Certificate of Graduate Study: Latin American Studies

Our graduate certificate in Latin American Studies focuses on Latin American history, literature and culture. It includes courses in areas such as anthropology, history and political science. The advanced understanding you'll gain from this interdisciplinary approach will help you reach your scholarly and professional goals, and also expand your career options.

You can pursue the certificate if you're enrolled in a graduate program, or as a student-at-large. You should seek advising early in your graduate studies. Consult with both your graduate program director and the director of the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies.

Please note: The Center for Latino and Latin American Studies does not offer degrees. You will obtain any graduate degrees through your major department. Be sure to meet their requirements. Completion of the certificate will be noted on your transcript.

Requirements

You'll need to complete 12 hours of coursework. The courses must be taken in at least two different departments.

In addition to the courses below, you can enroll in any graduate-level special topics course or directed study focused on Latin America (with approval from the director of the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies).

One of the following (three credits):

  • ANTH 504 Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean
  • FLSP 556 Colonial Latin American Literature
  • FLSP 562 Seminar on the Cultures of Latin America
  • HIST 586 Inequality in Latin America
  • HIST 620 Reading Seminar in Latin American History
  • HIST 720 Research Seminar in Latin American History

Three of the following (nine credits):
View current program requirements

Graduate Course Schedules

Please check the NIU Schedule of Classes for the most up-to-date information.

Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies Summer 2026 Graduate Courses
Course Number Course Name Instructor Day/Time Location Meeting Dates
HIST 581 Indigenous Mexico Kristin Huffine

Online: 100% (no face-to-face)

Online 100%: Asynchronous May 11 - Jun. 7, 2026
Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies Fall 2026 Graduate Courses
Course Number Course Name Instructor Day/Time Location Meeting Dates
ENGL 693 Ethnic American Literature Ajewole Duckett Tuesday
6-8:40 p.m.
Center For Black Studies 112 Aug. 24 – Dec.12, 2026
FLSP 584 Advanced Translation  Laura Vilardell Monday
2-3:15 p.m.
DuSable Hall 448 Aug. 24 – Dec.12, 2026
Wednesday
2-3:15 p.m.
Online 100%: Synchronous

Aug. 24 – Dec.12, 2026

FLSP 587 Hispanic Dialectology Mandy Faretta-Stutenberg Tuesday/Thursday
12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
DuSable Hall 246 Aug. 24 – Dec.12, 2026
MUHL 626 Survey of World Music Jui-Ching Wang Monday/Wednesday/Friday Noon - 12:50 p.m. Music Building 202 Aug. 24 – Dec.12, 2026

Contact Us

Center for Latino and Latin American Studies
Northern Illinois University
515 Garden Rd.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-1531
latinostudies@niu.edu

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