Mail Code: 94305-8545
Phone: (650) 723-4444
Email: latinamerica@stanford.edu
Web Site: http://clas.stanford.edu
Courses offered by the Interdisciplinary Program in Latin American Studies are listed under the subject code LATINAM on the Stanford Bulletin's ExploreCourses web site.
The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) supports research and teaching in all fields of study as they relate to Latin America. Academic programs encourage interdisciplinary approaches and draw on the expertise of nearly sixty active affiliated faculty members representing Stanford's various schools and departments. Stanford University Libraries' substantial Latin American collections are valuable resources for students, faculty, and visiting researchers alike. Each year CLAS hosts a number of Tinker Visiting Professors, highly distinguished Latin American and Iberian scholars who come to Stanford to teach a course in their field of specialization. The Center for Latin American Studies maintains a highly active public events calendar and provides funding to students and faculty for a variety of research, teaching, internship, and conference activities. The Center is a U.S. Department of Education Title VI National Resource Center for Latin America.
The program offers two academic programs in Latin American Studies: an undergraduate minor and a master of arts degree.
Undergraduate Programs in Latin American Studies
Stanford Global Studies offers a minor with a Latin American Studies Specialization. Although there is no undergraduate major in Latin American Studies, students may concentrate on Latin America through other departmental and interdisciplinary degree programs, such as Anthropology, History, Political Science, Iberian and Latin American Cultures, or International Relations. Interested students should consult the relevant departmental web sites and sections of this bulletin for further information.
Undergraduates can obtain a coterminal M.A. degree in Latin American Studies while concurrently working on their undergraduate major by applying during the regular admissions cycle no later than their senior year.
Financial Aid
Each summer, CLAS awards grants to a small number of undergraduates to complete internships in Latin America. Applications include a proposal, academic transcript, and letters of recommendation. Students from any department are eligible to apply. See Funding section in the Center for Latin American Studies website.
Students in undergraduate programs who enroll in Portuguese, Quechua, or Nahuatl language during the academic year may be eligible for Summer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships. Recipients of FLAS fellowships must be American citizens or permanent residents. For detailed program information and eligibility, see the Center for Latin American Studies website.
Graduate Programs in Latin American Studies
The one-year master's program in Latin American Studies is designed for students who have experience working, living, or studying in Latin America or Iberia and little prior course work on Latin America.
Stanford University does not offer a Ph.D. program in Latin American Studies; however, doctoral candidates may concentrate on Latin America through other departmental programs, such as Anthropology, History, Political Science, or Iberian and Latin American Cultures. Interested applicants should consult the relevant departmental web sites and sections of this bulletin for admissions information and further details.
Learning Outcomes (Graduate)
The purpose of the master's program is to further develop knowledge and skills in Latin American Studies and to prepare students for a professional career or doctoral studies. This is achieved through completion of courses, in the primary field as well as related areas, and experience with independent work and specialization. In addition, students acquire methodology tools such as data analysis and management, visualization, and geographic information system (GIS).
Admission
The application deadline for the 2020-21 academic year is December 2, 2020. Applicants submit an online application, including a 2-3 page double-spaced statement of purpose, resumé or CV, 10-15 page double-spaced academic writing sample in English, and three letters of recommendation. In addition, all applicants must submit two sets of official transcripts. The GRE general test scores are optional, and no longer a requirement. TOEFL scores are required of applicants whose first language is not English or who did not earn a degree from an undergraduate institution where English is the primary language of instruction. For information on University graduate admissions and to access the online application, visit the Office of Graduate Admissions website.
Applicants must meet the University admission requirements, have a working knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese, or an indigenous language of Latin America (e.g., Quechua or Nahuatl) at the university third-year level or higher, and have experience working, living, or studying in Latin America or Iberia prior to admission.
CLAS takes a broad approach to evaluating applications for admission. As important as grades are the applicant's essay, letters of recommendation, academic writing sample, and the experiences and goals conveyed through the personal statement and resume/CV.
Students interested in pursuing the joint degree program in Latin American Studies and Law (J.D.) or a dual degree in Latin American Studies and Business (M.B.A.) or Medicine (M.D.) must apply to each program separately and be accepted by both. Details about the joint and dual degree programs can be found in the "Master's" tab in this section.
Financial Aid
The Center for Latin American Studies provides several graduate fellowships as well as limited course assistantships with the Tinker Visiting Professors each quarter. US and international MA in Latin American Studies applicants are encouraged to apply. See Funding section in the Center for Latin American Studies website.
MA in Latin American Studies applicants who plan to enroll in Portuguese, Quechua, or Nahuatl language and area or international studies courses may be eligible for Academic Year and Summer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships, sponsored by the US Department of Education. Recipients of FLAS fellowships must be American citizens or permanent residents. Applicants to the M.A. program who can demonstrate financial need have priority in the FLAS fellowship competition; in recent years CLAS has also awarded FLAS fellowships to students enrolled in the Professional Schools. For detailed program information and eligibility, see Funding section in the Center for Latin American Studies website.
CLAS awards Working Group grants to graduate students across the University who wish to organize events such as lectures, speaker series, symposia, exchange of working papers, and collaborative research efforts. For detailed program information and eligibility, see Funding section in the Center for Latin American Studies website.
CLAS has a limited number of awards for graduate students to conduct field research work in Latin America or to present their Latin American related research in a conference. Please see Funding section in the Center for Latin American Studies website
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program awards full funding to pursue a graduate education at Stanford to students from all disciplines, with additional opportunities for leadership training and collaboration across fields.
Apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars by October 14, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and to the Latin American Studies MA Program by November 11, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
COVID-19-Related Degree Requirement Changes
For information on how the Global Studies with Latin American Studies Specialization minor requirements have been affected by the pandemic, see the "COVID-19 Policies tab" in the "Stanford Global Studies" section of this bulletin. For University-wide policy changes related to the pandemic, see the "COVID-19 and Academic Continuity" section of this bulletin.
Minor in Global Studies with Latin American Studies Specialization
The minor in Global Studies, Latin American Studies (LAS) specialization, consists of a core set of courses surveying the history, politics, society, ecology, and culture of the Latin American region; advanced language training; and in-depth course work.
Students from any major interested in applying for admission to the minor in Global Studies, Latin American Studies (LAS) specialization, should consult Stanford Global Studies and the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS). Students who wish to complete the minor must declare online (through Axess) and submit a proposal of course work no later than the second quarter of the junior year. The minor must be completed by the second quarter of the senior year. Units taken for a student's major cannot be double-counted towards the minor.
Students consult with their minor adviser to develop individual programs. The minor is especially well-suited for undergraduates who plan to make service, research, or study abroad in Latin America a part of their Stanford experience.
The Global Studies Minor with Specialization in Latin American Studies is open to students in any major.
Upon completion of all requirements, final certification of the minor is made by the Center for Latin American Studies subcommittee on undergraduate programs. The minor and the specialization appear on the transcript but they do not appear on the diploma.
Declaring the Global Studies Minor with Latin American Studies Specialization
To declare the Global Studies minor with Latin American Studies specialization, students must:
- Set up an appointment with the CLAS associate director to discuss your academic plan.
- Declare the Global Studies minor and subplan in Axess.
Requirements
- Students may not double-count courses for completing major and minor requirements. Completion of 28 units as follows:
- GLOBAL 101 Critical Issues in Global Affairs (3 units)
- A 5-unit course surveying Latin America, either ILAC 131 Introduction to Latin America: Cultural Perspectives or an approved substitute. For further information contact a CLAS undergraduate adviser at latinamerica@stanford.edu.
- 20 additional units in courses which together comprise a coherent focus on a theoretical problem or issue of the region, such as but not limited to
- culture and identity
- political economy
- sustainable development.
- At least 15 of the 28 units must be completed at Stanford.
- All courses to be counted toward the minor must be taken for a letter grade, except where letter grades are not offered.
- Foreign Language Requirement. The minimum requirement for completion of the minor in Global Studies with Latin American Studies Specialization is advanced proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese by one of the following:
- Completion of seven quarters of college-level study of Spanish or Portuguese.
- Completion of a course taught in Spanish or Portuguese at the 100-level or higher, with a letter grade of 'B' or higher. This may be a course on Spanish or Portuguese language or literature, or some other subject.
- Achievement of the advanced proficiency level on the ACTFL scale in a test administered by the Stanford Language Center. Contact the Stanford Language Center for test dates and procedures.
-
Students may work with the subplan advisor to develop a capstone project to count towards the unit fulfillment of the minor. Projects may include (but are not limited to):
1. Research with units through directed reading under the supervision of the subplan advisor.
- Research may take place at Stanford or during a relevant study abroad program, and options may include regional fieldwork, creative arts projects, short films, etc.
2. Advanced language study beyond the subplan minimum requirement with units through directed reading under the supervision of the subplan advisor.
- Intensive language training may take place at Stanford, off-campus, or overseas.
Students may propose other projects related to their subplan.
Course List
For a representative, rather than comprehensive, list of courses that count towards the minor, see the Related Courses tab in this section of the Bulletin. Other courses may also fulfill the requirements; students should consult their Latin American Studies minor adviser concerning which courses might fulfill minor requirements.
Master of Arts in Latin American Studies
The Master of Arts in Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary program. The curriculum consists of a core set of courses surveying the history, politics, society, ecology, and culture of the Latin American region; advanced language training; and in-depth course work. In consultation with a faculty adviser, students select a course of study suited to their individual interests.
Coterminal Master's Degrees in Latin American Studies
Undergraduates at Stanford may apply for admission to the coterminal master's program in Latin American Studies when they have earned a minimum of 120 units toward graduation, including advanced placement and transfer credit, and no later than the quarter prior to the expected completion of their undergraduate degree.
The application deadline for the 2021-22 academic year is December 2, 2020. Prospective students who are applying to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program must apply to the scholars program by October 14, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and to the Latin American Studies MA Program by November 11, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Coterminal applicants must submit:
- the Coterminal Online Application
- a 2-3 page double-spaced statement of purpose
- a resumé or CV
- a 10-15 page double-spaced academic writing sample in English
- three letters of recommendation
- a Stanford transcript
- GRE general test scores (optional)
Coterminal applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 and a working knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese at a university third-year level or higher.
University Coterminal Requirements
Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in this bulletin. University requirements for the coterminal master’s degree are described in the “Coterminal Master’s Program” section. University requirements for the master’s degree are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.
After accepting admission to this coterminal master’s degree program, students may request transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy requirements for the master’s degree. Transfer of courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case by case basis.
In this master’s program, courses taken three quarters prior to the first graduate quarter, or later, are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career. No courses taken prior to the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.
Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.
The University requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student’s first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The University also requires that the Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student’s first graduate quarter.
Degree Requirements
University requirements for the master's degree are described in the "Graduate Degrees General Requirements" section of this bulletin.
The program requires completion of a minimum of 45 graduate units. Each student is assigned a faculty adviser who works with the student to develop a customized program of study. All courses for the M.A. degree must be at the 100-level or higher, with at least half being at the 200-level or higher.
Candidates to the M.A. in Latin American Studies must complete the following:
| Units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| a. Culture and Society | ||
| HISTORY 371 | Graduate Colloquium: Explorations in Latin American History and Historiography (students must register for 5 units) | 5 |
| b. Political Economy | ||
| POLISCI 348S | Latin American Politics | 5 |
| c. Environment, Ecology, and Sustainability | ||
| HISTORY 378 | The Historical Ecology of Latin America | 5 |
| Seminar Requirement: once per quarter. | 3 | |
| Seminar on Contemporary Issues in Latin American Studies | ||
| Total Units | 18 | |
- Core courses (15 units): one core 5-unit course in each of three fields of specialization: Culture and Society; Political Economy; and Environment, Ecology, and Sustainability. See above for courses offered this year.
- Related courses (15 units): three courses (5 units each) from the fields of specialization listed in '1' above. For approved courses, see the "Related Courses" tab in this section.
- Elective courses (9-15 units): three elective courses (3-5 units each) from across the University's offerings, selected with guidance and approval from the faculty adviser.
- Language requirement: at least 3 units of course work on a second Latin American language. Students proficient in both Spanish and Portuguese might take either an advanced fourth-year language course in either Spanish or Portuguese or a first-year indigenous language of Latin America (i.e. Quechua or Nahuatl); students proficient in only Spanish or only Portuguese must take a basic course in a second Latin American spoken language in which they are not already proficient. Up to 6 units of foreign language coursework may be applied toward the M.A. degree. All foreign language coursework must be taken at the 100-level or higher. English as a Foreign Language (EFS) courses do not count towards the language requirement, nor towards the total amount of required units.
- Seminar requirement: 3 units (1 per quarter) of LATINAM 200 Seminar on Contemporary Issues in Latin American Studies.
- Final Capstone Research Paper or Thesis: students must write a capstone research paper or a thesis. Student writing a thesis may register for LATINAM 398 Master's Thesis for up to 10 units of thesis research under the guidance of an Academic Council faculty member. Students writing a capstone research paper may register for a Directed Study or comparable course for up to 3 units under the guidance of an Academic Council faculty member. Thesis units may be counted toward the elective field unit requirements (requirement number 3, above).
- Grade requirements: All courses to be counted toward the M.A. must be taken for a letter grade and earn a 'B-' or better. M.A. candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The only exceptions are LATINAM 200, Law School Courses, and courses in the Graduate School of Business (GSB).
Joint Degree Program in Latin American Studies and Law
The joint degree program in Latin American Studies and Law allows students to pursue the M.A. degree in Latin American Studies concurrently with the Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree, with a significant number of courses that may apply to both degrees. It is designed to train students interested in a career in teaching, research, or the practice of law related to Latin American legal affairs. Students must apply separately to the Latin American Studies M.A. program and to the Stanford School of Law and be accepted by both. Completing this combined course of study requires approximately four academic years, depending on the student's background and level of language training. For more information, see the "Joint Degree Programs" section of this bulletin and consult with the program offices for the two programs.
Dual Master's Degree with Medicine or Business
Stanford offers dual degree programs that grant an M.A. degree in Latin American Studies and a Master of Business Administration degree or a Medical Doctor degree. Students must apply separately to and be accepted by both the Latin American Studies M.A. program and the Graduate School of Business or School of Medicine.
For further information, contact a CLAS adviser at latinamerica@stanford.edu
COVID-19 Policies
On July 30, the Academic Senate adopted grading policies effective for all undergraduate and graduate programs, excepting the professional Graduate School of Business, School of Law, and the School of Medicine M.D. Program. For a complete list of those and other academic policies relating to the pandemic, see the "COVID-19 and Academic Continuity" section of this bulletin.
The Senate decided that all undergraduate and graduate courses offered for a letter grade must also offer students the option of taking the course for a “credit” or “no credit” grade and recommended that deans, departments, and programs consider adopting local policies to count courses taken for a “credit” or “satisfactory” grade toward the fulfillment of degree-program requirements and/or alter program requirements as appropriate.
Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Grading
The Center for Latin American Studies counts all courses taken in academic year 2020-21 with a grade of 'CR' (credit) or 'S' (satisfactory) towards satisfaction of undergraduate degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade.
Graduate Degree Requirements
Grading
The master's program in Latin American Studies counts all courses taken in academic year 2020-21 with a grade of 'CR' (credit) or 'S' (satisfactory) towards satisfaction of graduate degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade provided that the instructor affirms that the work was done at a 'B-' or better level.
Graduate Advising Expectations
The Program in Latin American Studies is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the adviser and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the adviser and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.
Faculty advisers guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. Program administrative staff are available for advising students on program policies and degree requirements, as well as course selection.
Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.
For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the "Graduate Advising" section of this bulletin.
Director of the Center: Alberto Díaz-Cayeros
Associate Director: Elizabeth Sáenz-Ackermann
Director of Graduate Studies: Alberto Díaz-Cayeros
Tinker Visiting Professor: Irma Alicia Velásquez Nimatuj
Affiliated Faculty and Staff:
Anthropology: George Collier (emeritus), Lisa Curran, William Durham (emeritus), Angela Garcia, John Rick
Art and Art History: Enrique Chagoya, Rose Salseda
Biology: Gretchen Daily, Rodolfo Dirzo, Judith Frydman, Harold Mooney (emeritus), Peter Vitousek, Virginia Walbot
BOSP Santiago: Ivan Jaksic
Business, Graduate School of: Saumitra Jha, Ken Shotts
Carnegie Institution for Science: Gregory Asner
Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity: Carolyn Duffey
Comparative Literature: Roland Greene, Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht, José David Saldívar
Earth Sciences, School of: Rob Dunbar, Pamela Matson
Economics: Roger Noll (emeritus), Frank Wolak
Education, Graduate School of: Martin Carnoy, Amado Padilla, Jonathan Rosa, Guadalupe Valdés
Engineering, School of: Jenna Davis, Leonard Ortolano
English: Paula Moya, Ramón Saldívar
Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies: Francis Fukuyama, Rosamond Naylor
History: Zephyr Frank, Ana Raquel Minian Andjel, Mikael Wolfe
Hoover Institute: Herbert Klein
Human Biology: Anne Firth Murray
Iberian and Latin American Cultures: Héctor Hoyos, Nicole Hughes, Joan Ramon Resina, Jorge Ruffinelli (emeritus), Lisa Surwillo
Language Center: Alice Miano, Marisol Necochea, Ana Sierra, Agripino Silveira, Lyris Wiedemann
Law, School of: Jonathan Greenberg, Thomas Heller (emeritus)
Linguistics: John Rickford (emeritus)
Medicine, School of: Jason Andrews, Michele Barry, Gabriel Garcia (emeritus), Grant Miller, Paul Wise
Political Science: Bruce Cain, Alberto Díaz-Cayeros, Stephen Haber, Terry Karl (emerita), Beatriz Magaloni, Robert Packenham (emeritus), Michael Tomz
Religious Studies: Thomas Sheehan
Sociology: Asad L. Asad, David Grusky, Tomás Jiménez, Michael Rosenfeld, Florencia Torché
Stanford University Libraries: Adán Griego, Vanessa Kam, Sergio Stone, Robert Trujillo
Overseas Studies Courses in Latin American Studies
The Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP) manages Stanford international and domestic study away programs for Stanford undergraduates. Students should consult their department or program's student services office for applicability of Overseas Studies courses to a major or minor program.
The BOSP course search site displays courses, locations, and quarters relevant to specific majors.
For course descriptions and additional offerings, see the listings in the Stanford Bulletin's ExploreCourses or Bing Overseas Studies.
Due to COVID-19, all BOSP programs have been suspended for Autumn Quarter 2020-21. All courses and quarters of operation are subject to change.
| Units | ||
|---|---|---|
| OSPSANTG 14 | Women Writers of Latin America in the 20th Century | 4-5 |
| OSPSANTG 29 | Sustainable Cities: Comparative Transportation Systems in Latin America | 5 |
| OSPSANTG 30 | Short Latin American Fiction of the 20th Century | 4-5 |
| OSPSANTG 58 | Global Change in Chile | 5 |
| OSPSANTG 62 | Topics in Chilean History | 4-5 |
| OSPSANTG 68 | The Emergence of Nations in Latin America | 4-5 |
| OSPSANTG 71 | Santiago: Urban Planning, Public Policy, and the Built Environment | 5 |
| OSPSANTG 85 | Marine Ecology of Chile and the South Pacific | 5 |
| OSPSANTG 116X | Modernization and its Discontents: Chilean Politics at the Turn of the Century | 5 |
| OSPSANTG 118X | Artistic Expression in Latin America | 5 |
| OSPSANTG 119X | The Chilean Economy: History, International Relations, and Development Strategies | 5 |
Courses
LATINAM 92. Volunteers in Latin America: Pre-Field Reading and Discussion. 1 Unit.
A pre-field seminar for students participating in the Volunteers in Latin America summer program in Quito, Ecuador. The seminar will introduce students to topics of international service, youth development, and the issues and challenges surrounding street children in Ecuador. The seminar seeks to provide participants with a cultural, socioeconomic, and political context in which to understand the experiences they will have when in Ecuador. Through discussions, guest speaker presentations, and readings, students will develop insights and further questions that will help them to be more confident, reflective, and empathetic participants in their in-country service learning experience. Course enrollment is restricted to those students that have committed to the summer program.
LATINAM 177A. Mapping Poverty, Colonialism and Nation Building in Latin America. 3-5 Units.
This course is an introduction to the mapping of colonial and early independent Latin America, as a lens through which students may learn about the process of colonization, state building, and the legacies on those processes on poverty and underdevelopment today. Historical maps are analyzed both as GIS data sources, and as interpretative lenses through which we can glimpse the way human settlements and activity reveal social, political and economic dynamics whose legacies are still present today.
LATINAM 177B. Mapping Poverty, Colonialism and Nation Building in Latin America-Part B. 1 Unit.
This course is an introduction to the mapping of colonial and early independent Latin America, as a lens through which students may learn about the process of colonization, state building, and the legacies on those processes on poverty and underdevelopment today. Historical maps are analyzed both as GIS data sources, and as interpretative lenses through which we can glimpse the way human settlements and activity reveal social, political and economic dynamics whose legacies are still present today.
LATINAM 197. Directed Individual Research. 1-10 Unit.
For students engaged in interdisciplinary work that cannot be arranged by department. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
LATINAM 200. Seminar on Contemporary Issues in Latin American Studies. 1 Unit.
Guest scholars present analyses of major Latin American themes. Restricted to students enrolled in the Latin American Studies MA program.
LATINAM 207. Spanish in Science/Science in Spanish. 2 Units.
For graduate and undergraduate students interested in the natural sciences and the Spanish language. Students will acquire the ability to communicate in Spanish using scientific language and will enhance their ability to read scientific literature written in Spanish. Emphasis on the development of science in Spanish-speaking countries or regions. Course is conducted in Spanish and intended for students pursuing degrees in the sciences, particularly disciplines such as ecology, environmental science, sustainability, resource management, anthropology, and archeology.
Same as: BIO 208, EARTHSYS 207
LATINAM 210. Everyday Economic Life Among Brazil's Urban Poor. 1 Unit.
This course focuses on the challenges and opportunities experienced by Brazil's urban poor as they access consumer and financial markets.
LATINAM 248. Racial and Gender Inequalities in Latin America. 3-5 Units.
This course explores the intersection between racial and gender inequalities in Latin America focusing on the historical pattern of racism, sexism and discrimination, and on the political and social changes that have enabled Afro-descendants and women to achieve social rights in some countries of the region such as Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uruguay. The first part of this course introduces the struggle of political movements taking into consideration the historical process of race and gender discrimination. It will address not only the history of blacks¿ and women's movements in the 20th century, but also racism and sexism as cultural and institutional elements that configure inequality in those countries. Socio-economic indicators, race and gender-based violence, and political participation will be analyzed. The second part of this course examines the most recent discourses about women and afro-descendant rights, and their political framework. It evaluates how they have changed public opinion, laws and the social, institutional and political environment of Latin America. Finally, this course discusses the ability of Afro-descendants and women movements to navigate in the current political climate and advance their rights.nCourse will be taught in Portuguese.
LATINAM 264VP. Indigenous resistance and contradictions in Latin America. 3-5 Units.
This seminar examines Indigenous People knowledge through community resistance, social movements and how globalization impacts in their lives. The objective is to achieve an in-depth appreciation of Indigenous resistance through some countries of Latin American and how it will vary according to each country and circumstances. Students will analyze path-breaking documents that marked these histories. Issues explored include indigenous epistemologies, impacts of globalization on women, tension between global ideologies versus indigenous worldviews, global indigenous migration, and partnerships with human rights movements. Reading and discussions will be in English and Spanish.
LATINAM 266VP. A Critical Review of Guatemala's Indigenous Movements. 3-5 Units.
This seminar will explore five moments of the Maya Movement and the relationship between the ¿traditional¿ movements and the two new indigenous trends, to shed light on the complexities of indigenous organization in the XXI century. The goal of the course is to help students understand the intricacies of indigenous lives by understanding how internal transformations of their ways of organizing and struggling impact the Guatemalan State. Reading and discussions will be in English and Spanish.
LATINAM 268VP. Democracy, crisis and disease: Covid-19 and Indigenous People in Latin America.. 3-5 Units.
Amplified by the racism and inequality inherent to the Latin American states, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll in the health and lives of indigenous peoples of the region. Alongside the pandemic, indigenous communities face a crisis of governance and democracy that has led to the rise of authoritarian measures meant to suppress dissent, processes of organization and autonomy. As COVID-19, poverty, inequality, racism, violence, and extractive projects continue to encroach on indigenous lives, this course will analyze a query posed by indigenous peoples: that perhaps coronavirus is not the cause of the crisis, but rather, it is the harvest of what the capitalist system has sown throughout centuries.
LATINAM 299. Independent Study or Directed Reading. 1-10 Unit.
Independent Study or Directed Reading for graduate students in Latin American Studies.
LATINAM 301. GRADUATE ARCHIVAL DIRECTED READING. 1 Unit.
Independent studies under the direction of a faculty member for which academic credit may properly be allowed. Research will require in-person access to archival materials in Hoover Institution, Stanford's Latin American Collections, and/or Branner or Ramsey Map Collections. For Latin American Studies M.A. students only.
LATINAM 397. Graduate Writing Seminar for Latin American Studies: The Eco¿s Guide. 1-2 Unit.
The design of this seminar is based on Umberto Eco¿s How to Write a Thesis and has been adapted to aid students in fulfilling their MA in Latin American Studies capstone research paper or thesis requirement.
LATINAM 398. Master's Thesis. 1-10 Unit.
Restricted to students writing a master's thesis in Latin American Studies. May be repeated for credit.
LATINAM 801. TGR Project. 0 Units.
TGR Project for approved students in Latin American Studies.
