Havana's Parque Central

The skyscape over Havana's Parque Central, showing a tower of the Opera House and the dome of the old Capitol building.

The Program

Objectives

General Objectives

  1. Promote an integral, humanistic and multidisciplinary vision of the Caribbean through the study of the sociocultural diversity, and of the national and transnational issues that are particular to the region.
  2. Develop analytical abilities for the critical examination of these cultural contexts and the dynamics that make them unique and particular.
  3. Stimulate individual research leading to specialization in the areas of artistic, literary and linguistic expressions in the Caribbean through the development and consolidation of theoretical models and the selection of different research methods, techniques and procedures.
  4. Favor in situ studies and the development of a better understanding of the region through interpersonal and intercultural contacts.
  5. Perfect language skills (Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, Dutch and Creoles) in authentic settings.

Specific Objectives

First Semester
  1. Offer a broad historical and cultural panorama of the Caribbean.
  2. Cultivate understanding of the complexities of Caribbean culture and of its dynamic processes of identity formation.
  3. Develop reading skills and practical use of the Spanish language as well as a critical approach to reference sources.
  4. Develop an in situ understanding of Caribbean culture.
Second Semester
  1. Broaden the multi-disciplinary framework for the analysis and study of Caribbean culture.
  2. Deepen the study and understanding of different aspects linguistic, literary and artistic Caribbean cultural processes.
  3. Develop reading skills and practical use of the English language.
  4. Propitiate the contact with Caribbean diasporic cultures.
  5. Strengthen study and research methods through the use of technology based sources.
Third Semester
  1. Obtain an in depth understanding of particular aspects of Caribbean culture.
  2. Define the specific thematic scope of the Master's research project and defend it before the academic committee.
  3. Develop the skills for integrative and multi-disciplinary analysis of the cultural phenomenae and apply these in a specific way to the research area selected by the student.
  4. Develop language skills in a third language of the Caribbean.
Fourth Semester
  1. Consolidate and demonstrate research, analytical and critical skills through the presentation and defense of a research project before the academic committee.
  2. Promote the enrichment of the knowledge base in the field of Caribbean studies by encouraging students to publish their Master's projects.