CIEE Liberal Arts Program in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil

  Brazil

• Salvador: 
Salvador

Term: Fall, Spring, Throughout the year 
Dates: Fall 22 weeks: late June-mid-December; Spring 24 weeks: early January-mid-June; Academic Year 53 weeks: late June-mid-June; Calendar Year 48 weeks: early January-mid-December

Description: The Liberal Arts program has three main objectives: to improve students' oral and written Portuguese language skills; to facilitate students' knowledge of contemporary Brazil and the northeast region; and to provide students with the opportunity to take regular Brazilian university courses. This is achieved through academic work combined with extensive cultural excursions and exposure to different aspects of life in this unique, African-infused region of Brazil.

Academic Program
The CIEE Study Center in Salvador da Bahia was established in 2000. The program begins with a four-week Intensive Language and Culture Program (ILCP), held in Salvador da Bahia for the fall semester and in São Paulo for the spring semester. The ILCP prepares students for the regular semester by providing them the opportunity to focus intensively on Portuguese language acquisition and learning about Brazilian contemporary society. The semester program offers a combination of direct enrollment classes at a Brazilian university, CIEE Portuguese language courses, and specially-designed CIEE courses about contemporary Brazilian art, culture, race, and economic issues. This program is ideal for those wanting to improve their Portuguese language, or for advanced Spanish speakers who would like to learn Portuguese.

Academic Culture
While U.S. students are accustomed to a very structured system, professors in Brazil generally leave students on their own to determine the intensity of their work - an approach which is geared towards the student who is motivated, self-sufficient, and deeply interested in the subject matter of the course. It is a more rigorous, autonomous academic system.

While some U.S. students could misperceive that the workload is light and there are very few assignments, students are given bibliographies for courses with the expectation that they read as many of the listings as possible, selecting those titles which most specifically meet their needs and interests. In some courses, the entire grade is based on a term paper or critical analysis of a particular article that is expected to be drawn from fairly extensive reading from the bibliography. This relative freedom places a great deal of responsibility on the student.

The CIEE academic year program takes place from late June to mid-June of the following year, and the CIEE calendar year program coincides with the Brazilian academic year, taking place from early January to mid-December. Academic year students have a three-month break between fall and spring semesters and are encouraged to travel independently throughout other parts of Brazil and Latin America. Calendar year students have a break of a few weeks between the Brazilian first and second semesters (the North American spring and fall semesters).

Highlights:

• Learn Portuguese through a four-week intensive language and culture program prior to the semester followed by specially designed semester-long language courses at various levels
  
• Gain knowledge of contemporary Brazil, especially the northeast region
  
• Enroll in CIEE courses in Afro-Brazilian studies with a focus on race, class, anthropology, and culture
  
• Participate in cultural activities, including a weekend excursion to Porto Seguro

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: Please check the CIEE website for current program pricing

Experience Required: yes