What is the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies?
The David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies promotes teaching and research about Latin America at Harvard University. The Center was founded in 1994 to fill a growing need for innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to the study of Latin American politics and culture. Today, as one of Harvard's most established inter-faculty initiatives, the Center draws intellectual resources from throughout the University and a global community of scholars.
The Center provides support to students and faculty engaged in Latin American studies across abroad range of disciplines by offering grants and a variety of other services. (Please refer to our Directory to learn more about the faculty expertise and publications.) The Center also functions as an engine for activity relating to the region at Harvard by sponsoring events and a number of academic conferences. In addition, it serves as a clearing house for information on Latin America-related events and scholarship in the New England region. Through a variety of publications, initiatives and events, the Center fulfills its mission of promoting scholarship, strengthening ties between Harvard and institutions in the region, and enhancing public understanding of Latin America in the United States and abroad.
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Does this mean that you are a research institution?
No; the Center houses no research facilities. Instead, it is devoted to promoting the study of Latin America through various activities. To this end, we provide incentives to students and faculty in the form of grants, administrative and technical support, etc. Research related to the region or individual countries is conducted by Harvard faculty and the Center's Visiting Scholars. Please refer to our Directory to learn more about the faculty's areas of interest, publications and expertise.
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No; the Center does not offer a degree program. It does, however, award a Certificate in Latin American Studies to Harvard undergraduates who take at least six courses with significant Latin American content and write a thesis on a Latin American topic. Certificates are presented to seniors upon graduation.
Students interested in Latin America are encouraged to pursue this work within their concentrations, many of which offer a variety ofl Latin American courses of study. The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, for instance, allows students to select a track in Latin American Studies, Hispanic Studies, or Portuguese and Brazilian Literature and Studies. The Committee on Degrees in History and Literature offers tracks in both Latin America and the combined field of Latin America and North America. Students concentrating in History may elect to study Latin America under the auspices of the program's "comparative history" track. Serious students whose academic interests cross the boundaries of current degree programs should consider petitioning for a Special Concentration.
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I am a researcher/student unaffiliated with Harvard. May I apply for a DRCLAS grant?
Unfortunately, the Center can award a limited number of grants to Harvard students and faculty members only. Accomplished researchers affiliated with other institutions, however, may be interested in the Center's Visiting Scholars and Fellows Program, which brings a select group of scholars and professionals to the University every year to pursue special projects under the Center's aegis. Applicants to the Scholars program must have a doctorate or an equivalent level of academic preparation, while Fellows should have significant professional experience related to Latin America and a clearly defined research project related to the region.
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Academics from U.S.-based institutions that do not have access to a research library can apply to the Library Scholars Program. Funded through Title VI of the U.S. Department of Education, this program enables academics from non-research institutions to come to Harvard for a short term in the summer and make use of the University's extensive library collection. This is a competitive program and an application is required. Please consult the Outreach section for more information.
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I am interesting in pursuing Latin American studies as a student at Harvard. How can I apply?
While there is no department in Latin American studies at Harvard, several of the University's schools offer students opportunities to pursue programs of study pertinent to the region and its culture.
Please note that no single office at Harvard handles admissions to all Schools and programs. Instead, each School maintains its own admissions office and a specialized staff to meet the needs of prospective students. Please consult the Harvard University home page for links to the Harvard College Admissions Office, as well as to those of graduate and professional Schools at the University.
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What research or library resources does the Center offer?
The Center itself does not house research materials, but affiliated scholars gain access to Harvard's library system, home of the world's largest academic collection.
DRCLAS' own publications, including the acclaimed magazine ReVista, are available at the Center and online. Books published by the Center can be purchased directly from Harvard University Press. Finally, a small selection of videos is available to K-12 teachers and student groups on site. Please contact our outreach program for more information on this resource.
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How can students at Harvard become involved with the Center?
Each October, students are invited to the Student Advisory Board, which organizes special student programs and serves as a liaison between the Center and Harvard's students. Students are always welcome to attend the Center's open events, to subscribe to its publications, and to apply for grants to support innovative scholarly projects pertaining to Latin America.
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Does the Center offer fellowship opportunities for researchers or students?
Doctoral students who have passed general exams and are writing dissertations on Latin American topics can apply to the Graduate Student Associate program, which provides grant funding, access to the Center's facilities, and, in some cases, office space. Applications are due in mid-April for the following academic year, and approximately 10 students are selected each year from throughout the University.
The Center also offers a limited number of administrative internships and volunteer opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students throughout the academic year.
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Job opportunities are publicized through the main Human Resources website of Harvard University. Opportunities for Harvard students are publicized through the Student Employment Office.
The Center, regrettably, is unable to employ students from outside institutions. However, unpaid internship opportunities are available frequently to such students, particularly in the summer. Please contact the Student Services Coordinator [25] to inquire about availability.
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I have a job announcement. Will you post it?
In general, job announcements should be sent directly to the Office of Career Services. (Please note that each school at Harvard has its own career office.) The Center can, however, post a few job announcements pertaining closely to Latin America in its monthly events calendar, DRCLAS Dates. Please send such postings to drevents@fas.harvard.edu [27], but be aware that many submissions cannot be published due to space constraints.
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I am a K-12 educator. How can I get involved with the Center and benefit from its resources?
In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, the Center offers several resources to K-12 educators interested in incorporating Latin American studies into their curricula.
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I am a nonprofit leader. How DRCLAS help me or my organization?
DRCLAS does not offer continuing education or professional seminars, but most of its events are free and open to the public. By joining our mailing list, you will receive the Center's publications and be kept abreast of local Latin America-related events free of charge.
Local organizers should note that the Center's website and monthly event calendar, DRCLAS Dates, can provide free publicity for local events pertaining to Latin America. Event information should be sent to drevents@fas.harvard.edu [30] or left on the voicemail system at 617-495-9705. Submissions must contain information on the date, time, and location of events, as well as on sponsors, charge (if any) and contact information. Incomplete submissions cannot be published.
Organizations that would like to enlist the help of Harvard students should contact the Phillips Brooks House at Harvard University. This entity coordinates public service opportunities for students.
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How can I find faculty and fellows at Harvard conducting research in my field or country of interest?
The Program section of this site contains a plethora of information about initiatives and research relating to several regions. The online directory provides contact and biographic information about faculty affiliated with the Center. The Directory can be searched by department or professional school, country and research area.
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What is the Center's Regional Office?
The Center's Regional Office in Santiago, Chile, founded in 2002, is Harvard's first facility to provide campus-wide support for students and faculty members in another part of the world. It serves as a hub for faculty projects based in the region, often with the collaboration of Latin American-oriented organizations worldwide. Students visiting Latin America, whether for academics, research, public service, or professional pursuits, take advantage of the Regional Office's local resources as well. Today, the Santiago Office continues to support some of Harvard's most innovative and collaborative projects outside Cambridge, helping to engender productive intellectual dialogue across the hemisphere.
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Links:
[1] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1002
[2] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1003
[3] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1004
[4] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1005
[5] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1006
[6] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1007
[7] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1008
[8] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1009
[9] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1010
[10] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1011
[11] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1012
[12] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1013
[13] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1014
[14] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1015
[15] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#1016
[16] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[17] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[18] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[19] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[20] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[21] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[22] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[23] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[24] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[25] mailto:egoodman@fas.harvard.edu
[26] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[27] mailto:%20drevents@fas.harvard.edu
[28] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[29] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[30] mailto:%20drevents@fas.harvard.edu
[31] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[32] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top
[33] http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/about/faq#top