| Admission deadline: | Fall: January 7th - Fellowship & Application Deadline |
| Spring: October 1st - Fellowship & Application Deadline | |
| Applications for admission will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis after the fellowship deadlines have passed, but students will not be considered for fellowships. | |
| Standardized test scores: | GRE and GMAT scores are not accepted and will not be considered in the review process. Please do not submit scores. |
| Recommendations required: | Two (2) letters are required. Applicants should submit one (1) academic letter from a professor and one (1) professional reference. |
| Prior academic records: | Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission and choose to enroll. |
| If academic records are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translations alone should be uploaded into the online application. Official transcripts and certified English translations will be required of applicants who are offered admission and choose to enroll. | |
| Statement of purpose: | All applicants are required to submit an essay of approximately 500 words that answers one of the two questions below: |
| State your purpose in undertaking graduate study at the Elliott School. As part of your statement of purpose, describe your academic and research interests, career objectives, how a degree from the Elliott School will enable you to achieve your goals, and what unique skills, talents and/or perspectives you will bring to your program. Please be specific. | |
| - OR - | |
| Please discuss an issue of international importance you wish to address in your professional career. Please include how the Elliott School and the academic program to which you have applied will prepare you to address this global issue. | |
| Additional requirements: | A resumé or curriculum vitae is required. Resumés/CVs must include dates of employment (if applicable) and date of degree conferral or expected degree conferral. |
| Prerequisites: | Academic coursework in Spanish or Portuguese, which will prepare students to complete the program’s language requirement*, is required at the time of application. This can be demonstrated by: |
| Study that is equal to four semesters of university-level coursework or equivalent. | |
| Completion of formal language training as part of employment (ex. Peace Corps, JET, etc.). | |
| Growing up in a household where the language is spoken. | |
| *Students need to have a strong foundation in a foreign language before enrolling to be successful in completing the language requirement during the program. | |
| International applicants only: | International Applicants may be required to submit official English Language tests scores with their application. Please see the Elliott School's English Language Requirements for guidance on whether you need to take the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE. Please send official TOEFL scores to institution code 5246. |
| The minimum English Language Test Requirements can be found below: | |
| Eligible for Admission & requires EAP Courses: | |
| IELTS- 7.0 overall score, no band score below 6.0 | |
| TOEFL- 100 (internet test) 600 (paper test) | |
| PTE- 68 | |
| Eligible for Admission & Exempt from EAP Courses**: | |
| IETLS- 7.0 overall score, no band score below 6.5 | |
| TOEFL- 105 (internet test) 650 (paper test) | |
| PTE- 72 | |
| **Spring applicants must receive at least these scores to be considered for admission. | |
| Please review International Applicant Information carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, and English language requirements. |
Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
The Elliott School of International Affairs
The George Washington University
1957 E Street, NW, Suite 301
Washington, DC 20052
Contact for questions:
esiagrad@gwu.edu ~ 202.994.7050 ~ 202.994.9537 (fax)
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday
The following requirements must be fulfilled: 40 credits, including a 3-credit cornerstone course, 9 credits in core field courses, a 3-credit research methods course, a 4-credit capstone sequence, 12 credits in specialized field courses, and 9 credits in electives. In addition, all students must fulfill a foreign language proficiency requirement (see below).
See notes regarding special topics courses and the additional thesis option*.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Courses cannot be double-counted between Latin American and hemispheric studies program requirements. The same course, including the same topic taken in a special topics course, also cannot be taken more than once to satisfy more than one requirement. | ||
| Cornerstone (3 credits) | ||
| IAFF 6341 | Latin American and Hemispheric Studies Cornerstone (taken in the fall semester of the first year) | |
| Core field (9 credits) | ||
| Three courses, each in a different field, selected from the following groups: | ||
| A. Anthropology | ||
| ANTH 6702 | Issues in Latin American Anthropology ** | |
| or ANTH 3702 | Anthropology of Latin America | |
| B. Economics and political economy | ||
| IAFF 3177 | Political Economy of Latin America | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Economic and Social Development of Latin America) | |
| C. Geography | ||
| GEOG 6232 | Migration and Development | |
| GEOG 6261 | Geographical Perspectives on Latin America | |
| D. History | ||
| Any HIST course numbered in the 3700 or above approved by the program director. | ||
| E. International affairs | ||
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Geopolitics and Geoeconomics in Latin America) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (International Relations of Latin America) | |
| or PSC 6484 | International Relations of Latin America | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (U.S.-Latin American Relations) | |
| F. Political science | ||
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Democracy Under Siege) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Government and Politics of Latin America) | |
| or PSC 6383 | Comparative Politics of Latin America | |
| G. Spanish literature | ||
| Any SPAN course numbered in the 3400s, 3500s, 4400s, or 4500s that focuses on the literature of Latin America and the Caribbean. | ||
| Research methods (3 credits) | ||
| At least one course selected from the following: | ||
| ANTH 6331 | Research Methods in Development Anthropology | |
| EDUC 6114 | Introduction to Quantitative Research | |
| EDUC 8122 | Qualitative Research Methods | |
| EDUC 8130 | Survey Research Methods | |
| EDUC 8131 | Case Study Research Methods | |
| GEOG 6292 | Qualitative Methods in Geography | |
| IAFF 6118 | Special Topics in International Affairs (Qualitative Methods) | |
| IAFF 6198 | Special Topics in International Economic Policy ** | |
| IAFF 6501 | Quantitative Analysis for International Affairs Practitioners | |
| PPPA 6002 | Research Methods and Applied Statistics | |
| PPPA 6013 | Regression Methods for Policy Research | |
| PSC 8101 | Introduction to Empirical Political Analysis | |
| PUBH 6260 | Applied Epidemiologic Data Analysis | |
| PUBH 6410 | Global Health Study Design | |
| PUBH 6411 | Global Health Qualitative Research Methods | |
| PUBH 6412 | Global Health Quantitative Research Methods | |
| SOC 6230 | Foundations of Research Methods | |
| SOC 6231 | Quantitative Methods | |
| SOC 6232 | Qualitative Methods | |
| Capstone (4 credits) | ||
| Students complete a two-course capstone sequence that most closely matches the thematic area of their course work. The capstone sequence includes a 2-credit capstone workshop taken before the 2-credit capstone seminar. Students must have completed at least 18 credits of coursework prior to starting the capstone sequence. The two 2-credit capstone courses must be taken consecutively. | ||
| IAFF 6898 | Capstone Workshop | |
| IAFF 6899 | Capstone Course | |
| Specialized fields (12 credits) | ||
| Students select two specialized fields from the following and take at least two courses in each, for a total of 12 credits. Any course not taken to fulfill the required course section of a specialization requirement may be used as a supporting course for that specialization. | ||
| Anthropology | ||
| Required: One ANTH course at the 6000-level approved by the advisor. | ||
| Supporting: | ||
| ANTH 3814 | Ancient Mexican Civilizations | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Latin America in Motion: Indigenous Media and Movement) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Racial and Ethnic Politics in Latin America) | |
| Art history, literature, and culture | ||
| Required: Two courses selected from the following: | ||
| SPAN 3420 | The Essay in Spain and Latin America | |
| SPAN 3430 | Afro-Latin America in the Diaspora | |
| SPAN 3570 | Women Writers of Spain and Latin America | |
| SPAN 3600 | Special Topics (Spanish and Spanish-American Literature) | |
| SPAN 3700 | Cinema of Spain and Latin America (Film as Text) | |
| SPAN 4410 | Contemporary Narrative in Latin America (Film as Text) | |
| SPAN 4460 | Southern Cone Literature and Culture | |
| SPAN 4560 | Modern Poetry of Spain and Latin America | |
| Economic development | ||
| Required: One course selected from the following: | ||
| IAFF 3177 | Political Economy of Latin America (if not taken as a core course) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Economic and Social Development of Latin America) * | |
| *If not taken as a core course. | ||
| Supporting: One course selected from the following: | ||
| ECON 6280 | Survey of International Economics | |
| ECON 6283 | Survey of International Trade Theory and Policy | |
| ECON 6284 | Survey of International Macroeconomics and Finance Theory and Policy | |
| ECON 6295 | Special Topics (Economic Analysis of International Trade Law) | |
| IAFF 6138 | Special Topics in International Development Studies (Climate Change and Sustainable Development) | |
| IAFF 6138 | Special Topics in International Development Studies (Monitoring and Evaluation of Foreign Assistance Programs) | |
| IAFF 6138 | Special Topics in International Development Studies (Poverty Alleviation and Bottom-up Development) | |
| IAFF 6138 | Special Topics in International Development Studies (Private Sector Development) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Contemporary Mexican-US Relations) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Economic and Social Development of Latin America) | |
| Geography | ||
| Required: One course selected from the following: | ||
| GEOG 6232 | Migration and Development | |
| GEOG 6261 | Geographical Perspectives on Latin America * | |
| *If not taken as a core course. | ||
| Supporting: One course selected from the following: | ||
| GEOG 6224 | Seminar: Political Geography | |
| IAFF 3187 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Latin American Migration) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Climate Change and Environmental Politics in Latin America) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Immigration and Weak States) | |
| Global public health | ||
| Required: Two courses selected from the following: | ||
| PUBH 6400 | Global Health Frameworks | |
| PUBH 6441 | Global Health Organizations and Regulations | |
| PUBH 6442 | Comparative Global Health Systems | |
| PUBH 6563 | Global Child Health | |
| History | ||
| Required: One course selected from the following: | ||
| HIST 3710 | History of Latin America I | |
| HIST 3711 | History of Latin America II | |
| Supporting course: | ||
| IAFF 3187 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Mexico Since Independence) | |
| International Business | ||
| Required: Two courses selected from the following: | ||
| IBUS 6201 | International Marketing | |
| IBUS 6202 | Regional Strategy for Multinationals | |
| IBUS 6301 | International Business Finance | |
| IBUS 6401 | International Business Strategy | |
| IBUS 6402 | Managing in Developing Countries | |
| International relations | ||
| Two courses selected from the following: | ||
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Contemporary Mexico-U.S. Relations) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Cuba in the Global Arena) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Geopolitics and Geoeconomics of Latin America) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (U.S.-Latin American Relations) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (International Relations of Latin America) | |
| or PSC 6484 | International Relations of Latin America | |
| Migration | ||
| Required: One course selected from the following: | ||
| GEOG 6232 | Migration and Development | |
| GEOG 6261 | Geographical Perspectives on Latin America | |
| IAFF 3187 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Latin American Migration) | |
| Supporting: One course selected from the following: | ||
| GEOG 6293 | Special Topics (Migration and Development) | |
| IAFF 6138 | Special Topics in International Development Studies (Human Trafficking) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Immigration and Weak States) | |
| Political science | ||
| Two courses selected from the following: | ||
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Democracy Under Siege) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Government and Politics of Latin America) | |
| or PSC 6383 | Comparative Politics of Latin America | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Racial and Ethnic Politics in Latin America) | |
| Security | ||
| Required: | ||
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Security in the Americas) | |
| Supporting: One course selected from the following: | ||
| IAFF 6118 | Special Topics in International Affairs (Conflict Prevention) | |
| IAFF 6118 | Special Topics in International Affairs (International Peacekeeping) | |
| IAFF 6138 | Special Topics in International Development Studies (Care for Children in Human Emergencies) | |
| IAFF 6138 | Special Topics in International Development Studies (Global Food Security) | |
| IAFF 6138 | Special Topics in International Development Studies (Human Trafficking) | |
| IAFF 6138 | Special Topics in International Development Studies (Violence, Gender, and Humanitarian Assistance) | |
| IAFF 6163 | Transnational Security | |
| IAFF 6164 | Environmental Security | |
| IAFF 6186 | Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Illicit Finance and Security) | |
| IAFF 6186 | Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (International Organized Crime) | |
| IAFF 6186 | Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Military Power and Effectiveness) | |
| IAFF 6186 | Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Political Risk Analysis) | |
| IAFF 6186 | Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Strategic Planning for the 21st Century) | |
| IAFF 6358 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Immigration and Weak States) | |
| Electives (9 credits) | ||
| 9 credits in elective courses, which may include up to 6 credits of Spanish language coursework (other foreign languages spoken in Latin America will be considered on a case-by-case basis) and up to 4 credits of 1-credit skills courses (IAFF 6502, IAFF 6503, and/or IAFF 6504). Additional electives may be selected from any of the specialized fields or in other relevant areas or disciplines. Elective courses must be approved in advance by the program director. | ||
| Additional thesis option | ||
| Students who wish to complete a thesis do so in addition to the capstone requirement. Students pursuing a thesis must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and approval from the faculty member who will serve as their thesis director. Thesis credits are counted as elective or specialization credits with program director approval. The two 3-credit thesis courses must be taken consecutively. | ||
| IAFF 6998 | Thesis | |
| IAFF 6999 | Thesis | |
*Additional information regarding skills courses and the thesis is available on the Elliott School website.
**Only specific topics that are determined by the Program Director to be relevant to the student's program of study may be used to fulfill this requirement. Any topic intended to be used for this requirement must be approved by the Program Director prior to enrollment. Consult the Schedule of Classes for each semester's offerings. Topics courses not listed here may, with permission of the Program Director, be used to fulfill program requirements.
Additional information regarding skills courses, the capstone, and the thesis is available on the Elliott School website.
Language proficiency requirement
Students in the Latin American and hemispheric studies program are required to demonstrate proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese by passing the Elliott School-administered language proficiency reading and speaking examination at the currently-required level of proficiency. The Elliott School administers language proficiency examinations once in the fall and once in the spring semesters. Students should plan to take the language proficiency examination as soon as possible following their matriculation in the program. Students have three opportunities to pass the examination. Failure to pass the examination for a third time results in dismissal from the program.