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Latin American Studies

In the College of Arts and Letters

Office: Storm Hall 146
Telephone: (619) 594-1103

Faculty Committee for Latin
American Studies

Thomas M. Davies, Jr., Ph.D., Professor of History, Chair of Committee, Graduate Coordinator

Joseph W. Ball, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology

Ernesto M. Barrera, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish

Thomas E. Case, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish

C. Ben Christensen, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish

Kathee M. Christensen, Ph.D., Professor of Communicative Disorders

Norris C. Clement, Ph.D., Professor of Economics

Roger L. Cunniff, Ph.D., Professor of History

Oliva M. Espín, Ph.D., Professor of Women's Studies

Janet B. Esser, Ph.D., Professor of Art

Barbara E. Fredrich, Ph.D., Professor of Geography

Ernst C. Griffin, Ph.D., Professor of Geography

Ricardo Griswold del Castillo, Ph.D., Professor of Mexican American Studies

Barbara W. Hartung, Ph.D., Professor of Communication, Executive Assistant to the President

Gerald L. Head, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish

Lawrence A. Herzog, Ph.D., Professor of Mexican American Studies

Theodore V. Higgs, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish

Joseph B. Kelley, D.S.W., Professor of Social Work

Lois K. Lippold, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology

Brian E. Loveman, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science

José D. Rodriguez, Ph.D., Professor of Mexican American Studies

Gustavo V. Segade, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish

Malcolm N. Silverman, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish and Portuguese

José R. Villarino, Ph.D., Professor of Mexican American Studies

Maria-Barbara Watson, Ph.D., Professor of Women's Studies

John R. Weeks, Ph.D., Professor of Geography

Carlos G. Wilson, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish

Philip F. Flemion, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History

D. Emily Hicks, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature

Margarita G. Hidalgo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Spanish

William A. Nericcio, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature

Ronald R. Young, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Spanish

David V. Carruthers, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science

Adelaida R. Del Castillo, M.A., Assistant Professor of Mexican American Studies

Paul Ganster, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias

Gail L. Robinson, Ph.D., Co-Director, Language Acquisition Resource Center

Wayne Stromberg, Ph.D., Co-Director, Language Acquisition Resource Center

General Information

Since 1976 the Center for Latin American Studies has been designated a National Resource Center for Latin American Studies (one of only eleven in the nation) by the United States Department of Education and funded through a Title VI grant. The Master of Arts degree administered by the center is an interdisciplinary program drawing on the expertise of an outstanding Latin Americanist faculty from the following departments: Anthropology, Art, Comparative Literature, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Public Administration and Urban Studies, Sociology, Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures, Women's Studies, and the College of Business Administration. Emphasis in the program is placed on the central issue of "Modernization and Urbanization" in Latin America and offered through nine courses from nine different departments.

Research interests and areas of expertise of the faculty include: demography, drama, economic development, folk art, Indians and peasants, land tenure systems, the Latin American press, mental health and aging in Mexico, militarism and guerrilla warfare, Spanish American prose, poetry and criticism, U.S.-Latin American relations, and the U.S.-Mexico border.

Admission to Graduate Study

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to the University with classified graduate standing, as described in Part Two of this bulletin, the student must present the Bachelor of Arts degree with not less than 18 units of courses of Latin American content in three areas. A student whose preparation is deemed insufficient by his graduate adviser or by the Latin American Studies committee will be required to complete specified courses in addition to the minimum of 30 units required for the degree.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy described in Part Two of this bulletin. Moreover, students must demonstrate an oral and reading proficiency in Spanish through either the satisfactory completion of an oral and a written examination, or: (1) satisfactory completion of Spanish 201 and 202, and a reading examination administered by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures, or (2) satisfactory completion of three units of 500-level or graduate coursework in Spanish. In addition, students must complete satisfactorily (with a grade of B or better) Portuguese 101. Coursework at or above the 500 level may be included as a part of the official program with the approval of the graduate coordinator.

Specific Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

(Major Code: 03081)

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the Master of Arts degree, as described in Part Two of this bulletin, the student must complete at least 30 units of upper division and graduate coursework, including Latin American Studies 601, with not less than 24 units in courses of Latin American content selected from those listed below and distributed as follows:

                                        
                                600- and       500-,600-,and
                               700-numbered    700-numbered
                                 Courses         Courses

    Department A ..........      6 units         6 units 
    Department B ..........      3 units         3 units
    Department C ..........      3 units         3 units
                                -----------     ----------
                                12 units        12 units

The total program shall include a minimum of 18 units in 600- and 700-numbered courses. Students may select either Plan A or Plan B in consultation with the graduate adviser. In addition to meeting the distribution requirements given above, students electing Plan A must complete the 799A (Thesis) course. Students electing Plan B must pass a comprehensive written and oral examination in lieu of the thesis.

All programs will be approved by the Latin American Studies committee.

Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Latin American Studies Degrees

General Information

The College of Business Administration and the Center for Latin American Studies offer a three-year concurrent graduate program leading to a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies. The primary objective of the concurrent program is to offer preparation in the fields of business administration and Latin American studies for the purpose of providing the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and engage in business relationships within a Latin American historical, cultural, and linguistic milieu, in Latin America or in the United States.

For information, contact the Chair of the Latin American Studies Committee or the Associate Dean in the College of Business Administration.

Admission to Graduate Study

Since this program combines disparate disciplines, applicants are required to submit GMAT scores and should have substantial academic backgrounds in the humanities and social sciences. Applicants should also have a background in Spanish or Portuguese language and literature. It is expected that all students in the concurrent degree program will be full time, so that all requirements will be satisfied in an acceptable time period.

Specific Requirements for the
MBA/MA Degree

(Major Code: 49061)

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master's degree as described in Part Two of this bulletin, the student must complete an officially approved course of study consisting of 70 units as outlined below.

1. The college expects students entering the Master of Business Administration/MA in Latin American Studies program to be proficient in several areas. These include proficiency in statistics, mathematical skills, basic economics and in the use of personal computers, including spreadsheets and word processing. The students are responsible for insuring that they possess these skills before beginning the program.

2. Complete the following core of nine courses (19 units):

BA 650 Financial Accounting (2)

BA 651 Organizational Behavior (2)

BA 652 Statistical Analysis (2)

BA 653 Managerial Economics (2)

BA 654 Managerial Communication (1)

BA 655 Marketing (3)

BA 660 Managerial Accounting (2)

BA 662 Operations Management (2)

BA 665 Financial Management I (3)

A student who has earned 12 or more undergraduate units in a specific field (finance, management, etc.) may substitute an advanced course for a core course in the same field with permission from the Director of Graduate Business Programs.

3. Complete six units, one course from each of the themes listed below:

Interpersonal Skills Theme

IDS 705 Communication Strategies (3)

MGT 720 Seminar in Behavioral Science for Management (3)

MGT 721 Seminar in Group Processes and Leadership (3)

MGT 741 Seminar in Organization Power and Politics (3)

Environment Theme

FIN 604 Legal Environment for Executives (3)

FIN 655 Seminar in Financial Markets (3)

FIN 780 Seminar in Land Markets and Urban Development Issues (3)

MGT 626 Seminar in Policy Formulation (3)

MGT 701 Organizational Theory and Design (3)

MGT 722 Seminar in Business Ethics and Social
Institutions (3)

MGT 740 Seminar in Business Management and the Natural Environment (3)

MGT 742 Seminar in Business and the Good Society (3)

MKTG 760 Seminar in Consumer Behavior (3)

4. Complete 15 units in Business Administration to include:

FIN 654 Seminar in International Business Finance (3)

MGT 710 Seminar in World Business Environment (3)

MGT 723 Seminar in International Strategic Management (3)

MGT 731 Strategic Management of Technology and
Innovation (3)

MKTG 769 Seminar in International Marketing (3)

5. Complete 24 units in courses of Latin American content, including the following required courses:

LATAM 696 Interdisciplinary Seminar (3)

LATAM 798 Special Study (3) Cr/NC/SP

HIST 640 Directed Readings in Latin American History (3)*

POL S 661 Seminar in the Political Systems of the Developing Nations (3)*

POL S 667 Seminar in Latin American Political Systems (3)*

The remaining nine units will be selected from the following list of courses, with at least one course from the California Western School of Law courses highly recommended:

Latin American Studies Courses

560. Latin America After World War II (3)

798. Special Study (3) Cr/NC/SP

Economics Course

565. North American Mexico Economic Relations (3)

Geography Courses

654. Topics in Comparative Urbanization (3)**

720. Seminar in Regional Geography (3)**

History Courses

551A-551B. Mexico (3-3)

552. Brazil (3)

554. The Andean Republics of South America (3)

555. Modernization and Urbanization in
Latin America (3)

556. Guerrilla Movements in Latin America (3)

558. Latin America in World Affairs (3)

559. Central America (3)

640. Directed Reading in Latin American History (3)

795. Area Studies in History (3) Cr/NC**

Political Science Courses

566. Political Change in Latin America (3)

567. Political Systems of Latin America (3)

568. The Mexican Political System (3)

655. Seminar in General Comparative Political
Systems (3)**

675. Seminar in International Relations (3)**

795. Problem Analysis (3)**

California Western School of Law Courses***

498. Mexican Law

610. Immigration Law

625. International Business Transactions

636. International Organizations

643. Private International Law

644. Public International Law

703. Latin American Law