Latin American and Hemispheric Studies Program of Study

To earn your Master of Arts in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies you must successfully complete our 40 credit program which includes a 3 credit Cornerstone course, 9 credits of core courses, 12 credits in your chosen specialized fields, 3 credits of research methods, 9 credits of electives, and a 4 credit Capstone sequence.

Cornerstone Course

IAFF 6341 LAHSP Cornerstone

This course is only offered in the Fall semester and should be taken in the student's first year.

Core Field

In order to acquire a broad, multidisciplinary understanding of the hemisphere, students must take a total of three courses, each one in a different discipline that can be selected from the following list:

Anthropology

ANTH 6702 Anthropology of Latin America

Another 6000-level anthropology course approved by the Program Director.

Economics & Political Economy

IAFF 6358 Economic and Social Development of Latin America

IAFF 3187 Political Economy of Latin America (Prerequisites: ECON 1011-1012 Principles of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, or their equivalents.)

ECON 6285 Economic Development of Latin America (Prerequisites: ECON 1011-1012 Principles of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, or their equivalents.)

Geography

GEOG 6261 Geographical Perspectives on Latin America

GEOG 6232 Migration and Development

History

Any course numbered in the HIST 3700 or above approved by the Program Director.

International Affairs

PSC 6484 International Relations of Latin America.

Political Science

PSC 6383 Politics of Latin America

Spanish Literature

Any course numbered in the SPAN 3400s, 3500s, 4400s, or 4500s that focuses on the literature of Latin America.

Research Methods

Students must complete a research methods course applicable to the their areas of specialization. We strongly encourage this course be taken within the first three semesters to help prepare students for the capstone in their fourth and final semester.

ANTH 6331 Research Methods in Development Anthropology

EDUC 6114 Intro to Quantitative Research

EDUC 8122 Qualitative Research Methods

EDUC 8130 Survey Research Methods

EDUC 8131 Case Study Research Methods

EDUC 8140 Ethnographic Research Methods

GEOG 6304 Geographical Information Systems I

IAFF 6501 Applied Quantitative Analysis for International Affairs Practitioners

IAFF 6198 Advanced Quantitative Analysis

PPPA 6002 Research Methods and Applied Statistics

PPPA 6013 Econometrics in Policy Research

PSC 8101 Introduction to Empirical Political Analysis

PUBH 6249 Use of Statistical Packages: Data Management and Data Analysis

PUBH 6260 Advanced Data Analysis for Public Health

PUBH 6264 Quantitative Methods

PUBH 6410 Global Health Study Design & Ethics

PUBH 6411 Global Health Data Collection

PUBH 6412 Global Health Quantitative Research Methods

SOC 6230 Sociological Research Methods

SOC 6231 Data Analysis

SOC 6232 Qualitative Methodology: Field Research

Electives

Students choose 9 credits of electives to complete their program. These electives may include up to six credits of language course work in Spanish (other foreign languages spoken in Latin America will be considered on a case-by-case basis). They may also include up to 4 credits of one-credit skills courses.

Additional courses may also be taken from any of the specialized fields, or in other areas or disciplines where such course would contribute to the student's professional knowledge and development.

Elective courses must be approved in advance by the Program Director.

Capstone

Capstone Sequence

Capstone Workshop (1 Credit)
During the 1-credit Capstone workshop, students are organized into small groups, refine the project’s policy question, develop a research strategy, select appropriate research methods, and begin their research. To enhance the educational experience of the student, all LAHSP Capstone students are required to collaborate with a client organization. Capstone groups also develop a plan of action and assign specific tasks to their individual members. Each Capstone workshop and course is supervised by a policy expert who guides the project development and provides additional resources to the teams.

Capstone Course (3 Credits)
The 3-credit Capstone course includes the bulk of the team’s research, often including research conducted in the country of interest, the completion of deliverables, and an oral presentation of the results. In many cases, outside experts in the areas under investigation are invited to act either as resources or to evaluate the project’s final conclusions.

Past Capstone Highlights

Fighting against Femicide in Latin America: Challenges of Implementing the Belém do Pará Convention

Organization of American States

Assessing Economic Integration in Mexico: Challenges for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the Mexican Labor Market

Asylum Access Mexico

The Organization of American States & Colombian Society: Multi-stakeholder Partnerships towards Reintegrating Ex-Combatants

Organization of American States

The Development and Transformation of Mexico's Post-Reform Clean Energy Policies

Organization of American States

Youth Repatriation in Guatemala: The Realities of Returning Home

Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars

Mexican Justice: How Citizens Perceive the Legal System

Transparency International, Mexico

Guatemala's Window of Opportunity: Combating Chronic Child Malnutrition through Radio

GWU – Planet Forward, School of Media and Public Affairs

Plurinational Education for a Plurinational State: Intercultural Bilingual Education at an International Baccalaureate School in Bolivia

The International Baccalaureate (IB)

Advancing Latin American Small and Medium Enterprises' Competitiveness in the Global Economy through Corporate Responsibility Initiatives

OAS Young Americas Business Trust

Global Hospitality in Local Communities: An Economic Impact Analysis of Hilton Properties in Bogotá and Cartagena, Colombia

Hilton Worldwide

El Salvador's Amnesty Law: A Monument to Impunity?

Center for Democracy in the Americas

Optional Thesis

If you want to to continue to a Ph.D. program or pursue a research-oriented job, you may consider writing a thesis, which is an independent, in-depth research project that takes a year or more to complete. If you choose to complete a thesis, you must do so in addition to the Capstone requirement. Thesis credits will be counted as elective or specialization credits with Program Director approval. To pursue a thesis you need a minimum of a 3.5 GPA and approval from the faculty member you wish to serve as your thesis director. Thesis students also need to complete at least one research methods course.

Thesis Option

Foreign Language Requirement

The M.A. in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies requires proficiency in either Spanish or Portuguese. Students must fulfill this foreign-language requirement by passing both the reading and the speaking proficiency examinations administered by the Elliott School at a level required by the academic program. Advanced-level language coursework during or prior to enrollment at GW cannot substitute.

Specialized Fields

Students choose any two fields, in each of which they will take at least two courses.

Anthropology

Students choose any two fields, in each of which they will take at least two courses. Examples of specialized fields are: Anthropology, Art History, Literature, and Culture, Economic Development, Geography, Global Public Health, History, International Business, Migration, Political Science, and Security.

Field Advisor: A. Dent

Required Course:

A 6000-level anthropology course approved by your advisor

Supporting Courses:

ANTH 2750W-80 Latinos in the United States
ANTH 3814-80 Ancient Mexican Civilizations
IAFF 6358 Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies

Latin America in Motion: Indigenous Media & Social Movements
Migration, Remittances and Development

Art History, Literature, and Culture

Field Advisor: S. Waisman

Courses:

SPAN 3410 Latin American Short Fiction

SPAN 3420 The Essayist Tradition in Latin America

SPAN 3430 Afro-Latin America in the Diaspora

SPAN 3570 Latin American Women Writers

SPAN 3600 Special Topics in Spanish and Spanish-American Literature

SPAN 3700 Cinema of Spain and Latin America: Film as Text

SPAN 4410 Contemporary Narrative in Spanish America

SPAN 4460 Southern Cone Literature and Culture

SPAN 4560 Modern Poetry of Spain and Latin America

Economic Development

Field Advisor: S. Kaplan

Required Course (select one):

ECON 6285 Latin American Economic Development

IAFF 6358 Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies: Economic and Social Development of Latin America

Supporting Courses:

ECON 6280 Survey of International Economics
ECON 6283 Survey of International Trade Theory and Policy
ECON 6284 Survey of International Macroeconomic and Finance Theory and Policy

ECON 6285 Special Topics

Economic Analysis of International Trade Law
Applied Industrial Organization
Labor Economics and Public Policy

IAFF 3183 Special Topics in Development Policy

Post-Disaster Development: Haiti in Comparative Perspective

IAFF 3187 Political Economy of Latin America

IAFF 6138 Special Topics in International Development Studies

Poverty Alleviation and Bottom-up Development
Monitoring and Evaluation of Foreign Assistance Programs
Private Sector Development
Poverty in all its Dimensions
Climate Change and Sustainable Development

IAFF 6358 Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies

Contemporary Issues of US-Mexico Relations
Immigration and Weak States: Central America in Comparative Perspective
Economic and Social Development of Latin America

* If the Economic and Social Development section of IAFF 6358 is chosen as the required course, it cannot also count as supporting corsework. Students may take IAFF 6358 courses with other titles as supporting coursework.

Geography

Field Advisor: M. Price

Required Course:

GEOG 6232 Migration and Development

Supporting Courses:

GEOG 6224 Political Geography (Spring)

IAFF 3187 Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispherics Studies

Latino Migration

IAFF 6358 Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispherics Studies

Migration, Remittances and Development
Immigration and Weak States: Central America in Comparative Perspective

Global Public Health

Field Advisor: please consult program director

Courses:

PUBH 6400 Global Health Frameworks

PUBH 6441 International Health Organizations

PUBH 6442 Comparative Global Health Systems

PUBH 6563 Global Child Health

History

Field Advisor: P. Alonso

Courses:

IAFF 3187 Special Topics in International Affairs

Mexico since Independence
Cuba in the Global Arena

HIST 3710 History of Latin America I

HIST 3711 Latin America since Independence (History of Latin America II)

IAFF 6358 Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies:

Contemporary Issues of US-Mexico Relations

HIST 6701 Topics in Latin America: Law and Society in Latin America

International Business

Field Advisor: N. Maurer

Courses:

IBUS 4900 Global Energy

IBUS 6201 International Marketing

IBUS 6202 Regional Strategy for Multinationals

IBUS 6290 Special Topics in International Business

Microfinance: Developing Markets

IBUS 6301 International Business Finance

IBUS 6401 International Business Strategy

IBUS 6402 Managing Developing Countries

Migration

Field Advisor: M. Price

Required Course:

ECON/SOC/GEOG 6290 Principles of Demography

ECON/SOC/GEOG 6291 Methods-Demographic Analysis

GEOG 6232 Migration and Development

Supporting Courses:

ANTH 6351 Displacement and Diaspora

ECON 6295 Special Topics in Economics: International Migration and Labor Markets

GEOG 6261 Geographical Perspectives on Latin America

GEOG 6293 Special Topics in Geography: Migration and Development

IAFF 3187 Latino Migration

IAFF 6138 Special Topics in International Development Studies:

Human Trafficking
International Migration
Internal Displacement

IAFF 6358 Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies:

Contemporary Issues of US-Mexico Relations
Immigration and Weak States: Central America in Comparative Perspective

SOC 6252 Immigration and American Cities

Political Science

Field Advisor: C. McClintock

Courses:

PSC 6383 Comparative Politics of Latin America

PSC 6484 International Relations of Latin America

IAFF 3187 Special Topics in International Affairs:

Mexico since Independence
Political Economy of Latin America

IAFF 6138 Special Topics in International Development Studies:

Poverty Alleviation and Bottom-up Development
Local Governance, Decentralization and Development
Civil Society and Development
Poverty in all its Dimensions

IAFF 6358 Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies

The UN and Regional Human Rights Systems
The Americas and Europe
Contemporary Issues of US-Mexico Relations
Immigration and Weak States: Central America in Comparative Perspective
Security in the Americas

Security

Required Course:

IAFF 6358 Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies: Security in the Americas

Supporting Courses:

IAFF 6138 Special Topics in International Development Studies:

Global Food Security
Human Trafficking
Violence, Gender, and Humanitarian Assistance
Care for Children in Complex Emergencies

IAFF 6163 Transnational Security

IAFF 6186 Special Topics in Security Policy Studies:

International Organized Crime
Energy Security
International Peacekeeping
Conflict Early Warning and Prevention Environmental Security
Political Risk Analysis
Ilicit Finance and Security
Strategic Planning for the 21st Century
Military Power and Effectiveness

IAFF 6358 Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies:

The UN and Regional Human Rights Systems: The Americas and Europe
Contemporary Issues of US-Mexico Relations
Immigration and Weak States: Central America in Comparative Perspective

PSC 6484 International Relations of Latin America