Introduction
The program in Community and Regional Planning (CRP) offers a unique dual degree program with the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS). The program leads to the simultaneous award of the Master of Arts in Latin American Studies and the Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning. Students learn the fundamental technical and conceptual skills necessary to effectively address planning issues while also studying the cultural, socioeconomic, and geographic challenges and opportunities characteristic of the region.
LLILAS affords students the opportunity to research many facets of the contemporary Latin American situation through its interdisciplinary approach to the study of the region. The program combines study in the fields of anthropology, economics, geography, government, and sociology as well as community and regional planning. CRP provides students with the skills necessary for working in community and regional development in Latin America, whether through the public, private, or nonprofit sector, and to address the urbanization and development issues at the forefront of contemporary policy concerns in Latin America.
The joint program offers research, internship, and service learning opportunities in Latin America through CRP and LLILAS coursework, formal programs, and informal engagements with faculty projects.
Santo Domingo Scholarship
CRP students are eligible for scholarships for summer research in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with funding from a National Science Foundation IRES grant. Preference is given to successful applicants to the dual degree program in Community and Regional Planning and Latin American Studies. Successful students will attend the Santo Domingo Practicum in fall and spring semesters, which includes two field trips to conduct participatory action research and community-based planning in the informal settlement of Los Platanitos. Santo Domingo. Following successful completion of the course, students will conduct independent field research during summer session. All travel expenses are covered including travel, lodging and per diem. In addition to travel expenses, participants will receive an additional scholarship of $500 per week during summer field research. For more information, contact Community and Regional Planning and Latin American Studies Dual Degree program coordinator Dr. Bjorn Sletto at bjorn@utexas.edu.
Program Structure
The joint program is structured so that students admitted can earn a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies and a Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning degree simultaneously in three academic years. It is recognized, however, that some students may find it necessary to enroll for an additional semester or summer session in order to complete all requirements of the joint program.
A student must apply for admission to both the dual degree program in CRP and Latin American Studies (Dual Degree Code 6-59801). A student currently enrolled in Latin American Studies program or the CRP program may apply for admission to the dual degree program.
If a student is not admitted to the dual degree program, he or she may be offered admission to the MA program in Latin American Studies (Degree Code 6-59800) or the MSCRP program (Degree Code 6-25400).
All course requirements of both programs must be met, except that each school retains the option to waive or replace any of its required courses with the approval of the dual degree coordinators, Graduate Advisers, and appropriate graduate faculty.
The student will write a professional report or master's thesis during the third year of the joint program. The report will be supervised by a minimum of two faculty members, one from each program. One faculty member will serve as Chair and the second as Reader.
Course Requirements
Students must complete 30 credit-hours in community and regional planning, either 30 or 33 credit-hours in Latin American studies, depending on the plan selected (Plan A or B), and 6 hours of elective CRP courses with Latin American content approved by the dual degree program advisers for a 66-69 credit-hour total. Students may elect to write a thesis or professional report. The thesis or report must be read and approved by a supervising professor and a second reader. The supervising professor may be chosen from CRP or Latin American Studies. One reader must represent Latin American Studies and the other will represent Community and Regional Planning.
The Latin American studies language requirement must be met during the first semester in the program. Language Requirements for MA Students [PDF, 31k]
Community and Regional Planning
Students in the Community and Regional Planning Program may choose to complete a specialization.
a minimum of 24 semester hours of core courses. Students may petition instructor to complete a different course that satisfies the core requirements.
a minimum of 6 credit hours of electives, including internship
TOTAL: 30 credit hours
Latin American Studies
Students may choose one of several Concentrations and either a Thesis or Report option:
Plan A: Thesis Option
15 hours with Latin American content from the major discipline
9 hours with Latin American content from the minor discipline
6 hour thesis (LAS 698A and LAS 698B) in the major field on a Latin American/CRP topic
TOTAL: 30 hours
Plan B: Professional Report Option
30 hours of LAS coursework selected from three disciplines (no fewer than 6 hours must be taken in each discipline)
3 hour report (LAS 398R) on a Latin American/CRP topic taken in the last semester of study
TOTAL: 33 hours
Dual Program
a minimum of 6 credit hours of CRP electives with Latin American content approved by the joint program advisers
TOTAL: 69 credit hours