Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs
CLACS

LACA RESEARCH PROJECT GUIDELINES

All LACA concentrators must complete a research project (thesis, project, or seminar paper).

Students undertaking a supervised research project may enroll in a year-long independent study (LACA1990, LACA1991) with their thesis/project adviser.

Options for the research project include:

1) Senior Thesis

  • The senior thesis is a 40-80 page paper based on original research.
  • The thesis is supervised by a primary advisor and a secondary reader. Both must be Brown professors, chosen by the student and approved by the concentration advisor. The primary thesis advisor takes an active role in the paper, regularly meeting with the student throughout the year. The secondary reader reviews and provides feedback on one draft of the paper and the final product.
  • An index of past LACA theses from 1980-2015 may be found here.

The thesis may qualify a student to graduate with Honors, if the student meets the additional requirements and follows the timeline listed here, and receives the unanimous recommendation of their primary advisor and secondary reader, as well as approval from the concentration advisor.

2) Research Project

  • The research project involves a presentation of a film, museum exhibition, concert, art show, or other appropriate project based on original research or creative scholarship, together with a paper that clearly identifies the academic relevance of the project
  • The research project is supervised by one faculty advisor, who is a Brown professor, chosen by the student and approved by the concentration advisor.

The research project may qualify a student to graduate with Honors, if the student meets the additional requirements and follows the timeline listed here, and receives the unanimous recommendation of their primary advisor and secondary reader, as well as approval from the concentration advisor.

3) Research Paper

  • The research paper is written in an advanced (1000-level) undergraduate seminar on Latin America and the Caribbean
  • The paper is typically 20-30 pages in length
  • The concentration advisor must approve the seminar and paper topic by the end of the seventh semester
  • Submitting a research paper cannot qualify the student for honors