Stone Center offers new Master of Arts program in Costa Rica

Prospective graduate students can now investigate key global issues from a Central American perspective by enrolling in the new Master of Arts in Latin American Studies program.

The program is held in Costa Rica and is offered by the Roger Thayer Stone Center for Latin American Studies.

“It’s a very condensed curriculum. We actually already have a two-year master’s program here, and this meets the same requirements, but we’re squeezing it into an intense 10-month period,” said Tom Reese, executive director of the Stone Center.

“The program is designed to expose students to major global policy issues.”

— Tom Reese, executive director of the Stone Center

Reese collaborated with James Huck, assistant director for graduate programs at the Stone Center, and Ludovico Feoli, executive director of the Center for Inter-American Policy & Research, to develop the program.

Students will attend courses at the Centro de Investigación y Adiestramiento Político Administrativo (CIAPA). Located near San José, the two-and-a-half-acre campus was co-founded by Tulane in 1975.

“It’s a research institution and think tank dedicated to Central American policy issues,” said Reese.

The center’s most notable former faculty member is Luis Guillermo Solís, current president of Costa Rica. A Tulane alumnus, Solís received his master’s degree in Latin American studies in 1981.

“The program is designed to expose students to major global policy issues, such as migration, health, the environment, inequality, security and violence prevention,” said Reese. “Our goal is for students to engage with policymakers and other institutes that are actively involved in proposing solutions to these problems.”

Students enrolled in the program, which consists of 30 credit hours taught in four sessions at CIAPA, will delve into the subject matter through interdisciplinary seminars led by local civic actors and through immersive internships.

While the program provides a unique experience for scholars of Latin American history, it’s also a good fit for students interested in pursuing careers within government, nonprofit foundations or journalism.

The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2018.

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