Academic Programs>Graduate>Joint MA Programs

Joint Master of Arts in LAS and Master of Business Administration (MA/MBA)

In addition to meeting the entrance requirements for the University, College of Business, and for Latin American Studies, entering students should be proficient in introductory statistics, basic economics, personal computers, including word processing and spreadsheets. In order to receive the MA/MBA degree, students must complete the following 72 units:

• Seven core business courses (21 units);
• Two core courses in Latin American Studies (6 units);
• Five business courses (15 units);
• Two business theme courses (6);
• Six required courses in Latin American Studies (18 units);
• MGMT 797 (Research);
• Business Administration 799A (Thesis);
• Students must write a thesis. Two Faculty from Business and One Faculty from LAS will serve on the thesis committee.

Joint Master of Arts in LAS and Master in Public Health (MA/MPH) 

The GSPH and the Center for Latin American Studies offer a concurrent graduate program leading to a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology, Environmental Health, or Health Promotion and a Master of Arts (MA) in Latin American Studies. This concurrent program offers preparation in the fields of public health and Latin American studies for the purpose of promoting health, preventing disease, and enhancing the delivery of social and health services for Latino communities.  Students must complete the thesis or publishable article option. Foreign language competency is the same as the MA in LAS. The program consists of 63 units of joint programming as follows:

• 4 core seminars in Public Health (12 units) and two from LAS (6 units);
• 15 units of prescribed electives from LAS taken from at least two different Departments;
• 6 units of culminating experience (3 units of 797 Research and 3 units of 799 Thesis);
• 24 units from PH concentration (Epidemiology, Environmental Health or Health Promotion).

Joint Master of Arts in LAS and Master in Public Administration (MA/MPA)

The School of Public Affairs and the Center for Latin American Studies offer a concurrent graduate program leading to a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Public Administration and a Master of Arts (MA) in Latin American Studies.  This concurrent degree program offers preparation in the fields of public administration and Latin American studies for the purpose of public administration in fields requiring bi-national understanding of administration in the public service.

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master’s degree as described in Part Two of the graduate bulletin, the student must complete an officially approved course of study of 54-66 units as outlined below.

• Complete a core of eight seminars, 6 from Public Administration and 2 from LAS (24 units);
• Complete one methods course in Public Administration, either PA 605 or PA 606  (3 units);
• Complete three courses from one theme listed below (9 units): City Planning, Criminal Justice Administration, Public Personnel and Labor Relations, or General Public Administration;
• Complete five courses from at least two departments in LAS (15 units);
• Students must complete PA 799A or LATAM 799A or PA 797 or LATAM 797 (3 units).  The thesis (PA 799A or LATAM 799A) must treat a Latin American related topic in public administration and will be supervised by at least one  Public Administration faculty and at least one member of the Latin American Studies faculty. A culminating research experience (PA 797 or LATAM 797) must incorporate field research or an internship, and must result in a project that is approved by the graduate advisers in both programs.
• An internship of 12 units (one semester) beyond the coursework is required of students who have not had equivalent experience.  Students should consult with the Public Administration graduate adviser before enrolling. 
• Students must pass the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language (ACTFL) oral proficiency examination in either Spanish or Portuguese with a score of 2.0 or above.

For more information on any of these programs, please see the Graduate Bulletin.