Foreign Area Officer

An aerial photo of ruins at Machu Picchu in Peru. An aerial photo of ruins at Machu Picchu in Peru.

Foreign Area Officers

The University of Miami’s Latin American Studies Program welcomes commissioned U.S.
military personnel from any of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces pursuing
Advanced Civilian Schooling (ACS) as part of their preparation to be Foreign Area Officers
(FAO) serving in Latin America or the Caribbean. Our experience working with FAOs and the
relevant DoD offices means that students can expect to receive the highest quality graduate
education on an accelerated (1-year) timeframe without unnecessary or cumbersome logistical
requirements.

Drawing upon the expertise of over 200 faculty members from across the University of Miami,
the Latin American Studies Program offers FAOs graduate training that not only speaks to more
obviously pertinent topics (e.g. history, international relations, or politics) but also provides
crucial expertise in fields including culture, environment, public health, race and gender
relations, and religion. Our goal is to graduate FAOs who can bring a well-rounded intellectual
background in the region and its peoples to bear on matters pertinent to U.S. interests therein.

If you would like more information about our FAO program, please contact las@miami.edu.