Center for Latin American Studies

Graduate Certificates

MALAS students may participate in two certificate programs for graduate students offered by other academic units of the School of Foreign Service.  To learn more about eligible graduate certificates, follow the links below:

• Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies, sponsored and administered by the Institute for the Study of International Migration;

• Certificate in International Business Diplomacy, sponsored and administered by the Karl F. Landegger Program in International Business Diplomacy.

Undergraduate Certificate in Latin American Studies

In addition to its graduate student options, CLAS also offers an undergraduate certificate in Latin American Studies to students of the SFS, MSB, and Georgetown College who fulfill the Center’s certificate requirements.

Students are required to meet with the undergraduate certificate director during either pre-registration or the add/drop period of the second semester of their junior year to indicate the topic of their thesis and the name of their advisor and to ensure that they are on track to complete the certificate by graduation

Professor Veronica Salles-Reese
Undergraduate Certificate Director
ICC 404
202-687-5884
sallesrv@georgetown.edu

Julie Walsh
Associate Director of Academic Affairs
ICC 484
202-687-1044
walshje@georgetown.edu

Certificate Requirements

For the undergraduate certificate in Latin American Studies, students must satisfy a language requirement and complete four core courses, one elective, and a senior honors thesis.

Certificate students must demonstrate proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese through completion of language coursework at the Advanced I level, successful completion of one upper-level course taught in either Spanish or Portuguese, OR achievement of Fair or better on Georgetown's language proficiency exam (administered by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.)

Coursework

Certificate students must receive a B average or better in four core courses, one chosen from each of four categories:

An additional elective course is required for the certificate.  This course may be chosen from the Culture and Politics, Economics, Government, History, International Affairs, Latin American Studies, Sociology, Spanish, Portuguese, or Theology course offerings.

Thesis Course

The sixth required course for the certificate is the thesis course (LASP 495 Proseminar), in which students research, write, and present a substantial thesis. This course is generally taken during the second semester of the student's senior year. With the guidance of the certificate coordinator, students should decide on their thesis topic and possible adviser during the first semester of their senior year.

Students are required to meet with the Associate Director of Academic Affairs during either pre-registration or the add/drop period for the second semester of their senior year to indicate the topic of their thesis and the name of their adviser, to take inventory of the classes taken toward the certificate, and to make sure that all paperwork is in order. A formal certificate application (available in the CLAS office) must be submitted at this time.

Students must achieve at least a B+ in the proseminar and thesis in order to receive the certificate. Failure to meet these requirements and deadlines is grounds for dismissal from the certificate program.

Undergraduate Certificate Rules and Regulations

No more than one of the six required certificate courses may be taken at universities other than Georgetown.  This includes coursework completed as part of a Georgetown study-abroad program.

Students are required to meet with the Associate Director of Academic Affairs during either pre-registration or the add/drop period for the second semester of their senior year to indicate the topic of their thesis and the name of their adviser, to take inventory of the classes taken toward the certificate, and to make sure that all paperwork is in order. A formal certificate application (available in the CLAS office) must be submitted at this time. Students must achieve at least a B+ in the proseminar and thesis in order to receive the certificate. Failure to meet these requirements and deadlines is grounds for dismissal from the certificate program.

No more than one of the six required certificate courses may be taken at universities other than Georgetown.  This includes coursework completed as part of a Georgetown study-abroad program.

Substitutions for any requirement must be pre-approved by the certificate director.  It is much more likely that certificate substitutions will be approved for the elective course than for the core courses.  It is the student's responsibility to ensure that written approval for any substitutions becomes a part of his or her file at CLAS.

Georgetown College students who are pursuing the certificate may NOT double-count courses for their major and the certificate (called a minor in the college). The student and his or her advisor in the Georgetown College bear all responsibility for ensuring that courses are counted properly.  SFS students pursuing the certificate may double-count courses. Students must maintain at least a B average in the five courses and must receive a B+ or higher in the thesis seminar in order to receive the certificate.  Failure to do so will result in a student being dropped from the certificate program.