MSU’s Department of History has a flourishing program in Latin American and Caribbean History that builds on decades of tradition. At present our faculty specialize in the study of Brazil, the Spanish Caribbean, the Southern Cone, and the Atlantic World. We have thematic strengths in Gender, Luso-Brazilian World and Atlantic Studies, Urban Studies, Political culture, Institutional History, and Labor and Migration.
Core faculty members include: Peter Beattie, Glenn Chambers, Edward Murphy, Javier Pescador, and David Wheat. There is productive overlap in the interests of our faculty members, and the specializations of each also provide in-depth coverage of a wide range of the regions and eras that mark Latin American and Caribbean History. This combination facilitates a broad and yet focused approach, contributing to a vibrant intellectual environment that builds both specific expertise and an ability to engage with general trends.
Our students have a strong track record in receiving funding support and gaining employment after graduating. The Department of History provides excellent funding packages to qualified students, while other MSU units, such as the Graduate School, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and the College of Social Science also offer sources of support. Our students have received prestigious external research grants, including Fulbright Fellowships to Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the Caribbean. Some of our recent graduates now hold tenure-stream positions at major universities and colleges, including Florida International University and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY).