The program stresses the language and culture of Brazil, with complementary study of Portugal and Lusophone Africa. Brazil alone has over 200 million Portuguese speakers. Students pursuing careers related to Latin America will profit greatly from knowing the language and possessing cultural competence. Florida does more than $2 billion worth of trade with Brazil annually.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
Brazil plays increasingly prominent roles in international affairs and Brazilians constitute one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in Florida. Studying Portuguese, especially in conjunction with Spanish, will provide a competitive edge for those seeking careers in business, industry, tourism, health care, agricultural affairs, government and education.
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Coursework for the Major
The major consists of 30 credits of coursework normally achieved with ten upper-division courses (3224 or above), four of which must be at the 4000 level. Students must earn a minimum grade of C for coursework to count toward the major. A minimum of four 4000-level courses must be completed at UF for the major residency requirement.
Foundation coursework required to prepare the student for 3000/4000-level depends on the student’s background in Portuguese. For beginners, POR 1130/1131 or POR 3010 are typically taken to prepare for the required major coursework.
POR 3010 Introduction to Portuguese and Brazil is an accelerated course. It fulfills the foreign language requirement but it does not count as a 3000-level course for the major requirements.
Required Coursework
- 30 credits at the POR / POW / PRT 3000/4000-levels, of which at least twelve credits must be at the 4000 level. Students who transfer credits toward the Portuguese major will be expected to take at least four 4000-level courses at UF.
Students can choose their upper-division coursework from offerings with the prefix POR (language and civilization) beyond POR 3010, POW (literature and culture), and PRT (Portuguese/Brazilian literature in translation). Two Individual Work courses (POW 4905) may be accepted as part of the major's requirements. Select courses outside the department may also count toward the major under special conditions.
Recommended Coursework
The following list of classes are recommended to enhance students' overall understanding and appreciation of Portuguese-speaking people and their culture.
- ANT 4336 The Peoples of Brazil
- LAH 4630 Brazil after 1750
- LAS 2001 Introduction to Latin American Studies
- LIN 3010 Introduction to Linguistics
- MUH 3541 Latin American Music
- Humanities, arts and social science courses that relate to the Portuguese-speaking world
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Overseas Study
The university sponsors a reasonably priced summer B program in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Majors and minors are encouraged to participate at the 3000/4000 level; they receive six credits. The program fulfills the summer residency requirement.
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Placement
See the undergraduate coordinator for placement information, especially for transfer students and heritage speakers.
Relevant Minors and/or Certificates
Majors may want to pursue a certificate in Latin American Studies.
Research
Students who wish to complete a senior thesis for honors should consult Portuguese faculty at least two semesters in advance of graduation.
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Critical Tracking
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
- Complete POR 1130
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete POR 1131 with 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete POR 3242 and one additional Portuguese course with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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Model Semester Plan
Students are expected to complete the writing requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
GE-H |
3 |
| POR 1131 Beginning Portuguese 2 |
5 |
Mathematics
GE-M |
3 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
State Core GE-S |
3 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
POR or POW or PRT 3000/4000-level course
POR 3242 Oral and Written Practice in Portuguese recommended |
3 |
| POR or POW or PRT 3000/4000-level course |
3 |
Biological or Physical Science
Area not taken in semester 1, GE-B or P |
3 |
Humanities
State Core GE-H |
3 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
GE-S |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
POR or POW or PRT 3000/4000-level course
POR 3243 Composition and Conversation recommended |
3 |
| POR or POW or PRT 3000/4000-level course |
3 |
Elective
3000 level and above, not in major; LIN 3010 Introduction to Linguistics recommended |
3 |
Humanities
GE-H |
3 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
GE-S |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| POR or POW or PRT 3000/4000-level course |
3 |
Composition
GE-C; WR |
3 |
| Electives |
6 |
Physical Science
GE-P |
3 |
Science laboratory
GE-P or B |
1 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| POR or POW or PRT 4000-level course |
3 |
Biological Science
GE-B |
3 |
Elective
3000 level and above, not in major; LAH 4630 Brazil after 1750 suggested |
3 |
| Electives |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| POR or POW or PRT 3000/4000-level course |
3 |
| POR or POW or PRT 4000-level course |
3 |
| Elective |
7
|
Electives
3000 level or above, not in major |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| POR or POW or PRT 4000-level courses |
6 |
Electives
3000 level or above, not in major |
9 |
| Total |
15 |
♦ POR 3010 may be offered fall, spring or summer A and satisfies the CLAS language requirement.
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Related Portuguese Programs
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