Graduate Bulletin

DEPARTMENT OF LATIN AMERICAN, CARIBBEAN, AND U.S. LATINO STUDIES

Doctoral Track in Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Cultural Studies
(See Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies)

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.

Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Program of Study (33 credits, minimum)

  1. Core requirements (15 credits minimum): Lcs 500; 502; 503; 504; and 505.
  2. Supporting courses (12 credits), including a minimum one course will be required from each of three categories: Culture, History and Society (Lcs 506, 507, 508, 585, 592, or 696); Public Policy and International Relations (Lcs 509, 510, 551, or 696); and Language (Lcs 514, 515, or 696). The remaining credits are to be chosen from one of the above categories. Only 3 credits of Lcs 695 can be counted toward the degree.
  3. Application of skill requirement (6 credits): Lcs 691 Directed Readings, Lcs 697 Directed Master's Project, and
  4. A proficiency language exam in Spanish, Portuguese or French equivalent to a third year undergraduate level.

    5. The Department also offers a twelve credit Graduate Certificate Program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. The Certificate Program requires the successful completion of twelve credits in four required courses:

    Lcs 502 and 503 Latin American Cultures and Societies I, II;
    Lcs 504 Seminar: Latin America;
    Lcs 505 Seminar: The Caribbean
     Or
    Lcs 508 Seminar: U.S. Latinos

    The Department provides graduate students with opportunities for field work abroad. In particular, the University supports the Anthropology Field School in Costa Rica and linkage agreements that may facilitate graduate student's independent field work with the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon in Puerto Rico, The University of Puerto Rico, and institutions of higher education in Brazil and Costa Rica.

    Students may apply directly for admissions to the Certificate Program. The Certificate will complement degree work for students in any of the Social Sciences or Humanities disciplines, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Public Affairs and Policy, and Social Welfare, or who have research, service and/or teaching interests in Latin America and/or the Caribbean.

    Supporting Courses in Required Categories:

    Culture, History, and Society:

    Lcs 599 Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
    Spn 512 Cultural Foundations of Latin American Literature: Colonial Age
    Spn 513 Cultural Foundations of Latin American Literature: Since Independence
    Ant 533 Mesoamerican Archeology
    Ant 633 Seminar in Mesoamerican Archeology
    Ant 641 Seminar in Mesoamerican Ethnology
    Ant 666 Seminar in Ethnohistory *
    Ant 667 (Pln 672) Housing Problems and Policies in Third World Cities
    His 569 History of Mexico
    His 570 History of the West Indies and Central America
    His 572 History of Brazil
    His 665 Readings in Latin American History
    His 667 Seminar in Latin American History

    Public Policy and International Relations:

    His 573 The United States and Latin America
    His 568 Latin America in Conflict
    Eco 541 Theory and Problems of Economic Development *
    Eco 741 Economics of Development *
    Pos 556 Political Authoritarianism in Latin America
    Pos 593 International Relations of Latin America
    Lcs 599 Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
    Lcs 550 Minorities in U.S. Schools
    Aas 612 Race Theory and Social Thought
    Gog 526 (Pln 502) Regional Planning *
    Gog 540 Political Geography *
    Gog 617 Energy Resources *
    Pln 573 Comparative Metropolitan Planning *
    Pln 671 (Lcs 671) Urban Poverty an Labor in the Americas
    Pln 672 (Ant 667) Housing Problems and Policies in Third World Cities
    Soc 575 Ethnicity and Race *
    Soc 640 Gender Inequality *
    Tbi 627 Perspectives in Education: Bilingual Education
    Wss 590 Research Seminar in Women's Studies *
    Wss 599 Topics in Women's Studies *
    Aps 766 Education and Social Change in Developing Nations *
    E Soc 700 Seminar on the Impact of Immigration and Education *

    Language

    Spn 500A,B Varieties of Contemporary Spanish
    Spn 502 The Linguistic Structure of Modern Spanish
    Spn 505 History of the Spanish Language
    Spn 517 Spanish American Theater
    Spn 518 Spanish American Short-Story
    Spn 522 The Twentieth Century Spanish American Essay
    Spn 523 Spanish American Colonial Prose
    Spn 525 Spanish American Colonial Poetry
    Spn 526 Spanish American Poetry of the Modernist Period
    Spn 527 Spanish American Poetry since Modernism
    Spn 586 Spanish American Novel from 1910 to 1950
    Spn 587 Contemporary Spanish American Novel
    Lcs 514 (Spn 519) Literature of the Hispanic Caribbean
    Por 502 Linguistic Structure of Modern Portuguese
    Por 505 History of the Portuguese Language
    Por 512 Survey of Brazilian Literature
    Por 612 Studies in Brazilian Literature
    Ant 528 Middle American Linguistics

    * In order to receive credit for this course toward the M.A. degree, students must work on Latin American or Caribbean-related topics.