Center for Latin American Studies

MA students at CLAS are a diverse group. Students’ backgrounds reflect a broad range of international and domestic experiences, with some coming to CLAS directly from an undergraduate program in the US or abroad, and others bringing with them years of professional experience.

Current Student Profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there opportunities for me to get involved in the campus community as an MA student at CLAS?

LAGO, the Latin American Graduate Student Organization, is a student group that serves as a representative body for its students. It organizes and promotes cultural enrichment, career advancement, community service, and social networking events on campus and in the Washington, DC area with the goal of encouraging further interaction among its students and with the campus community as a whole. For more on LAGO, visit the LAGO page.

Additionally, many of the student groups and volunteer organizations that already exist at Georgetown cater to the interests of Latin American and Latino students, such as the Latin American Student Association (LASA), MECHA de Georgetown, Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Georgetown, Ritmo y Sabor, and many more. For a full list of student organizations at Georgetown, please visit http://studentorgs.georgetown.edu/. The student activities page, located at http://www.georgetown.edu/student_activities.html, provides links to even more ways to get involved.

Where can I find information on academic regulations?

Explore the Academics section of our website to find answers to specific questions. The MA Handbook is also a great reference tool. Additionally, the Graduate School maintains a web page on academic integrity, which is a useful guide to issues related to the GU Honor Council, proper citation methods, and research tutorials.

What kind of resources exist at Georgetown for research on Latin America?

Georgetown University has seven libraries. The main library, Lauinger, produces a continually-updated research guide on Latin America as well as a guide to Spanish-Language literature which are available to students online and in the library. CLAS maintains the Political Database of the Americas as well as a collection of specialized reference materials that are available for student use.

Perhaps the greatest research resource available to students is the Washington Research Library Consortium. To learn about the benefits of WRLC, visit their website at www.wrlc.org. For more extensive research, Georgetown students also have access to the Inter-Library Loan (ILL) program, which allows students to request books from libraries across the country online which are then delivered to Georgetown for pickup.

A special perk available to Georgetown students is streamlined access to the full collection of the Library of Congress (LOC), one of the world’s great research institutions, located minutes away across Washington, DC. The GU-LOC Connection program assists students in navigating the LOC’s 129 million book collection and 21 specialized collections (including the Hispanic reading room: http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/) to suit their specific research needs. More information can be found at http://www.library.georgetown.edu/gulc/.

How can I finance my MA at CLAS?

Please visit the Tuition and Scholarships page to learn more about graduate tuition rates and the scholarships, grants, and fellowships available to help offset the cost of your degree.

How do CLAS students typically spend their summers?

1. Summer Courses: Many students elect to take courses over the summer at Georgetown or other institutions. Georgetown offers three summer school sessions, and students are welcome to participate in one or all of these sessions. If you choose to take courses at another institution, remember that restrictions apply to how many non-Georgetown courses can be applied to our degree programs.

2. Abroad: There are many ways to spend a summer abroad, notably in a summer study program or engaged in research or work in a foreign country. There are three approved overseas programs for MA students at CLAS—in Quito, Ecuador; Santiago, Chile; and the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Please contact the Associate Director for Academic Affairs for the latest information about these programs and whether or not they will fit into your academic plans.

3. Work: Paid or unpaid work abroad or at an organization that deals with Latin America in the US is another highly recommended summer option. In DC alone, job opportunities are available at the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States as well as at the embassies and trade missions of foreign nations. Please see the Jobs and Internships page for more information on how to arrange exciting and relevant summer employment. The Career Development Center (CDC) at SFS is an excellent resource for graduate students looking for jobs anywhere in the world.

4. Summer FLAS: CLAS has funding for two summer FLAS awards for Georgetown students who demonstrate academic excellence and are willing to study an uncommonly-taught modern language over their summer break. Uncommonly-taught languages include Portuguese as well as Quechua and other languages indigenous to the countries of Latin America. For a full list of FLAS-approved languages, visit the FLAS website. Summer FLAS awards cover a portion of tuition as well as a stipend to be applied to room and board expenses. Because FLAS is a program of the US government, only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible. For applications and information about deadlines, visit http://clas.georgetown.edu/flas_application_20092010.pdf.

5. Research: Many students choose to undertake an independent research project related to their academic pursuits over the summer. Faculty advisors and CLAS staff can provide students with information on how to receive credit towards BA/BS and MA degrees by setting up an independent study.

What can I do with a Master's in Latin American Studies?

CLAS Alumni pursue diverse professional and academic goals after graduation. The Jobs and Internships page can suggest some first steps in your job search. Graduate students will want to visit the Career Development Center at SFS, where counselors provide specialized assistance to graduate students from SFS’ six graduate programs.