Latin American, Caribbean & Latino Studies

Graduate Students at the University of Kentucky have the opportunity to earn a Graduate Certificate in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino/a Studies. This Certificate is directed primarily at graduate students whose intended academic and/or professional careers in research, teaching, and public or private sectors incorporate a focus on the geographical and cultural region of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the populations of Latin American and Caribbean descent living in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world. It provides graduate students with the skills and knowledge to connect Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino topics to their research agendas.

• Students seeking admission to the Graduate School must have obtained a baccalaureate degree, prior to the start of the term for which s/he is admitted, from a fully accredited U.S. institution of higher learning or from a recognized foreign institution. An accredited U.S. institution is one that is accredited by the appropriate regional agency (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern or Western Association of Colleges and Schools). A recognized foreign institution is an institution that is recognized by that nation's Ministry of Education or similar authority as a postsecondary, academic degree-granting institution.
• An overall grade point average of 2.75 on undergraduate work and 3.00 on all graduate work is required by the Graduate School. Individual departments may require higher grade point averages.
• Submission of scores on the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) unless their chosen program indicates otherwise. The Graduate School has no minimum GRE score requirement; individual programs may set specific score requirements and in some cases may require the advanced portion of the GRE.
• International applicants whose native language is not English must submit either a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score. The University of Kentucky requires a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based). For IELTS, a minimum mean band score of 6.5 is required. Students may also use the Duolingo English Test (only tests taken after July 15, 2019 will be accepted. The minimum score will be 115, and students recommended for admission may also be interviewed by a CESL evaluator. TOEFL essentials may also be used and the minimum overall score is 9.
• Domestic applicants (U.S. citizens or resident aliens) must pay a $65 application fee; international applicants must pay a $75 fee. The application fee is non-refundable.

To apply:

a)     A completed Certificate Application Form. Please click here for further instructions on applying to the LACLS Graduate Certificate. You will need letter of support from your advisor affirming that you are progressing well toward your degree.

b)    Language Proficiency: Proficiency in a language spoken in Latin America is not required to complete the certificate. However, students who demonstrate adequate proficiency to read, converse, and conduct research in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Haitian Creole, or a Native Language of Latin America will have priority to be accepted into the program.  Students may prove their proficiency by taking an Oral Interview with a Professor at the University of Kentucky who is a specialist or native in that language.

The following students do not need to show proof of their proficiency:

• Graduate students in the Department of Hispanic Studies
• Native speakers of Spanish, Portuguese, languages spoken in the Caribbean, or a Native language of Latin America.