Riordan Roett, Director The Latin American Studies Program (LASP) offers a range of courses focusing on current political and economic trends in the region, comparative issues in the broader emerging markets context, as well as specialized areas of increasing relevance today such as urban policy and energy challenges. Courses are taught by the program’s full-time faculty and professorial lecturers, who bring extensive academic and technical expertise to the classroom. LASP students are encouraged to participate in various program-sponsored extracurricular activities that enhance their educational experience, including the summer internship/fellowship program. The M.A. in Latin American Studies is a two-year program that includes course work in international economics/finance, U.S. foreign policy and international relations. The program attracts between 60 and 80 students per year, and enjoys a sizeable presence in the SAIS Bologna Center. Traditionally, one-half of the first-year LASP class begins the M.A. in the Bologna campus, where they enjoy a seamlessly integrated academic experience. LASP alumni have gone on to pursue successful careers in a variety of fields in the private, public, and non-profit sectors, including investment banking, business consulting, government, diplomacy, international development, and journalism, among other areas. The following topics are a sample of the themes covered in the current LASP curriculum/research agenda: - Brazil as a BRIC: A New Emerging Market Player
- Energy in the Americas
- Latin America in a Globalized Economy
- Latin America-China Relations
- Political Democratization and Market Reforms in Emerging Markets
The program continually seeks to develop innovative approaches to the study of the Western Hemisphere in the global context. Recent publications, including The New Brazil: From Backwater to Bric and China’s Expansion into the Western Hemisphere: Implications for Latin America and the United States, highlight its commitment to cutting-edge policy research. Campus Options Students at the Bologna Center who enroll in the Latin American Studies Program are expected to take the equivalent of the core course, which fulfills the requirement for the Theory and Practice of Politics in Latin America course in Washington, as well as a second LASP course offered in the spring semester. Internships A popular component of LASP is the Internship/Research Fellowship Program in Latin America. Each summer 15 to 25 students are placed in the region. Placements are extremely diverse as the program works closely with concentrators to identify organizations of particular interest to them. Students may also apply for grants to carry out individual research projects in Latin America. The application process is competitive; detailed application guidelines are distributed during the fall semester. Bologna WHS students are eligible to apply. For more information, please click here. Co-curricular Activities Students join native Spanish and Portuguese speakers at regular gatherings to discuss relevant topics as well as to practice their conversational skills in these languages. Every semester, interested students and WHS staff members collaborate to present a film series featuring works by Latin American directors dealing with issues of the region. Other Opportunities The program periodically organizes international study trips for LASP students. Depending on available funding, it is hoped such opportunities will continue to be offered on an ongoing basis. Recent study trips include: Costa Rica, March 2011. Participants examined Costa Rica as a showcase for sustainable development practices in the context of increased regional integration, natural resources management, and trade. Students explored the issue of energy in Central America (specifically in Costa Rica), a region poor in fossil fuels that imports all its supplies. They also looked at atmospheric pollution, solid waste disposal and water management challenges facing developing nations in a globalized world. China, March 2011 and November 2011. Students traveled to China to meet with representatives from the academic, diplomatic, public sector, private sector and media communities, with the goal of more deeply understanding forces at work in the changing dynamics of Sino-Latin American relations. Brazil, March 2012. Students traveled to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to research Brazil as an emerging player in world affairs. The trip included meetings with representatives from the academic, diplomatic, public sector, private sector and media communities. Canada, March 2012. LASP students were eligible to apply for an energy-focused trip to the oil sands in Alberta sponsored by the Canadian Studies Program. Students met with government officials and private sector groups in Calgary and Edmonton. Ph.D. Program Doctoral students plan their courses of study individually with the program Director. The Ph.D. program is small, and applications are not accepted every year. Typical Latin American Studies Courses WHS Weekly Course Schedule for the Spring 2012 Semester
Course Offerings for the 2011-2012 Academic Year Click here to view full course listings and descriptions from Academic Affairs. - The Andean Region
- Brazil and the Potential of a BRIC: A New Emerging Market Player
- Democratization and Market Reform in Key Emerging Markets
- Energy in the Americas: Conflict, Cooperation and Future Prospects
- Latin America and the Political Economy of Competing in World Markets
- Latin America’s Southern Cone
- Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
- A Survey of Latin America's Political Economy
- Theory and Practice of Politics in Latin America
- U.S. Foreign Policy Toward Latin America
- Urban Economics and Urban Policy in Latin America
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