Latin America & the Caribbean

Latin America & Latino Studies (LALS)

The LALS program offers students the opportunity to examine Latin America and how its presence is felt in the United States through interdisciplinary study in eight university departments.

Pieces of an Ancient Puzzle

Professor Javier Urcid works to decipher a Mesoamerican script and reconstruct the history of the Zapotec people, using tools from both archaeology and anthropology.

Sustainable International Development alumnus Eric Anderson, M.A. '07 spent his second year practicum in Haiti documenting efforts to ameliorate the nearly complete deforestation of the country. View his photo documentary.

Modernization and Globalization in the Caribbean

Professor Faith Smith's work crosses disciplines of history, literature, sociology, and anthropology to study the role of women in Caribbean Latin America.

Back to the Ancient Maya

Doctoral candidate and Jane's Grant Winner Betsy Marzahn-Ramos is one of many graduate students in anthropology conducting field work in Latin America.

Global Brandeis > Regions > Latin America & the Caribbean

Jane's Grant Winner Jefferson Arak '07 in Chiapas, Mexico

Personal journeys are at the heart of Brandeis activity in Latin America and its diasporic communities. These journeys take the form of active learning opportunities - from the Jane’s Travel Grant for Latin American Research to study abroad programs in 14 Latin American countries. Faculty members conduct research on everything from alternative energy sources to economic trends across the Caribbean, Central and South America. On campus, these personal journeys involve international students, scholars and activists from across the region bringing their heritage to Brandeis through one of the University’s most active student organizations, a weekly language exchange with Latino residents in Waltham, visiting lectures and residencies and a film series.