MPhil in Latin American Studies
Course Code | 002980
The MPhil in Latin American Studies allows students to develop an individual research project informed by interdisciplinary teaching at the LAC and a period of fieldwork in Latin America. The programme is ideally suited to those students considering an academic or research-focused career, and is an excellent training for a doctoral degree.
In their first year, students on this programme will join classes in the various disciplines taught at the LAC (including History, Politics, Sociology, International Relations and Economics), and will be asked to submit two portfolios of essays on subjects of their choice. The classes taught may emphasise the specific features of individual countries, but there is also broad comparative coverage of major trends such as authoritarianism and democracy, the economic cycle, the effect of international factors, the evolution of the Left and Right, revolutionary movements, and the effects of neo-liberal economic models.
Students will receive a number of tutorials to review their academic progress and preparations for their fieldwork research. A list of exam papers will be provided on arrival in Oxford, and students must pass three exams in order to qualify for entry on to the second year of the programme.
In the second year, students complete a 30,000 word thesis. The thesis is an in-depth research project, and will train students to apply theory to empirical study of their selected topic. Second years also take a further exam, or by agreement with the relevant department, take a methodology or other paper from an appropriate MPhil in another discipline at Oxford University. Students will be required to attend an oral exam.
A lively programme of LAC seminars and conferences with visiting speakers complements the MPhil programme, and students are encouraged to make the most of these opportunities to meet with and learn from other scholars in the field.
MSc in Latin American Studies
Course Code | 002990
The MSc in Latin American Studies is intended to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of the main developments in Latin America since c1900 to the present. While the programme emphasises the specific features of individual countries, there is also broad comparative coverage of major trends such as authoritarianism and democracy, the economic cycle, the effect of international factors, the evolution of the Left and Right, revolutionary movements, and the effects of neo-liberal economic models.
These topics are addressed through taught classes for a number of academic disciplines (including History, Politics, Sociology, International Relations and Economics), individual preparation for a range of exam papers, and a lively programme of seminars and conferences with visiting speakers. Students are asked to submit two portfolios of essays on subjects of their choice during the first two terms. These essays serve both as a focus for tutorials to review student progress, as well as preparation for exams at the end of the year.
In the final term of the programme, students will be required to sit three exam papers from a list to be provided on their arrival in Oxford.
In addition to the three exams, students are required to submit an extended essay of 10,000 words. The preparation of this extended essay will allow students to develop a critical focus by examining a particular topic in depth.
MSc in Public Policy in Latin America
Course Code | 003190
This programme is available to candidates who have had some years' experience of working in the public or private sector in Latin America. The programme is designed to allow students to reflect on their experience, and to put their research into a comparative and theoretical perspective.
Candidates are asked to submit a specific project when applying for this programme. They should give an outline of their research topic, and explain how they intend to carry out the necessary study in approximately six pages, double spaced. They should also provide a full CV showing their work experience. The programme is somewhat tailor-made; much of the teaching is by individual supervision. Students are encouraged to take relevant classes from other programmes.
Students on this programme are assessed on the basis of a written exam, a 15,000-word dissertation and an oral exam.
Past students have included diplomats, lawyers, social programme workers, government economists, health sector officials, people involved in local government and political party workers. Many of them have returned to public sector work, although some have remained in academic life.
The MSc PP programme gives students a considerable amount of autonomy to shape their own study within the context of a supportive and lively University department. Each year the LAC organises a programme of seminars and conferences with visiting speakers, and students are encouraged to make the most of these opportunities to meet with and learn from fellow Latin Americanists.
How to ApplyThe deadlines for the MPhil and MSc courses are 24
January 2014 and 14 March 2014. The standard set of materials you should send
with any application to a taught course comprises: In addition to the standard documents above,
applicants to the MPhil or MSc courses should provide two (2) relevant academic essays or other
writing samples from their most recent qualification of 2,000 words each,
or 2,000-word extracts of longer work. Applicants to the MSc in Public Policy in Latin America programme should submit, in addition the statement of purpose, a separate research proposal giving a detailed overview of the intended research focus for their dissertation. Please follow the detailed
instructions in the Application
Guide, and
consult the
Latin American Centre website
for any additional guidance. |
