Brazil is truly a land of contrasts. A variety of cultures, beliefs, and topographies make this nation a showcase of diversity. Although Brazil is considered a Latin country, the country's racial composition reflects the historical contact between indigenous peoples, Portuguese colonizers, African slaves and immigrants from Europe and Asia.
The program is based in São Paulo and is offered in conjunction with the Fundãcao Armando Alvares Penteado and Associacao Alumni, a noted language institute. With a population of over 19 million people, São Paulo is the largest metropolis in South America and the third largest city in the world. The racial and cultural diversity of this city makes it ideal for the study of the causes and effects of economic development and political democratization.
Women, Environment, and Social Change
Social, political, and economic policies toward the environment
impact all members of society. This course will explore how such
policies, especially those dealing with water resources, affect and
are interconnected to social transformation for women. Students will
visit NGO's, community centers and cooperatives, shantytowns, a water
treatment station, dams and hydroelectric plants, water reserves and
rivers. There will be guest speakers (community leaders and
activists, architects, engineers, politicians) to present on some of
the topics or to guide the group during our visits. Students will
have the option of volunteering (teaching English) at a center for
women and children at one of the communities that we will visit.
Survey of Brazilian Society
A survey of relevant issues and aspects of Brazilian communities:
Afro-Brazilian religions; the Catholic Church, Evangelical movements,
and social change; racism; construction of cultural and ethnic
identities; social structure and social class; crime and social
control; the economy and urbanization; language and culture. Students
will visit NGO's, museums and cultural centers, historical sites, and
communities as part of the course and there will be a number of guest
speakers covering various topics.
Contemporary Brazilian Cinema
This course offers an interdisciplinary study of contemporary
Brazilian cinema focusing on issues of representation, reception and
spectatorship, and construction of (national, cultural, gender, and
racial) identity. In addition to the films viewed as part of the
course, reviews and substantive readings will contribute to an
examination of five main topics: 1) Constructions of Gender; 2)
Representations of National Identity; 3) Race and Class; 4) Queer
Images; and, 5) Marginality and Violence. All films studied in class
will link two or more of these topics.
Portuguese I or II
All students will take a course in Portuguese language offered in
conjunction with Associacao Alumni in São Paulo. Students will
be placed in an appropriate level upon taking a placement exam.
This program will be of interest to students studying economic development, social planning/public policy, Latin American studies, women's studies and human rights.
This program is offered to all non-first-year students in good academic and social standing with a minimum gpa of 2.5. All students must complete at least one semester of Brazilian Portuguese prior to departure through the Self-Instructional Language Program (SILP). Due to the challenging nature of study abroad, student academic and disciplinary records will be carefully screened.
Students on the program will reside in homestays with Brazilian families.
A variety of local excursions in and around São Paulo will be included as part of the program. An excursion to other cities/regions in Brazil may also be offered.
Students will be charged standard HWS tuition, room and board fees, and a $500 administrative fee. This will cover credit for a four-course semester, class-related excursions and field trips, and homestays with full board. Additional expenses not covered include airfare, books and personal expenses (laundry, entertainment, ground transportation and independent travel). We estimate airfare for this program at $1000 from the East Coast, books at $250, and visa at $100. It is difficult to give an accurate estimate of personal expenses because student spending habits differ considerably. We would suggest a minimum of $1000. However, students on a tight budget should be able to manage with less. If you are concerned about finances, we strongly encourage you to talk to the CGE staff who can offer information and advice based on your specific situation.
NOTE: The information contained in this brochure is subject to change. Please see the CGE for more information.
