MSc in Globalisation and Latin American Development
Overview
This degree, offered by the Institute for the Study of the Americas, examines the theoretical issues raised by globalisation and the variant ways in which different Latin American societies have reacted to it. It also explores the degree to which contemporary indices of globalisation are continuous with earlier forms of Latin America’s global incorporation. The degree takes as its central concern the ways in which Latin American development is bound up with global processes.
Alongside the development of techniques, skills and knowledge relevant to the interests and research needs of individual students, the programme aim to equip students for both independent research and analysis in primary and secondary material, and writing at an advanced level. It will also foster students’ intellectual development and the independent learning ability required for continuing professional and personal development.
Structure
Compulsory course:
- Globalisation and Latin American Development: Latin America in the XXIst Century
Course options:
- Indian and Peasant Politics in Latin America: Amazonia
- Democratization in Latin America
- Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
- The Politics of Human Rights in Latin America: Transitional Justice
- The Caribbean from the Haitian Revolution to the Cuban Revolution
- Brazilian Government and Politics
- Development in Latin America
- Politics, Society and Development in the Modern Caribbean
- The Politics of Human Rights in Latin America: Challenges of Democratization
- Economic Policy and Social Development in Contemporary Latin America
- The United States and Latin America
- The Americas in Comparative Perspective II: Modern Politics and Society
All students take a compulsory core course in Globalisation and Latin American Development: Latin America in the XXIst Century and choose a total of further 2 course units (1.5 c.u. per term) from a selection of courses in the disciplines of anthropology, economics, environment, history, politics and sociology and write a dissertation on a topic related to Globalizaton or Development in Latin America. Group dissertation planning sessions are held during the academic year, followed by individual tutorials with dissertation supervisors.
Assessment
Assessment is both formative and summative and consists of some or all of the following learning strategies: essays, term papers, group and individual seminar presentations, analytical exercises, closed book examinations and a final, 12,000-word dissertation. Assignments are submitted at fixed dates towards the end of November, January, March and May. The examinations are held in May. The dissertation (maximum length 15,000 words including footnotes, references and appendices, but excluding bibliography) is submitted in early September.
Mode of study
12 months full-time or 24 months part-time.
Part-time students will normally take the core course and the equivalent of three one-term optional courses in year 1, and the remaining two one-term (or equivalent) optional courses and the dissertation in year 2.
Fees
2011–12 (subject to uplift in 2012–13):
Full-time Home and EU Master’s students: £4,851
Part-time Home and EU Master’s students: £2,425
Full-time Overseas Master’s students: £12,584
Careers
Many graduates have gone on to earn PhDs and work in non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the charity sector (such as Amnesty International), government (including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office), the media, higher education, museums and libraries, teaching and business (for example, doing country analyst work.
What our students say
"I chose the Institute for the Study of the Americas to pursue a Master’s because of the Institute’s great reputation and its high level of expertise in the Latin American region. I first came to the Institute to attend a conference regarding the re-election of Lula in Brazil. I thought it was absolutely remarkable; this conference had a great intellectual and emotional effect on me. I found that I was surrounded by a large group of individuals who shared the same interests and passions with regards to Latin America; this provided me with a strong sense of belonging to a community. Believing that it is very important for me, as a student, to be in an environment where there is an air of real enthusiasm, my motivation to pursue my studies increased. I was delighted when I found out about the MSc in Globalisation and Latin American Development; I finally felt that I had found the course for which I was searching.
The events organised by the Institute enable lecturers and students to share opinions, to network or simply to socialise. I have also really enjoyed the opportunity to carry out fieldwork for my dissertation and spent five weeks in Maranhão, north-east Brazil, conducting research on biofuel and poverty. It was a fascinating and rewarding experience.”
Johanna Kolerski-Bezerra (France)
