Caribbean and Latin American Studies

This MA offers students the opportunity to develop an understanding of the diverse societies of both the South American continent and the Caribbean from a multidisciplinary and comparative perspective. The programme’s graduates have established careers in research, journalism, teaching and policy formulation and implementation in both government agencies and NGOs.

Students will gain a broad empirical knowledge of the diverse societies of Latin America and the Caribbean from the perspective of at least two disciplines, together with an awareness of the general patterns of differences and commonalities in the histories, politics, economies and cultures of the different linguistic territories of the region.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of two core modules (30 credits), four optional modules (60 credits), and the research dissertation (90 credits). Please note: All option modules are subject to availability.

Core modules

• The Caribbean from the Haitian Revolution to the Cuban Revolution
• Researching the Americas: Latin America and the Caribbean

Optional modules

Students choose four option modules from a selection that includes the following:

• Democratisation in Latin America
• Histories of Exclusion: Race and Ethnicity in Latin America
• The International Politics of Latin America
• Key Economic Thinkers of Latin America
• Latin American Economies: Beyond Neoliberalism
• Latin American Political Economy
• The Making of Modern Latin America: History, Politics and Society
• Money and Politics in Latin America
• The Politics of Human Rights in Latin America: Transitional Justice
• Politics, Society and Development in the Modern Caribbean
• Society and Development in Latin America
• Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Latin American Economics: Beyond Neoliberalism
• Environmental Issues, Movements and Policies in the Americas
• International Politics of Latin America
• From Silver to Cocaine
• Social and Economic Development of Contemporary Brazil
• State and Society in Latin America: Ethnographic Perspectives
• The Latin American City: Social Problems and Social Change in Urban Space

Students may choose elective modules up to a maximum of 30 credits from other UCL departments or University of London colleges, subject to the Programme Director's approval.

Dissertation/report

All students write a dissertation of 15,000 words (90 credits) on a topic relating to the Caribbean, or Latin America and the Caribbean.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, presentations, independent reading and research. Assessment is through varied assignments including essays, an oral presentation and the dissertation.

Fieldwork

Many of our Master's students undertake fieldwork in order to carry out research for their dissertation projects.

There may be travel costs associated with fieldwork. The institute has limited funds available to students to help towards the costs of fieldwork. These funds are awarded on a competitive basis on the criteria of academic performance to date, the quality of the research proposal and the importance of fieldwork for completing the research.

Normally an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. A basic reading competence in Spanish, French or Portuguese is desirable. Students without such skills may be considered but are advised to undertake a separate language course prior to or during their programme.