The Master of Arts in Latin American Studies (MALAS)
The MALAS degree consists of 30 credit hours plus the thesis. 15 credit hours are centered around a specific discipline or theme called a specialization; the remaining 15 hours provide an interdisciplinary foundation in Latin American Studies. Students also complete a thesis on a topic related to Latin America. A joint MALAS/JD degree is offered in collaboration with the UF Levin College of Law, resulting in two degrees in a reduced amount of time.
The UF Center for Latin American Studies is recognized as one of the top-ranked centers in the world. MALAS graduates find employment in educational and research institutions, international organizations, government agencies, and private companies in the United States, Latin America, and elsewhere. Although the MALAS is a terminal degree, graduates often enter Ph.D. programs to pursue careers in teaching and research. Currently, there are approximately 35 students enrolled in the program.
Foreign Language Requirements
MALAS students are required to have intermediate-high reading, writing, and speaking proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese or Haitian Creole. It is strongly recommended that students acquire their language skills early in their graduate programs, if they do not already have them, since such skills are expected for advanced courses and thesis research. Students may satisfy the language proficiency requirement through coursework or an oral proficiency exam. Acquisition of a second Latin American language is encouraged.