Students complete a bachelor’s degree with a minor in Latin American & Latiné Studies Minor (LALS) and a Master of Arts in Migration Studies (MIMS). Upon admission to the program, undergraduate students may begin coursework for the MA degree while still undergraduates. Interested students should contact the MIMS program office with questions.
The LALS/MIMS 4+1 program provides academic and practical preparation for students seeking careers working with people in motion and migration issues. The five-year program is open to students of any undergraduate major who also complete the requirements of the Latin American & Latiné Studies Minor (LALS) Minor. Students would then spend an intensive final year taking part in seminars in the Master in Migration Studies program and completing a capstone project.
The program provides students with content area expertise, skills, and field experience in Latin American migration and diasporas. First, the program provides content focused on understanding Latin American history, sociology, and cultural expressions in relation to issues of human mobility, citizenship, identity, and geopolitical projects of the U.S. Second, the program introduces tools of research, analysis, and writing. The undergraduate experience with the LALS Minor provides the foundation through coursework. In the fifth year, students produce a graduate capstone project that investigates an aspect of migration in the form of a master’s thesis, applied, or creative project. Finally, students are required to complete at least 100 hours of one or more internships in migrant-serving or migrant-led non-profit advocacy or service institutions. The direct engagement the internship provides serves to ground students’ academic work in relation to the accompaniment of migrant and refugee communities and the institutions that serve them. The internship provides a context, and in some cases, a collaborative host partnership, that supports capstone project development. Internships also play a critical role in professional development and successful job searches.
The LALS/MIMS 4+1 program will prepare graduates for diverse paths such as direct legal and social services provision, advocacy and organizing, policy-making, and diverse public service careers. Following the pathways established by MIMS alumni, we anticipate graduates to secure positions working in nonprofit service providers, political and legal advocacy organizations, local, state, and federal government agencies, and advocacy groups. Having already secured an advanced degree and experience in the field, graduates of the program will be more competitive on the job market, with increased advancement opportunities for those already working in the field, and with increased opportunities for further graduate and professional education, including JD and PhD programs in related fields.
Return to: