Online Bachelor of Arts Latin American and Caribbean Studies

A bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) from FIU prepares students with a well-rounded understanding of the history, culture, politics, economics, etc., of the region. FIU is uniquely positioned as thousands of foreign companies are represented in Florida and many multinational companies, with ties to Latin America and the Caribbean, are headquartered in South Florida. Because of this, FIU offers the most well-informed faculty members and instruction on Latin American and Caribbean Studies. This fully online program is designed to provide students with the necessary tools to comprehend international concepts and the current international business environment as it relates to careers in the private, government, and non-profit sectors. Courses cover timely and relatable topics to inspire global sensibilities and knowledge for today’s modern world.

Career Opportunities

According to executive recruiters, global studies, such as the Latin American and Caribbean Studies program, add considerable value to university graduates’ marketability. With a specific emphasis in international studies, graduates will become more competitive as they seek employment with multinational companies. Graduates of this program have pursued employment in government agencies (local, state, national), non-profit organizations, the financial industry, consumer advocacy, cultural affairs offices, human resources administration, translation and interpretation services, museums, social service agencies, public relations and marketing, environmental firms, FBI/CIA, disaster assistance, and K-12 education.

For more information on the Bachelor of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies program please visit the FIU Course Catalog. If you would like to view the specific courses related to the program, please use the breadcrumbs on the Course Catalog to go back and select the “Courses” tab.

For more information on the admissions process and how to apply please visit the FIU Admissions website.

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Anthony Pereira, Ph.D., is a is a Professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations and the Director of the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC) at Florida International University (FIU). From 2010 to 2020 he was the founding director of the Brazil Institute at King’s College London. Dr. Pereira’s research interests include authoritarianism and democracy, human rights, public security policy, environmental issues, and international relations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Simone Athayde, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies and LACC. Dr. Athayde is an environmental anthropologist and interdisciplinary ecologist who has worked across the Amazonian region for over 20 years, supporting Indigenous peoples and local communities’ self-determination and sustainable livelihoods, as well as biocultural and territorial rights. She is a lead faculty for the LACC Program of Excellence in Brazilian Studies (PROBRAS).

Jose Miguel Cruz, Ph.D., is the Director of Research at LACC. Previously, he was a visiting professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at FIU. Dr. Cruz is an expert in the area of criminal violence, gangs, police, democratization and public opinion in Latin America. Dr. Cruz has a Ph.D. in Political Science awarded by Vanderbilt University, a Master’s in Public Policy from Oxford University, and a BA in Psychology from the Central American University of El Salvador (UCA).

Gabriela Hoberman, Ph.D., is the Director of Academic Programs at LACC and Faculty Director for the LACC Study Abroad Program “Society, Politics & International Relations in Argentina.” Dr. Hoberman is a political scientist and researcher in the field of disasters in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Her areas of expertise are comparative politics, disaster risk policy, genocide studies and Latin American politics. Her research interests include public policy, governance, and accountability. She teaches comparative politics courses in the Department of Politics and International Relations and collaborates with the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy in a series of initiatives on public policy and global security.

Clinton Jenkins, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Earth and Environment and LACC. His research focuses on the conservation of biological diversity and efforts to reduce the loss of tropical species and ecosystems. He specializes in combining spatial modeling of biodiversity with analysis of conservation policy. The aim is to direct conservation efforts toward the places to save biodiversity most efficiently. He is a lead faculty for the LACC Program of Excellence in Brazilian Studies (PROBRAS).