This graduate concentration in the master’s program of the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies trains students in the field of human rights by providing a multidisciplinary array of courses that consider the history, theory, rhetoric and doctrine of human rights. The concentration features three primary threads: 1) contemporary human rights doctrine and historical development of the human rights movement; 2) the role of human rights discourse in the formation and allocation of power among various social groups; and 3) the role of human rights in the formation and political and economic development of modern Latin American states. This concentration provides M.A. students with a structured program of study, with personalized academic advising from the associated concentration faculty. Efforts will also be made to help connect human rights students with research projects and opportunities for the M.A. thesis and beyond.
Candidates may apply to the concentration at any point in their graduate study. Each candidate must be in good standing at the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies. The concentration is open to all, although space in some courses may be limited and not all courses will be offered in a given year.
It is anticipated that any student who enrolls in the concentration can complete her or his course of study for the degree of Master of Arts in Latin American Studies in the same amount of time that should have been required for the degree alone. Human Rights represents the major within the M.A. in the Latin American Studies Program (Plan A, thesis option). Students must complete at least five courses for 15 credit hours, and are encouraged to develop a list of courses suitable to their own program of work. One upper-level undergraduate course may count as one of the five required concentration courses.
Students are encouraged to take at least one course from each of the three threads, but are free to select courses as they choose. The list of courses in the threads is not exhaustive. It includes both courses that are cross-listed in Latin American Studies and those which are not. If the course is not cross-listed, the student will need to make arrangements with the instructor to ensure that the written work will satisfy the requirements for credit in Latin American studies.
A student pursuing the Human Rights Concentration must complete the master’s thesis on an approved topic under the supervision of a faculty member with expertise in human rights. Dual-degree LAS/LBJ students who wish to write a Professional Report in lieu of thesis must complete 30 hours of course work plus an additional 3 hours of credit for completing the Report (LAS 398R).
For a list of illustrative courses, please click here.