The Latin America Program
The Latin America Program prepares students to engage confidently with the region’s diverse cultural, political, and economic landscapes. Intensive study of Spanish or Portuguese, interdisciplinary coursework, and international immersions deepen understanding of the key forces shaping Latin America—its fast-growing digital economies, its strategic role in global supply chains, and its complex cultural dynamics.
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SPANISH – PORTUGUESE
SPANISH
In addition to language, what do I study in the Spanish Track?
Topics of study are highlighted below in relation to the Lauder Institute’s four geopolitical themes. This is not a complete list, nor is this how the courses are structured. These topics will be covered during the 2-year degree, and in the target language of Spanish. Syllabi are subject to change.
Strategic Decision-Making in a Multipolar World
Explore how Latin American countries expand their economic and political influence by partnering with other emerging economies in the Global South through South–South cooperation. Analyze how historical ties and evolving relationships with global powers such as the USA, China, and Russia shape trade, investment, and regional strategy, with Panama and Peru as case studies.
Data-Driven Societies and Economies
Explore how expanding digital access is reshaping Latin America’s economies. Assess how innovation at the intersection of science, technology, and business drives competitiveness in Chile. Examine El Salvador’s adoption of cryptocurrency as legal tender and its implications for regional financial systems. Gain insight into Colombia’s fintech ecosystem and its role in advancing digital transformation across the region.
Economic Inclusion and Development
Analyze how migration patterns, including the Venezuelan migration crisis and recent Central American diasporas, affect labor markets and regional economies. Learn about how pension systems throughout Latin America impact social and economic stability. Examine how alternative and informal economies in Brazil, Mexico, and Paraguay contribute to resilience and economic well-being.
Resource Management and Interdependencies
Assess how natural resources shape regional development and regulatory frameworks. Learn how water management and redistributive challenges in Bolivia, clothing waste in Chile, and the mining of gold in Peru and lithium in Argentina highlight Latin America’s diverse approaches to sustainability and its evolving role in global supply chains.
PORTUGUESE
In addition to language, what do I study in the Portuguese Track?
Topics of study are highlighted below in relation to the Lauder Institute’s four geopolitical themes. This is not a complete list, nor is this how the courses are structured. These topics will be covered during the 2-year degree, and in the target language of Portuguese. Syllabi are subject to change.
Strategic Decision-Making in a Multipolar World
Examine how Portuguese-speaking countries navigate a shifting global landscape marked by both interconnectedness and growing fragmentation. Case studies include the growth of China’s partnerships with Angola in energy and infrastructure, the rise of Brazil’s creative economy, and Brazil’s role in multilateral organizations such as BRICS and Mercosul.
Data-Driven Societies and Economies
Explore how technological innovation is transforming financial systems and economic behavior in Brazil. Examine the rapid growth of fintech, digital banking, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, and how these tools enhance financial inclusion, improve risk assessment, optimize business strategies, and drive competitiveness in Latin America’s largest economy.
Economic Inclusion and Development
Analyze how cultural values and communication styles in Brazil influence decision-making within organizations and markets. Examine access to opportunity by comparing urban centers and peripheral areas, particularly in cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Learn about how Brazil’s historical development and migration patterns have shaped social diversity and innovation.
Resource Management and Interdependencies
Assess Brazil’s strategies for preserving natural resources while advancing development, including responses to deforestation, investments in renewable and bioenergy sectors, and efforts to promote sustainable tourism in the Amazon. Analyze how environmental policies and participation in international frameworks shape Brazil’s long-term economic and resource planning.
Tatum Lee
Spanish Track
“My Lauder education has been defined by experiences that humanize the political, economic, and business headlines in Latin America. Through rich conversations with academics, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, I’ve gained a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the region. Lauder has not only strengthened my Spanish skills, but more importantly, reinforced my desire to lead with awareness and empathy.”
Jose Andres Rivero
Spanish Track
“As a heritage speaker, Lauder’s Spanish program has been instrumental in refining my Spanish and giving me the tools to better connect with Latin American culture. The Lauder Intercultural Ventures, summer immersion, and language classes with my professor have added so much to my MBA experience.”
Cristina Hernández Fernández
Portuguese Track
“I chose the Wharton-Lauder Program and the Portuguese track to explore Latin America in depth and give my MBA the global dimension I had always dreamed of. What I couldn’t have imagined was how truly life-changing it would be — from living for six weeks in São Paulo and learning Portuguese to traveling throughout the world and, above all, making friends who are now like family!”
Javier Guerraty
Portuguese Track
“The Portuguese Program, one of the longest-running at Lauder, offered me an outstanding immersion experience, allowing me to meet Brazil’s top leaders, from congressmen and senators to CEOs. The top-tier Portuguese professors and the very small class size have helped me truly excel in the language while gaining a deep understanding of Brazil’s political, economic, and social evolution over the centuries.”
Language Requirements
For admission, applicants must test at the Advanced-Low level or above on the OPI in their Target Language. For the Portuguese Track only, educated native speakers in another romance language with no prior knowledge of Portuguese may also be considered for admission.
Degree Requirements
Lauder Institute students need 14 credit units (CUs) to graduate with a Masters in International Studies. Program of Concentration courses account for 5 CUs. Learn more about our curriculum structure and the specific requirements for degree completion.
Are You Ready?
Are you ready to take your career to the next level with the Lauder Institute joint-degree? Get in touch with our admissions team or click below to sign up for an admissions info session.
