Seminar/Field Trip to
FORTALEZA, BRAZIL
The only Portuguese-speaking Latin American country, Brazil, epitomizes diversity. From the largest Japanese community outside of Japan to the rich African influence. From Urban Metropolis to Amazon Forest. Brazil is a country of many realities, beautiful beaches, Capoeira (Brazilian form of dance/martial art), Candomble (a synthesis of African and Catholic religions), Carnaval, "Guga" Kuerten and soccer to name just a few.
Brazil is the focus of the Center for Latin American Studies' 2009 Seminar and Field Trip. Ana Paul Carvalho, Coordinator of the Portuguese Language Program in the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literature, will direct the program. Undergraduates interested in Latin America who are maintaining a grade point average of at least a 2.75 and who are enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, its regional campuses, or at any of the institutions that comprise the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (Carnegie Mellon, Carlow, Chatham, CCAC, Duquesne, Point Park, LaRoche, Robert Morris) are eligible to apply.
The 12 to 15 students selected for the program will participate in a spring term seminar followed by a summer session field trip to Fortaleza, the coastal capital of the state of Ceará and the fifth largest city in Brazil. The nine credits earned for successful completion of the seminar and field trip meet the School of Arts and Sciences foreign culture curriculum requirement and are applied toward the certificate in Latin American Studies. These are upper level course credits.
Spring Term Seminar, ARTSC
1501 (3 credits) This interdisciplinary seminar is designed to prepare students for the field trip to Brazil. During the seminar, students will examine the history, culture, demography, geography and politics of Brazil. Materials dealing with cross-cultural communication and the challenges and rewards of the international living experience also will be introduced. Additionally, students will be guided through the design of individual research projects that they will carry out in Fortaleza during the field trip.
Summer Session Field Trip, ARTSC 1502 (6 credits) During the field trip, students will spend six weeks in Fortaleza residing with Portuguese-speaking host families and carrying out their research projects. The approximate dates for the field stay are May 12 through June 21.
The nine credits earned for successful completion of the seminar/field trip are applied toward the Undergraduate Certificate in Latin American Studies. These are upper level course credits; they meet the foreign culture curriculum requirement.
Language Students are required to have sufficient proficiency in Portuguese to conduct research and to communicate with their host families. (Portuguese language courses, offered in the spring term, may be required to develop the needed proficiency.)
Cost The total student cost of the program is about $4,000. This includes about $3,000 for six credits of tuition (in-state rate applies to all participants) plus a contribution of $1,000 towards field expenses. The balance of all costs for round-trip air fare, in-country excursions, as well as room and board with a Brazilian 
host family will be paid for by the Center for Latin American Studies.
Application For application checklist and form, please click here.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 10, 2008
Appointments for individual interviews should be made upon submission of the application materials.
