Graduate Admissions

Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last two years of their undergraduate studies. While applicants are not required to have completed a major or minor in Latin American Studies they should be able to demonstrate some course work on Latin America. Admission requires at least four semesters of undergraduate coursework (or equivalent training) in either Spanish, Portuguese, or a Latin American indigenous language.

Deadlines

Fall Semester Admission:

• January 1 (international students with consideration for graduate assistantship)
• January 15 (domestic students with consideration for graduate assistantship)
• April 1 (without consideration for graduate assistantship)

 Spring Semester Admission:

• November 1 (without consideration for graduate assistantship)

Application Materials

UNM uses a university-wide online system in which applicants submit all required materials. Recommenders also submit their letters of recommendation through the online system.

The full, complete application must be submitted by the above stipulated deadlines. Dual degree applicants also submit an application and related materials to their second degree program.

International students must complete the TOEFL exam and submit translated and authenticated transcripts to the Global Education Office (GEO). GEO has other requirements that students should review by visiting the GEO website. We encourage international students to plan well in advance since it can take considerable time to meet the various requirements.

Via the online application system, both domestic and international students will submit the following:

• Transcripts from each institution attended by the applicant
• A letter of intent that clearly and concisely describes:
  • the applicant's professional objectives
  • the intended area of concentration the applicant will pursue and how this area supports their professional objectives
  • The letter should demonstrate an understanding of Latin American issues and an ability to apply this understanding in an academic setting. Applicants should discuss their relevant qualifications, both academic and experiential, including academic background and interests as well as previous research pursued relevant professional, volunteer, or travel experience in Latin America recent relevant personal growth that speaks to the applicants' commitment to goals or to Latin American concerns and explanation of any weaknesses in the application file such as poor grades or lack of previous Latin American studies coursework.

• A writing sample of approximately 5 - 15 pages in length that demonstrates the applicant's research and analytical abilities, as well as capacity to work across disciplines. It may be written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Applicants are advised to submit recent work, whether a previously-submitted term paper or an original essay.
• Three letters of recommendation from academic references that address the applicant's past academic performance including analytical abilities, language proficiency, and potential for success in graduate studies. If an applicant requests a letter from a professional reference, the letter should address analytical abilities and professional qualifications relevant to Latin American area studies.
• Current Curriculum Vitae or résumé

For information on Graduate Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships please click here. 

If you have any questions about the application process, program, or concentrations, please contact us.

The Latin American Studies program welcomes applications from Latin American and other international students. Applicants from outside the US should contact the UNM Global Education Office for more information about the international admissions process. 

The PhD in Latin American Studies provides an opportunity for in-depth interdisciplinary study to a select number of students whose career goals may not be sufficiently accommodated by a single academic department. The PhD has value for leadership careers in museums and libraries, international diplomacy and development work, policy studies, publishing, and to direct some academic programs and research centers. It is often a mid-career choice. For applicants planning a university career in teaching and research in Latin American Studies, a PhD in a single discipline is most often preferred. Applicants should have a clear idea of their career trajectory and the relevance of the degree to that career in order to apply for this program.

PhD students craft their degree program by focusing on two areas of concentration. Listed here are the concentrations from which they may choose. For more information, see the  LAS Student Handbook, where you will find names of the faculty members who regularly teach in each concentration. Applicants are required to possess a master's degree in one of the chosen concentrations or a master’s degree in Latin American Studies with relevant course work. It is helpful for you to review the departmental webpage of the faculty members in your chosen concentrations to find potential mentors whose expertise matches your interests.

In order to apply to the program, applicants must, first, contact the Director of Latin American Studies, Kathryn McKnight @  mcknight@unm.edu for more information.

Immigration and citizenship status are not a condition of admission to UNM. New Mexico State Bill 582, passed by the legislature in 2005, states that, “A public post-secondary educational institution shall not deny admission to a student on account of the student’s immigration status.” Pursuant to that bill, the Latin American Studies program considers all applicants, regardless of citizenship, based upon academic merit and achievement. We strive to maintain an environment of inclusion and nondiscrimination in which all students may actively participate and intellectually flourish.

For more information and resources related to being undocumented at UNM, please visit UNM's web portal for undocumented students.