Portuguese & Brazilian Studies

Portuguese & Brazilian Studies Program

As a designated National Resource Center for Latin American Studies, the University of Utah is pleased to offer a Minor in Portuguese & Brazilian Studies, an MA in Portuguese Language Pedagogy, and an MA in Latin American Studies with a focus on Brazil.

Portuguese is a truly global language. With more than 240 million speakers spread across every continent, it is the 6th most widely spoken language in the world — more people speak Portuguese than French, German, Italian, or Japanese. It is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Mozambique; it also retains a historical presence in Macau (China), East Timor (Southeast Asia), and Goa (India).

In addition, there are large communities of Portuguese speakers in many other countries. Over a million citizens of the United States are native speakers. In Utah alone, more than thirty thousand people speak Portuguese.

Foremost among Lusophone nations, Brazil is also the largest country in South America, the world’s 5th largest country, its 9th largest economy, and the second largest industrial power in the Americas. Due to Brazil’s prominence on the global stage,

Portuguese is considered one of the most strategically significant languages on the international scene.

Most importantly, however, the Portuguese language serves as a gateway to the rich diversity of Lusophone history, music, literature, cinema, and art. From Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India at the end of the fifteenth century to Brazil hosting the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, Portuguese has long enjoyed a far-reaching cultural influence around the globe.

Minor
Master's
Courses
FLAS Scholarships
Experience
Faculty

Portuguese & Brazilian Studies Minor

The Portuguese & Brazilian Studies Minor at the University of Utah encompasses courses across several departments and includes faculty members from World Languages & Culture (Christopher Lewis and Anna Hodgson), Art History (Elena Shtromberg), History (Hugh Cagle), and others. Upper-division offerings in Portuguese are interdisciplinary and most can also be counted towards a major or minor in either International Studies or Latin American Studies.

Non-language electives can include most courses that carry a 25% or more Portuguese component. Some of these are listed in the chart below. For certain courses, you will need the approval of program faculty. For questions about the eligibility of courses not listed below, or of courses taken outside the U, please consult with program faculty.

Note: For students who have never taken a lower-level language course, passing the first requirement for the minor, PTGSE 3060 (with a B- or better), also makes one eligible for purchasing 16 lower-division credit hours at a reduced rate of $40 per credit.

Required Courses

15 Total Credits

Foundation COURSES

Complete all of the following

Complete the following

PTGSE 3060 Third-Year Grammar (3)

Complete at least 6 credits from the following

PTGSE 3050 Topics in Literature and Culture (3)
PTGSE 3580 Contemporary Issues (3)
PTGSE 4560 Brazilian Civilization and Culture (3)
PTGSE 4620 Introduction to Portuguese and Lusophone Literature (3)
PTGSE 4630 Introduction to Brazilian Literature (3)
PTGSE 4900 Special Topics (1–4)

ELECTIVE COURSES

Complete at least 6 credits from the following

PTGSE 3050 Topics in Literature and Culture (3)
PTGSE 3580 Contemporary Issues (3)
PTGSE 4510 Business Portuguese (3)
PTGSE 4560 Brazilian Civilization and Culture (3)
PTGSE 4620 Introduction to Portuguese and Lusophone Literature (3)
PTGSE 4630 Introduction to Brazilian Literature (3)
PTGSE 4710 Luso-Brazilian Cinema (3)
PTGSE 4900 Special Topics (1–4)
HIST 3350 History of Brazil (3)
ARTH 3520 Topics in Brazilian Art (3)
ANTH 3153 Black Atlantic: Anthropology of the African Diaspora (3)
ANTH 3154 Brazilian Culture (3)
CLCS 4975 Comparative Approaches to Latin America (3)
ECON 5460 Latin American Economic History and Development (3)
POLS 3550 Comparative Politics of Latin America (3)
POLS 5600 Democracy in Latin America (3)

Minimum Degree Hours

15 Total Credits

All courses must be passed with a C or better
At least 6 credits of minor requirements must be taken in residence at the University of Utah

PORTUGUESE MINOR REQUIREMENTS

Students with advanced language skills (e.g., native speakers, heritage speakers, students who have lived for an extended period abroad) should not enroll in first, second, and some third-year courses. If you do not know what your language level is or if you think your situation justifies petitioning for an exception, contact the WLC advisors before enrolling in classes. For pedagogical reasons, the department reserves the right to remove advanced speakers who have not successfully petitioned from classes not appropriate for their language level.

Portuguese & Brazilian Studies Master's

Click below for more information on the MA in Language Pedagogy in Portuguese offered by the Department of World Languages & Cultures and the MA in Latin American Studies with a focus on Brazil offered by The Center for Latin American Studies.

MA in Language Pedagogy MA in Latin American Studies

Courses

Credit for Fluent Portuguese Speakers

Students who are fluent in Portuguese and have never taken a lower-level Portuguese language course (PTGSE 1010–2020) may purchase 16 lower-division credit hours at a reduced rate of $40 per credit. Eligibility for these credits is most typically determined by passing PTGSE 3060 with a B- or better. Alternatively, one may take the FLATS test, proctored at the University of Utah testing center, for an additional fee.

Please see the University Class Schedule for days / times / locations.

PTGSE 1010 | BEGINNING PORTUGUESE I

Develops listening and reading strategies with an emphasis on oral and written forms of communication.

PTGSE 1020 | BEGINNING PORTUGUESE II

Continues to develop listening and reading strategies with an emphasis on oral and written forms of communication.

PTGSE 2010 | INTERMEDIATE PORTUGUESE I

Continued emphasis on listening and speaking skills with an increased emphasis on reading and writing skills.

PTGSE 2015 | PORTUGUESE FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS

Develops listening and reading strategies with an emphasis on oral and written forms of communication. Accelerated for Spanish Speakers.

PTGSE 2020 | INTERMEDIATE PORTUGUESE II

Continued emphasis on listening and speaking skills with an increased emphasis on reading and writing skills.

PTGSE 3050 | TOPICS IN LITERATURE & CULTURE

The current theme is "Voices from Empire," which will focus on the idea of empire and the Lusotropicalist Myth in the literature of Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Macao, and others. Conducted in Portuguese.

Important Note — This is a rotating topics course and is repeatable for credit. Students who have taken PTGSE 3050 with Prof. Lewis may retake it from another instructor or vice versa. In either case, it counts towards the minor requirements as a different course that can be used for credit in either phase I or II of the minor.

PTGSE 3060 | THIRD-YEAR GRAMMAR

Intensive work on speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills for students at the intermediate high level, preparing them for the transition from language learning to studies in literature and culture. Organized in thematic units, with music, videos, readings, and specific vocabulary emphasizing questions of popular culture. Conducted in Portuguese. First course for students who learned the language through residence in a Portuguese-speaking country such as Portugal or Brazil.

PTGSE 3580 | CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

The current theme is "The Guerrilla from Ipanema: Music of Protest & The Brazilian Dictatorship," which will examine Brazilian popular music’s role as an important forum for political expression and resistance — a lens for history, culture, and national identity during the twenty-one years of the military regime. Conducted in Portuguese.

PTGSE 4510 | BUSINESS PORTUGUESE

This course offers an overview of business concepts, practices, cases, current issues, and intercultural communication as they apply to Brazilian professional organizations. Emphasis on Portuguese business vocabulary. Specific regions, issues, and economic sectors are explored.

PTGSE 4560 | BRAZILIAN CIVILIZATION & CULTURE

This course examines the role of the complexity, variety, and unique cultural and historical experiences that characterize Brazil, such as the legacies of indigenous people and empire, authoritarianism and democratization, migration and urbanization, racial and ethnic identity, women's roles, and religion. Conducted in Portuguese.

PTGSE 4620 | INTRODUCTION TO PORTUGUESE & LUSOPHONE LITERATURE

Readings in Portuguese and Lusophone Literature from the medieval period to the present, covering varied genres in their respective cultural, historical, and aesthetic contexts. Conducted in Portuguese.

PTGSE 4630 | INTRODUCTION TO BRAZILIAN LITERATURE

Readings in Brazilian Literature from the colonial period to the present, covering varied genres in their respective cultural, historical, and aesthetic contexts. Conducted in Portuguese.

PTGSE 4710 | LUSO-BRAZILIAN CINEMA

Exploration of the Portuguese-speaking world through films paired with reviews, critical essays, and literature — emphasizing the process of the Luso-Brazilian artist in dialogue with the ever-changing concepts of national and Lusophone identity.

PTGSE 4880 | DIRECTED READING

Readings selected by the student and a designated professor to broaden the student's background in an area where no course is taught.

PTGSE 4900 | SPECIAL TOPICS

The current topic is "The Fantastic & Sci-Fi in Brazilian Literature." Conducted in Portuguese.

Important Note — This is a rotating topics course and is repeatable for credit. Students who have taken PTGSE 4900 with Prof. Lewis may retake it from another instructor or vice versa. In either case, it counts towards the minor requirements as a different course that can be used for credit in either phase I or II of the minor.

PTGSE 4999 | HONORS THESIS / PROJECT

Restricted to students in the Honors Program working on their Honors degree.

Please see the University Class Schedule for days / times / locations.

PTGSE 6050 | TOPICS IN LITERATURE & CULTURE

Important Note — This is a rotating topics course and is repeatable for credit. Students who have taken PTGSE 6050 with Prof. Lewis may retake it from another instructor or vice versa. In either case, it counts towards the minor requirements as a different course that can be used for credit in either phase I or II of the minor.

PTGSE 6580 | CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

PTGSE 6630 | INTRODUCTION TO BRAZILIAN LITERATURE

Readings in Brazilian Literature from the colonial period to the present, covering varied genres in their respective cultural, historical, and aesthetic contexts. Conducted in Portuguese.

PTGSE 6710 | LUSO-BRAZILIAN CINEMA

PTGSE 6880 | DIRECTED READING

Directed readings designed for advanced graduate students to pursue interests with a given professor that go beyond the boundaries of previous classroom work or available class offerings. Students will create a reading list and syllabus of assignments and meetings in conjunction with the professor.

PTGSE 6880 | DIRECTED READING

PTGSE 6900 | SPECIAL TOPICS

The current topic is "The Fantastic & Sci-Fi in Brazilian Literature." Conducted in Portuguese.

Important Note — This is a rotating topics course and is repeatable for credit. Students who have taken PTGSE 6900 with Prof. Lewis may retake it from another instructor or vice versa. In either case, it counts towards the minor requirements as a different course that can be used for credit in either phase I or II of the minor.

PTGSE 7300 | GRADUATE LANGUAGE STUDY

FLAS Scholarships in Portuguese

The Foreign Language and Area Studies Scholarship (FLAS) is provided by the Center for Latin American Studies. For FAQs, application, and other information on the FLAS scholarship, click the button below.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FLAS SCHOLARSHIP

Experience

Learning Abroad

Learning abroad is the opportunity to live, study and intern abroad while completing your degree here at the University of Utah. Learning Abroad helps connect you to over 500+ program options in over 50 countries, many of which are great for improving your proficiency in another language. Learn more about Learning Abroad by visiting learningabroad.utah.edu and completing Learning Abroad 101.

To get started, see below for program options for Portuguese.

For questions, email Learning Abroad at learningabroad@utah.edu, call them at 801-581-5849, or visit in person at Union 159.

Exchanges

The U partners with universities around the world to offer you the opportunity to complete coursework in an immersive university environment alongside local students. Coursework can be quite flexible with students oftentimes completing major, minor, and general education requirements. Additionally, the cost of an exchange program is the same as paying U of U resident tuition, which makes exchanges one of our most affordable options!

Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo - Note: Only available to engineering students; language of instruction is in Portuguese

Affiliate Programs

The U partners with external organizations (Affiliates) to expand where you can go and what you can study on a learning abroad program. Affiliates offer programs at study centers, local institutions, or a combination of both in the host country. Programs are commonly structured around a particular theme or topic, such as "Language, Culture, and Society". Program options can also include internships, service learning & community engagement opportunities.

Portuguese focused affiliate programs: click here
Note: FLAS eligible summer program available

International Internships

Compete for internships to Brazil through the Hinckley Institute. Different internships are available each semester, so check back to see if there is one that interests you. Some past internships include working with the Azul Airlines PR department, Vigzul management (a security systems startup), BambooZar, a nonprofit organization that promotes research for the sustainable use of bamboo, and the Utah Trade Delegation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS

University of Utah International Ambassador

Volunteer as an ambassador for international students and receive a $250 scholarship. As an international ambassador, you can be paired with an incoming student from Brazil (or other countries) to help introduce them to the climate and culture of Utah and the university, while also improving your language skills.

Utah Portuguese K-12 Immersion

Utah is expanding its Portuguese dual-immersion program in the state's elementary schools. Please contact Utah Dual Language Immersion's Portuguese Program if you would like to volunteer in a Portuguese classroom.

LEarn more about portuguese dual immersion