Brazilian & Global Portuguese Major

Students majoring in Brazilian and Global Portuguese Studies will acquire competency in spoken and written Portuguese, as well as familiarity with the literature and culture of Brazil and Portugese-speaking regions. Lusophone countries--those who speak Portuguese as the official language--include Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, and the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Macau.

Requirements: 10 Courses

Overall, 8 of the 10 courses taken for the major must be at the 300 level or above, and at least 6 of those courses must be taught in Portuguese or have a Portuguese preceptorial component. (See Portuguese studies course listing)

  • If you begin your study at the elementary or intermediate level (language proficiency below the 300 course level), up to 2 of the following courses can be counted towards your major requirements:
    • PORTUGUE 203 - Intermediate Portuguese
    • PORTUGUE 203A - Intensive Intermediate Portuguese
    • PORTUGUE 204 - Advanced Intermediate Portuguese
  • Up to 4 courses taught in English that focus on Brazilian or lusophone culture (See Portuguese studies course listing)
    • These courses may be taught by the department, or cross-listed courses with at least fifty percent Brazilian or lusophone content offered by other departments such as History, African & African American Studies, Cultural Anthropology, English, Film/Video/Digital Studies, International Comparative Studies, Literature, Music, Poliltical Science, Religion and Theater Studies. Such courses must be approved in advance by the Undergraduate Major Advisor. Duke-approved courses taught in Portuguese in study abroad program may also count towards the major.

Study Abroad

Students are strongly urged to study abroad since this is the best way to achieve language proficiency and to acquire knowledge of a country’s culture. Courses taken abroad count toward the core and/or related courses as follows:

Duke-Administered Summer Programs
•    Duke-in-Brazil. Major: Two courses may be counted. 
Non-Duke-Administered Semester Programs
•    Major: A maximum of two courses per semester may be counted toward the core-course requirement.
Non-Duke-Administered Summer Programs
•    Major: One course may be counted toward the core-course requirement.