FILAS (Fellows in Latin American Studies)
In this highly selective Honors Program, students follow a rigorous, accelerated curriculum to complete two degrees (B.A./M.A.) in Latin American and Caribbean Studies in five years, less time than would be required to obtain the degrees separately. The program provides exciting collaborative research, travel, and work opportunities. While students typically apply to the FILAS program upon their initial application to UM, we also welcome applicants in their first year of study at the University.
Working with UM’s world-class faculty in various academic disciplines, FILAS participants design individualized curricula. In addition to the regular general education course requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, FILAS students choose one focus track for their most advanced courses: Social Sciences, Law and Policy, Literature & Culture, Communication, Environmental Studies, Public Health, or History. For broad-based, multi-disciplinary preparation, students choose courses that focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. At least ten of these courses must be taken at the graduate level.
FILAS Admission Requirements
- Top 10% of high school graduating class.
- Regular Application for Admission to the University of Miami. We recommend students submit their applications by November 15.
- Recommendations from three high school teachers.
- Statement of interest in FILAS, emphasizing prior language or area study
- To continue through the graduate level (MA Phase), students must maintain at least a 3.4 GPA.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CAS GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | ||
| First Year Writing 1 | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Mathematics, Computing & Statistics 2 | 3 | |
| Second Language 3 | ||
| Writing Across the Curriculum 4 | ||
| Cognates 5 | 9 | |
| Advanced Language Proficiency in Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Advanced French | ||
| Intermediate Haitian Creole I | ||
| Intermediate Portuguese II | ||
| Advanced Spanish | ||
| Secondary Language Competence in another Latin American or Caribbean Language | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Accelerated Elementary French | ||
| Elementary Haitian Creole II ((or equivalent)) | ||
| Beginning Portuguese for Spanish Speakers | ||
| Accelerated Elementary Spanish | ||
| FILAS Specific Requirements | ||
| Select one gateway seminar in Latin American Studies | 3 | |
| Select two History courses | 6 | |
| Select two International Studies courses | 6 | |
| Select two Economics courses | 6 | |
| Select two advanced Languages and Literatures courses (SPA, POR, FRE, or HAI) | 6 | |
| Select seven courses in Study Abroad | 21 | |
| Select one course as Internship in Latin America | 3 | |
| Select five courses above the 300-level (third-year) in a range of disciplines | 15 | |
| Select ten courses in one focus track | 30 | |
| MA Phase Requirements | ||
| GRE Exam in Semester 7 or 8 | ||
| LAS 601 | Politics, Societies, and Cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| LAS 602 | Research Design in Latin American Studies | 3 |
| Select two Regional Fundamentals courses | 6 | |
| Select four electives from approved LAS or combined courses | 12 | |
| LAS 810 | Pre-candidacy thesis credits (students must enroll in two semesters of this 3-credit course to fulfill this requirement.) | 3 |
| LAS 810 | Pre-candidacy thesis credits | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 150 | |
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MTH 108 or higher. Unless exempted by AP/IB, or UM placement test. UM placement test does not include credits. Prerequisites must be met before enrolling in MTH courses.
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Students must take at least three credits in a language other than English at the 200-level or higher. Prerequisites may be required. Courses taken in order to meet this requirement, including necessary prerequisite courses to the 200 level courses, cannot be used in cognates seen below. FILAS students already fulfill this requirement when completing the language requirements cited below.
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Degree candidates must complete at least four writing courses, and at least one such course must be in the student's major discipline.
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Typically, students must complete a minimum of three cognates, one from each of the three areas of the University curriculum: Arts & Humanities; People & Society; and Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics. A cognate is a minimum of 9 credit hours, however it can be more. Each major/minor fulfills the cognate requirement in one Area of Knowledge. However, FILAS students must complete only the STEM Cognate as the FILAS program fulfills the Arts & Humanities and People & Society cognates. To avoid additional course credits, please select a STEM Cognate that includes a Natural Science course to concurrently fulfill this CAS general education requirement. According to the Collage of Arts & Sciences, "three credits must be earned from one of the following departments: Biology, Chemistry, Ecosystem Science & Policy (only ECS 111, ECS 112, or ECS 202), Geological Sciences, Marine Science (except MSC 313 and MSC 314), Physical Science, or Physics. APY 203 and GEG 120 may also count. These credits may double count with any other requirement, e.g., courses in the STEM cognate."
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FILAS students also write a Master’s Thesis based on an original research project. In addition, they must defend the thesis and present their findings at the LAS Annual Student Symposium.
Disclaimer: This is a model plan of study only. It is not guaranteed that every course will be available in the year/semester noted below.
Sample Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| LAS 101 | Introduction to Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| UMX 100 | The University of Miami Experience | 0 |
| Natural Science Course | 3 | |
| FRE 203, HAI 201, | Advanced French or Intermediate Haitian Creole I or Intermediate Portuguese II or Advanced Spanish | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| LAS 301 | Interdisciplinary Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| POL 203 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| POR 105, FRE 105, | Beginning Portuguese for Spanish Speakers or Accelerated Elementary French or Elementary Haitian Creole II or Accelerated Elementary Spanish | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| LAS 330 | Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Religions | 3 |
| ECO 211 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAS 350 | Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Art and Culture | 3 |
| Advanced Language Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| LAS 340 | Special Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Economics | 3 |
| LAS 491 | Debates on Current Issues in Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAS 494 | Independent Study in Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| HIS 554 | Studies in Modern Latin American History | 3 |
| Advanced Language Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| LAS 411 | Studies in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| LAS 495 | Senior Honors Thesis I | 3 |
| LAS 505 | Internship in Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 |
| LAS 520 | Interdisciplinary Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Environments | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAS 496 | Senior Honors Thesis II | 3 |
| LAS Language Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fifth Year (Graduate) | ||
| Fall | ||
| LAS 601 | Politics, Societies, and Cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| LAS 810 | Pre-candidacy thesis credits | 3 |
| Regional Fundamentals Course | 3 | |
| LAS Approved Elective | 3 | |
| LAS Approved Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAS 602 | Research Design in Latin American Studies | 3 |
| LAS 810 | Pre-candidacy thesis credits | 3 |
| Regional Fundamentals Course | 3 | |
| LAS Approved Elective | 3 | |
| LAS Approved Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 150 | |
