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Masters program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (MARSLAC)

Greetings from Professor Piccato

Welcome to the Masters program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Columbia University. In creating this new program, the Latin Americanist and Caribbeanist faculty at Columbia University had two central ideas in mind. We wanted, first, to capture a moment of change in the region’s politics, societies and place in the global economy.  Only a few years ago it would have been difficult to imagine the transformations that democracy, migration, international trade, and multilateral diplomacy are bringing these countries. We see this M.A. program as an opportunity for students to apprehend the diversity and dynamism of contemporary Latin America and the Caribbean from a strong and comprehensive academic base.

Our second goal in shaping the program was to build a curriculum which would reflect the traditional strength of Columbia’s scholarship. Understanding contemporary Latin America and the Caribbean, we believe, entails the ability to navigate the scholarship that has emerged from disciplines such as political science, history, sociology, economics and anthropology. Our program seeks to enable students to contribute to this dynamic body of knowledge. As you work toward this degree in the seminars and lectures offered at Columbia you will come to appreciate that Latin American and Caribbean studies is not only an exciting field of knowledge but also a product of the dialogue between multiple, strong disciplines. We look forward to working with you in continuing this dialogue, building your expertise, and taking it beyond our campus.

I thank you for your interest in our M.A. in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. We have tried to make as much information as possible available on this website, but please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I believe you will find the program, as well as the Institute of Latin American Studies where it is housed, to be a supportive and stimulating place in which to pursue your studies.

Sincerely,
Pablo Piccato, Director