Eligibility

Once you enroll in a Georgetown University graduate program, you can pursue the graduate certificate in Latin American Studies. You must declare candidacy for the graduate certificate as soon as possible and no later than the end of the first year of your graduate program.

Certificate requirements

To earn the certificate, you must fulfill these requirements:

• Five graduate courses (15 credits):
  • You will choose two foundation courses from these offerings:
    • LASP 7501: Origins and Transformations
    • LASP 7502: Culture and Power
    • LASP 7503: States and Societies
    • LASP 7504: Political Economy
  • Three elective courses
• Demonstration of proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese

When choosing your electives, prioritize graduate-level (i.e., 5000-level or higher) courses. No more than two elective courses can be over/under courses, which are courses numbered 4000-4999 that are open to graduate students and upper-level undergraduate students. Taking such courses requires the approval of the CLAS Director of Academic Affairs and your graduate program advisor. Any course with an “LASP” prefix (at the appropriate level) will be automatically approved as an elective course. All other elective courses require approval from the CLAS Director of Academic Affairs and graduate program advisor.

You must work with your home program to determine how your certificate courses fit within your other required coursework.

Language proficiency

You are required to take the oral language proficiency examination in Spanish or Portuguese during your first semester pursuing the graduate certificate. To earn the certificate, you must pass the exam with a grade of good or better (on a rating scale of poor, fair, good, very good, excellent).

How to apply

To apply for the Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies, you must complete the interest form before the end of the first year of your graduate program.