaining the Master of Arts degree in Latin American & Caribbean Studies. The M.A. Program in Latin American & Caribbean Studies is a two-year interdisciplinary area and ethnic studies program specializing in the following areas: development studies, mesoamerican anthropology, women’s studies, migration studies, and Puerto Rican studies. LACS is recognized as a viable alternative to the single department/ discipline based structures that dominate most university settings. "Alternative" does not mean substitution; it means a valid, different model with its own set of persuasive advantages. These advantages include paradigmatic shifts in the context of scholarship, a novel and inclusive curriculum and perspectives for undergraduate and graduate education, as well as research in frontier territory not chartered inside more conventional structures. When compared to other U.S. programs of its kind, our programs provide a unique integration of area studies and basic ethnic studies.  Beyond that, LACS’ multidisciplinary approaches are integral to its impressive applied research and service outreach activities to institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean and in local, national, and international multicultural communities. A limited number of assistantships are available for new students on a competitive basis.

The Department of Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies offers an M.A. program and a twelve-credit graduate certificate program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.