The Brown-in-Brazil Program
(PUC-Rio de Janeiro)
Professor Luiz F. Valente, Director
One of the original Brown-sponsored foreign study programs, the "Brown-in-Brazil Program" was established in 1984 and was located at the Federal University of Bahia until 1990. It was moved to Rio de Janeiro in the fall of 1991.
The "Brown-in-Brazil Program" is a semester of study at the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RIO), the oldest private institution of higher learning in Brazil and one of the top five Brazilian universities. The program is designed for students who have the equivalent of at least three semesters of language instruction, preferably Portuguese 110 and Portuguese 400, plus at least one related course on Brazil in another discipline, such as Literature, History, Political Science, Afro-American Studies, etc. Portuguese 610 is particularly recommended.
The Brown-in-Brazil Program runs during the Brazilian second semester (August-December) and is preceded by a month-long, intensive orientation session in July. The orientation session includes instruction in Portuguese language and Brazilian culture, with four hours of scheduled classes every day, and additional lectures by various noted specialists three times a week. Field trips are planned for the weekends. At the end of the orientation session students take an examination on the material covered during the month.
During the semester Brown-in-Brazil students enroll in a maximum of four courses, to be chosen from the offerings of any unit of the university, provided that the appropriate prerequisites can be met. Upon completion of the semester program, students are issued an official transcript documenting their work at PUC. Normally students are able to transfer up to the equivalent of four Brown credits for participation in the full program (July-December).
A year-long option (July to June) was added to the Brown-in-Brazil Program beginning with the 1995-96 academic year. Students participating in the program for two semesters will receive up to eight Brown credits. Portuguese and Brazilian Studies concentrators should bear in mind, however, that no more than four courses taken at other institutions can be used to satisfy the minimum requirements for the concentration.
The deadline for applications to the Brown-in-Brazil Program is March 1.
For more information about the Brown-in-Brazil Program, please contact Professor Valente or visit the Office for International Programs.