Concentrations
Latin American and Iberian Studies Concentration
For a comprehensive study of the cultures of Latin America and Spain, students can supplement a major in one of the cooperating departments (History, History of Art, Religion, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, and Spanish) with coursework specifically related to Latin America or Spain.
The Latin American and Iberian Studies Concentration is under the general supervision of the Department of Spanish. Students are admitted into the concentration at the end of their sophomore year after the submission of a plan of study, worked out by the student with his or her major department, which meets the requirements of the concentration.
Requirements
- Competence in Spanish to be achieved no later than the junior year, demonstrated by the completion of at least one course in Spanish at the 200 level or above.
- Spanish/Independent College Programs 240
, Latin American and Iberian Cultures at Haverford OR General Studies 140 at Bryn Mawr. - Four other related courses, two of which must be taken outside the major department; one of these four courses should be at the 300 level. These courses are to be chosen from the offerings listed by the concentration coordinator. Students should consult with their advisors as to which courses are most appropriate for their major and special interests: some apply more to Latin America, others to Spain. Other courses may be offered in fulfillment of this requirement if their pertinence to the student's program can be demonstrated.
- A paper (at least 20 pages) on Spain or Latin America, to be completed no later than the first semester of the senior year, as part of the work for a course in the student's major or the concentration. Whenever possible, the paper should be written while in residence at the College. A proposal for the paper topic, accompanied by a bibliography, must be submitted in advance for approval by the concentration coordinator. While the topic is open and should reflect the student's interests in a particular discipline, the paper should demonstrate the student's ability to discuss intelligently the history, literature, social or political thought of Latin America or Spain as it applies to their individual research project.
Five-Year Cooperative Degree Program
Haverford has been invited to join other distinguished colleges and universities in an agreement with the Center for Latin American at Georgetown University to participate in a five-year joint degree program. The cooperative agreement allows undergraduate concentrators in Latin American and Iberian Studies to pursue an accelerated course of study in a graduate degree. The program offers the highest qualified applicants the opportunity to count four courses from their undergraduate study toward the M.A. program in Latin American Studies at Georgetown University, enabling them to complete the degree in two semesters and one summer.
The five-year B.A.-M.A. program is designed for those students who demonstrate excellence at the undergraduate level. Qualified undergraduates must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5, declare an interest in the Cooperative degree program during their junior year, and participate in the Center's summer study abroad program. During the senior year, candidates apply through the normal Georgetown M.A. application cycle. If accepted into the M.A. program, students may transfer up to four courses (two from the CLAS summer study program in Mexico or Chile and two advanced courses from the undergraduate institution) to be applied to the M.A. All M.A. prerequisites must be completed during the student's undergraduate education, and students must have concentrated in Latin American Studies at the undergraduate level.
For more detailed information, consult Prof. James Krippner or visit the Georgetown Center for Latin American Studies.