32 / GENERAL INFORMATION credits of LAS 6938, Latin American Area Seminar; (c) a dissertation on a Latin American subject; (d) a read- ing, speaking, and writing knowledge of one Latin American language and a reading knowledge of an- other; (e) residence in Latin America normally of at least six months' duration and devoted primarily to dissertation research. Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships.-In addi- tion to University fellowships and assistantships avail- able to students on a competitive basis in the pro- grams described above, the Center for Latin American Studies administers financial assistance from outside sources, including Title VI fellowships. Research.-The Center supports or participates in.a number of interdisciplinary research programs which, in addition to their primary objectives, provide op- portunities for training and financial support of grad- uate students. Library Resources.-The several libraries on the campus of the University of Florida, including the Latin American Collection of the main library, have Latin American holdings totaling over 190,000 vol- umes as well as important manuscript materials in the original, in transcription, and on microfilm. In terms of subject matter, holdings are strongest in history and the social sciences, but increasing attention is being given to the environmental sciences and to lit- erature. In terms of region, they are strongest in the Caribbean and circum-Caribbean, but Brazilian mate- rials are being augmented rapidly. Other Activities.-The Center sponsors conferences and colloquia on Latin American topics, supports publication of scholarly books, monographs, and pa- pers, and cooperates with other University units in conducting developmental programs in Latin America. Inquiries about the various programs and activities of the Center should be addressed to the Director, Center for Latin American Studies, 319 Grinter Hall. The Center for Tropical Agriculture, within the In- stitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, seeks to stimulate interest in research and curriculum related to the tropical environment and its development. Minor in Tropical Agriculture.-An interdisciplinary minor in tropical agriculture may be planned at both the master's and doctoral levels by students majoring in agriculture, forestry, and other fields where knowl- edge of the tropics is relevant. The minor may include courses treating characteristics of the tropics: its soils, water, vegetation, climate, agricultural production, and the language and culture of tropical countries. Certificate Program.-The certificate in Tropical Ag- riculture (CTA) is available for any student enrolled at the University of Florida. The CTA requires a mini- mum of 27 hours of appropriately selected courses with some, and possibly all, of these hours in addition to the requirements for the current degree sought by the student. Up to seven hours of research credit, or its equiva- lent, may be applied toward CTA requirements when this research and experience have a clear relationship to agriculture in developing countries. In addition, candidates must show a level of competence in an appropriate foreign language, although language hours will not be counted in the CTA. The 27 hours of requirements are divided between social sciences and agricultural sciences. Nine hours are needed in social sciences, five of which must be area-specific and four non-area-specific. The agricul- tural sciences require 18 hours, consisting of 13 hours in natural sciences and 5 in other agricultural sci- ences. Each student will be assigned to an interdisciplinary committee of three faculty members, one member being replaced each year. This committee is respon- sible for selecting the appropriate courses com- mensurate with the individual student's background. Students interested in this program should consult the Deah for Resident Instruction in the College of Agriculture. Research.-The Center provides research grants to faculty members and their graduate students and as- sists in the coordination of interdisciplinary research funded elsewhere. Development assistance contracts in agriculture and related fields frequently have re- search components. Student Support.-Students within the College of Agriculture and the School of Forest Resources and Conservation pursuing a minor in tropical agriculture are eligible for research grants awarded by the Center through academic departments. Other Activities.-The Center seeks a broad dis- semination of knowledge about tropical agriculture through the sponsoring of conferences, short courses, and seminars featuring leading authorities on the tropics; publication of books, monographs and pro- ceedings; and through acquisition of materials for the library and the data bank. The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) is a consortium of major educational and research institu- tions in the United States and abroad, created to pro- mote understanding of tropical environments and their intelligent use by man. The University of Florida is a charter member. Graduate field courses in Central America are coordinated with the regional office in Costa Rica. Courses with varying content are offered in the agricultural sciences, earth sciences, forestry, geography, marine science, meteorology, and ter- restrial biology during the spring and summer terms. Additional courses are being planned. Students are selected on a competitive basis from universities throughout the country. A University of Florida grad- uate student may register for eight credits in an ap- propriate departmental course cross-listed with OTS, e.g., PCB 6357C or GEA 6109. The University of Florida does not require tuition for OTS courses. OTS offers pilot-study research grants to junior faculty and grad- uate students who have had limited tropical experi- ence. Further information can be obtained from the OTS campus office, 223 Bartram Hall. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES The University of Florida Marine Laboratory at Seahorse Key is located 57 miles west of Gainesville on the Gulf Coast, 3 miles offshore, opposite Cedar Key. Facilities include a 20x40-foot research and teaching building, and a 10-room residence, with two kitchens and a dining-lounge, which provides dormitory accommodations for 24 persons. The labo- ratory, which owns a 32-foot research vessel equipped for offshore work and several smaller outboard-powered boats for shallow water and in- shore work, is used for research by graduate students from the various departments of the Division of Bio- logical Sciences. ,The Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology and Medicine is in the city of Marineland, 15 miles south of St. Augustine and 80 miles west of Gainesville. It is a research center dedicated to using marine organisms for solving basic