International Relations of the Americas

This exciting and innovative programme embraces courses on both North and Latin America, with compulsory study of both regions. It focuses on inter-American and on Latin/North American global relations. The course will combine breadth with (especially in relation to the 15,000 word dissertation) the depth appropriate for this level of study.

Expanding on various University priorities, including internationalisation and student engagement with policy practice the programme will provide a detailed and systematic understanding of the International Relations of the Americas both with regard to inter-American relations and relations with the world beyond the Americas. It is intended to provide contemporary and historical perspectives on the International Relations of the Americas and to situate this empirical knowledge within general theories of international relations and foreign policy analysis. The programme aims to introduce students to skills essential for the analytic study of the International Relations of the Americas and assessment of the hemispheric and global issues currently facing foreign policy-makers in the nation-states of the Americas.

To ensure study of the North and South of the Americas, students take one compulsory module, International Politics of Latin America (15 credits), and at least one from either Post-Cold War US Foreign Policy (15 credits) or Canada and the Americas (15 credits). They additionally choose one module from two specified research-skills options, and 45 credits of further substantive-subject options from a broader range of modules. The final element of the programme is the research dissertation of 15,000 words.

There are three core elements. Depending on the focus of study, students may chose between a Latin American and Caribbean OR USA focused research course, and between a USA OR Canadian focused foreign relations course.

ONE course from:

• AMERG001: Researching the Americas: Latin America and the Caribbean
• AMERG002: Researching the Americas: The USA

All students take:

• AMERGTBC: International Politics of Latin America

ONE course from:

• AMERG011: Post-Cold War US Foreign Policy
• AMERGTBC: In Uncle Sam's Shadow: Canada and the Americas since 1898

A UK Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject, awarded with first or second-class Honours, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard from a university or educational institution of university rank is required.For some taught programmes, an applicant whose qualifications, although otherwise acceptable, are of lower standard may be admitted if evidence of an adequate academic background and experience in an appropriate field can be shown. In certain instances, applicants may be required to pursue the programme over an extended period of time (including a qualifying year enrolled for Graduate Diploma) and/or pass a qualifying examination before being registered for the degree programme.All students whose first language is not English must be able to provide recent evidence that their spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the programmes for which they have applied.This requirement is specified in order to ensure that the academic progress of students is not hindered by language difficulties and that students are able to integrate socially while studying at UCL and living in the UK.The required evidence may be one of the following:Substantial education (minimum twelve months) or work experience (minimum eighteen months) conducted in English in a majority English speaking country and undertaken no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolmentA recently obtained acceptable English language qualification or test result. The qualification or test result must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment.UCL reserves the right, in individual circumstances, to specify an additional language requirement for an applicant.UCL's preferred English language qualification is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Academic. Listed below are all the English language qualifications and tests that are recognised by UCL and the level (standard, good or advanced) required to satisfy UCL’s English language requirement. The required evidence should, if possible, be included with the complete application. If either unsatisfactory or no evidence of English language proficiency has been provided with the application, admission will be conditional upon the provision of such evidence. This condition will be clearly indicated on the offer letter and must be fulfilledbefore enrolment at UCL.