Admissions Information

Graduate Program Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements and Guidelines

1. All applicants must apply through the Graduate Admissions common application. Applications are only accepted for Fall Admission.
   

2. Latin American Studies MA applicants must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

   1. An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0, either cumulative or based on the last two years of work, whichever is higher; graduate GPA of 3.4 or higher. The International Admissions Office of the university will evaluate transcripts of grades from international institutions and provide the graduate committee with an assessment in terms of equivalency to the U.S. grading system.
   2. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores of 80 or above or IELTS score of 6.5 or higher are required for international students. The university can only accept tests scored within two years of admission.  Applicants holding a university degree from an accredited American institution, or a country where the first language is English, may not be required to take the TOEFL.
   3. Academic preparation: Applicants for admission to the MA program who do not have a major or minor in Latin American Studies in their undergraduate work will be evaluated in terms of the amount of course work that has a bearing on Latin American Studies. Additional course work may be required to provide the necessary background.
      
   4. Language preparation: To show language capabilities, share if you are a native speaker, highlight undergraduate coursework on transcript, or include placement test results. 
      
3. Required fields on the application for the Latin American Studies MA Program:
   
   1. Statement of purpose (Uploaded)
      

      In a focused statement of at least 500 words, please explain your purpose in applying for a graduate program in Latin American Studies, your particular area of specialization within the program  and pertinent faculty who may mentor you in this area, your preparation for graduate work in Latin American Studies, your plans for your future occupation or profession, and any additional information that may help the admissions committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study. The admissions committee places great emphasis on this statement in evaluating your aptitude for graduate study. It should be carefully written and typed.

   2. An academic writing sample (Uploaded)
      

      Writing samples must be a minimum of 5 pages in length. Examples include an research paper or book review, a piece of written work which shows your ability to work with primary and/or secondary resources and ability to develop an argument. You will upload the writing sample as part of the online application.

   3. Curriculum vitae (Uploaded)
   4. Three letters of recommendation (electronically through the application website)
   5. TOEFL scores*
      *TOEFL scores may be required if applicable, but that is otherwise not a required field.
      

**Please note: The GRE is not required for application to the Latin American Studies MA program. The University of Utah Graduate School application will include the option to include a GRE score, but that can be left blank as the GRE is not required for application to the Latin American Studies MA program and will not be part of the selection process.

4. Full time or part time attendance is available for applicants.

5. Read information about Latin American Studies faculty.

6. The only funding available through the Center for Latin American Studies is the FLAS Fellowship. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for this fellowship. The FLAS Fellowship will require a separate application from the MA program application.

7. Deadlines: Application files must be complete by February 1 to be considered for fall admission. Be advised, applications should be turned in early so that all transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation are in by the February 1 deadline (up to 30 days in advance for domestic students and 60 days for international students). Files that are not complete by this date may not be reviewed. It is the applicants’ responsibility to verify that all admissions documents have been received. You can keep track of your application here.