VCU Summer in Brazil

  Brazil

• Sao Paulo: 
Sao Paulo

Term: Summer 
Dates: May 23 - June 24

Description: The Office of International Education and the School of World Studies are pleased to offer a unique opportunity for students to study the language and culture of Brazil at Universidade de Sao Paulo, one of VCU's international partner institutions.

Course and Credit Options:
PORT 201 and PORT 202: Intermediate Readings and Intermediate Portuguese (6 credits)

This customized academic immersion program offered exclusively to VCU students by Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP) aims to develop a high level of Portuguese language fluency and forge a lifelong appreciation of Brazilian life and society. The program offers a combination of classroom instruction and experiential learning activities that will allow students to learn Portuguese as they explore life and living in Sao Paulo, Brazil, South America's largest and most cosmopolitan city. Each day will be filled with new cultural events, activities and encounters with real Brazilians. Course content and activities have been meticulously organized by VCU and USP faculty and staff through the schools' international university partnership. Students will learn about the language, history, politics, culture, music, art and media of contemporary Brazil and about the influence Brazil has had and still has on the United States and other nations around the world.

Highlights: This course will be divided in two parts. In the first part, the students will know the Brazilian history as well as the social and urban aspects, economic and cultural development of the Brazilian people. They will know the African influence in Brazilian culture. They will visit Bahia (Salvador and Porto Seguro) and Rio de Janeiro. This first part of the course will focus the humanities, in particular, the knowledgement of each region and the historical moment.

In the second part, the students will have the great opportunity offered for University of Sao Paulo to do a Portuguese Language Course focused in the Structure of the Language. After the classes, the students will visit some important places to practice the language.

The students will look at how the urban form has progressed for the first cities in the Fertile Crescent to Metropolitan areas. They will pay special attention to how and why the built form and urban patterns developed and how they have changed over time.

While in Sao Paulo, mornings will be spent in class and afternoons will be spent visiting various site of interest. Students will visit many museums in Sao Paulo including the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Geosciences, the Museum of Anatomy, the Museum of Portuguese language, and the Ipiranga Museum. The group will also visit cultural sites in the city such as parks, shopping districts, churches, restaurants, disco and theaters.

Hostel-style accommodations will be provided while in Sao Paulo and during the time spent traveling along the Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. Most breakfasts are included at the hostels. Students may choose to eat lunch at the university cafeteria or elsewhere.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: USD 2,500

* Accommodations and breakfasts
* Airfare
* Study visits and tours
* Ground transportation
* On-site Program Director support
* Application fee and deposit
* Pre-departure orientation
* VCU administrative fees
* International Student Identification Card

The following are NOT included in the program fee. Students are responsible for:
* VCU tuition and fees
* Most meals
* Passport application fee
* Visa fee
* Personal expenses during the program (estimated at USD 1,000-USD 1,800)
* Anything not specifically mentioned above

Please budget for these additional expenses.

Experience Required: yes

Students must have a 2.0 GPA in order to participate in the VCU summer study abroad program. Pre-requisites include PORT 101 and 102 or equivalency. Students with extensive Spanish language experience will also be considered. Please contact us about taking a Portugese language placement test.

This Program is open to American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Brazil in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Transcript

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home