Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Navigate Up
Sign In

Office of the University Registrar

  • Portuguese

    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.

    About this Major

    To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.


    Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan

    Overview

    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.

    Back to Top

    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 to meet 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

    These 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
    Back to Top

    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, where they will earn six credits. The program also fulfills the summer residency requirement.

    Back to Top

    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.

    Back to Top

    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

    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 2

    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    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
    Back to Top

    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).

    To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

    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 1 Credits
    POR 1130 Beginning Portuguese 1 or
    POR 3010 Introduction to Portuguese and Brazil: Accelerated
    5
    Biological or Physical Science
    State Core GE-B or P
    3
    Composition
    State Core GE-C; WR
    3
    Mathematics
    State Core GE-M
    3
    Total 14
    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 in the Fall, Spring, or Summer A terms and satisfies the CLAS language requirement.

    Back to Top

    Related Portuguese Programs

    Back to Top
majors: portuguese