The Master of Arts (MA) in Latin American Studies (MALAS) offers students the opportunity to explore the cultures, languages, histories, and societies of Latin America. The program provides students access to a large and diverse faculty, selecting content drawn from over thirty departments and nine Colleges/Schools at UNM. The program encourages students to design an interdisciplinary program of study that reflect their particular interests. LAS concentrations allow students to customize their individual program of study to best suit their academic and professional goals while also developing valuable research skills and in-depth knowledge. The MALAS is used by some students to prepare for graduate training in a specific discipline at the PhD level or in a professional school. Other students use the MALAS as an entry-level degree for careers in government service, teaching, business, travel and tourism, advocacy, or inter-American organizations.<br><br>This concentration introduces students to the interdisciplinary and comparative study of conflict, law, human rights, and related subjects in Latin America. Coursework examines the causes, practices, and consequences of violence as well as nonviolent methods of conflict management, resolution, and transformation. Students explore how human conflict in Latin America has been shaped by various socio-economic, cultural, political, and historical factors. This concentration is particularly suited to research and applied careers in the fields of law and governance in the Americas. Coursework is selected from, but not limited to, the UNM Anthropology, Art, Communication and Journalism, Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology, and Spanish and Portuguese departments, as well as from the UNM School of Law. The concentration is recommended for students participating in the MALAS/JD dual degree program.