Latin American, Iberian, and Latinx Studies

Why LAILS?

The program will definitely provide you with a broad picture to connect transdisciplinary and transregional issues that are better explored using different theoretical frameworks. At the same time, you will develop a comprehensive study of an issue or topic that you are interested in and can submit as an extended paper to fulfill with concentration´s requirements. You may combine the study of Latin American, Iberian or Latinx people, history, language, politics, arts or culture from the disciplines of History, Political Sciences, Anthropology, Linguistic, Literary, Film, Memory and Cultural Studies, among others.

Who chooses the LAILS concentration?

Usually our students are majors in the History, Political Sciences, and Spanish Departments, but it is open to all majors.

What kind of opportunities are offered?

There are several possibilities to contribute to the field by working on specific projects that faculty and students from different departments have been developing. Some of them include: Ticha project with Zapotec language; digitizing of archives in Guatemala gathered by GAM; migration work and border studies with organizations in Mexico, Arizona, and Philadelphia; collecting oral histories of migrants; developing digital media literacy resources for Latinx communities in Philadelphia; or classifying documents for the National Search Commission in Mexico (CNB). Other opportunities may include self design internship projects in conjunction with CPGC (CPGC’s hyperlink).

What comes after graduation?

The LAILS concentration prepares and enhances your skills to thrive on different paths, as our alumni have expressed. Additionally, our affiliated institutions provide an excellent opportunity to pursue an accelerated MA degree program (hyperlink to Accelerated degree program) at the Center for Latin America Studies in Georgetown University.