Overview
Established in 1962, the Council on Latin American and Iberian Studies (CLAIS) serves as the central hub for intellectual exchange and collaborations in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal at Yale. The Council works to strengthen exchange and innovation through a broad array of courses, cultural events, student collaborations, scholarly lectures, international conferences, and academic research. More than forty-five Yale faculty conduct research and teach courses with substantial Latin American content. Recent years have seen increased collaboration between Latin Americanists in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the professional schools in the areas of forestry and environmental studies, global health, nursing, medicine, law, and human rights.
CLAIS offers an undergraduate major in Latin American Studies and a Graduate Certificate of Concentration in Latin American and Iberian Studies for graduate and professional students at Yale. Yale students conducting research on or having a demonstrated interest in Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula can also be a part of the CLAIS Student Affiliates Programs. The Council offers travel fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students, hosts eminent visiting scholars, and supports faculty research and curriculum development. CLAIS promotes linkages with other U.S., Latin American, and Iberian institutions to bolster cooperation and understanding of these interconnected regions.