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Masters Program Applicants

MARSLAC invites applications from students who have, or will have received by the time of enrollment, a baccalaureate granted by a college or university of recognized standing. Applicants should have a general background in social sciences and humanities and be interested in deepening their knowledge of Latin America and the Caribbean and in broadening their analytical and research skills.

MARSLAC students deepen their knowledge of the political, economic, social and cultural processes shaping Latin America and the Caribbean, and emerge with the expertise to be leaders in a variety of fields. The program is ideal for both professionals seeking regional knowledge and students preparing for doctoral programs, and prepares graduates for careers in government, public policy, non-profit organizations, journalism, education, the private sector, and academia. Students come from a diversity of undergraduate disciplines and career backgrounds, for example, health professionals collaborating with Latin American countries, government and NGO professionals working in the region, public school educators with ever greater numbers of students hailing from the region, and business people seeking to develop expertise in a region increasingly linked to the U.S. and global economies.

How to Apply

Application to the MARSLAC program is through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). Required application materials include transcripts of all previous postsecondary education, a personal statement, writing sample, three letters of recommendation, scores from the GRE and, if applicable, the TOEFL examination.

  • Applications to begin study in the fall semester are due April 1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online.
  • For detailed information on applying to the MARSLAC program, please refer to our GSAS page: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/departments/lac-regional-studies/department.html.
  • For information about GSAS admissions, tuition and financial aid, and to apply for the MARSLAC program online, please see: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas.
  • Applicants are elegible to apply also for the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships (FLAS) for Academic Year 2009-2010. Deadline for these applications is March 6, 2009. MARSLAC applicants are encouraged to submit both applications by that date.
  • Please email us with any questions at