Office of Global Initiatives

CERTIFICATE IN LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES

Effective Fall 2020

Awareness of Latin American is a must for students interested in pursuing entry-level careers in the foreign service, international organizations, or multinational corporations. A Certificate in Latin American Studies allows them to enhance their skills and expertise with a broad knowledge of this primary geographical region. Completion of the requirements is certified by the Binational Center for Research, Education, Leadership, and Public Service (BINC) and the Office of the Registrar.

The rapid growth in relation between the United States and Latin American has created the need for professionals who are able to bridge both cultures. TAMIU's international faculty and the University's location on the US-Mexico border make the Certificate in Latin American Studies an especially attractive options for students.

This Certificate in Latin American Studies provides undergraduate students with specialized expertise for a variety of careers in business, government, and public service related to Latin America. It allows integration of an assortment of junior and senior level courses and encourages a multidisciplinary approach to meet the needs of the students. The broad offering of courses allows students to select those most appropriate to complement their major course of studies. This Certificate in Latin American Studies also proves useful both in terms of potential career opportunities and contribution to the issues the region faces.

Criteria for Admission and Qualification

The student must:

• have completed 60 or more semester credit hours of coursework
• be accepted in an established academic program at TAMIU
• submit an Application for the Latin American Studies program to the OGI/BINC located at LBV 301 or by email at binationalcenter@tamiu.edu
  • Application can be found at https://www.tamiu.edu/binationalcenter/documents/application-las-effective-fall-2020.pdf

Criteria for Earning the Certificate in Latin American Studies

The student must:
        

• Successfully complete a minimum of four courses herein listed as Approved Courses
• Attain at least a 2.75 GPA in the selected courses with no less than a C in any course
• Attend at least one event organized/scheduled by the OGI/BINC or one international speaker series event, and write and submit a 500 word reflection paper about your learning experience as relates to Latin American Studies. 
  • For more information on event to be attended, please contact our office at LBV 301 or 956-326-2834.
• Complete and submit an Exit Latin American Studies Survey at the end of your coursework. 
  • Call us at 956-326-2834 to schedule an appointment for survey at least a month before graduation.

Each 3-credit course has been selected based on its context and relevancy for fostering understanding of the Latin American region. It is not an exclusive list. Courses that also offer a regional perspective or those taken under a study abroad experience may be accepted as alternatives to the ones listed below, subject to the approval of the OGI/BINC Advisor.

Students interested in pursuing the Certificate in Latin American Studies should register with the OGI/BINC and meet with its advisor if necessary. Students must complete and submit the appropriate form to the OGI/BINC at Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center 301D as soon as possible, but no less than one month before completion of their degree.  Certificates will be processed at the end of the final semester and the OGI/BINC and the Office of the Registrar will provide the documentation certifying the completion of the certification after graduation.