Portuguese Program Requirements
I. Major
Portuguese majors complete coursework in language, literature, linguistics, and civilization. Of the required courses below, students begin at an appropriate level based on the placement examination given upon entrance. Most Portuguese majors begin their study with Advanced Portuguese, although some students with less preparation take Intensive Basic Portuguese, which means they must take two additional semester courses in Portuguese to complete their major.
All Portuguese majors must study a second language.
Required Courses
2 Linguistics (satisfy college General Education Requirements in Social Science)
4 courses of one second language (Spanish strongly recommended; intensive track recommended)
10 Portuguese courses (unless lower placement requires additional language study) consisting of:
- 2 courses in Advanced Portuguese
- 1 course in Portuguese Expository Writing
- 1 course on Cultures of Portugal, Brazil, or Lusophone African countries
- 1 survey of Brazilian or Portuguese Literature
- 5 Semesters of Portuguese electives
**Note: Portuguese majors who complete the Business Coursework Program, the Pre-Medical Program, or a second major are exempt from the second language requirement.
Overseas Studies
Portuguese minors are required to study abroad. Although Advanced Portuguese I is the minimum required course, it is highly recommended that students complete Expository Writing before enrolling in a study-abroad program. Students must get the approval of the Director of the Portuguese Studies for their courses before going overseas.
Students participating in overseas study may take courses in Luso-Brazilian Art, Portuguese Linguistics, Anthropology, Economics, History, Philosophy, and other appropriate related areas. These courses can be used to fulfill upper division Portuguese Studies requirements. A maximum of two course per semester taken abroad can be counted toward the major, provided the courses are taught in Portuguese and deal with any of the countries of the Lusophone world. One of these can be a program course reserved for foreign students in general or American students in particular. Upon returning, students will show their syllabi of courses taken abroad to the Director of the Portuguese Studies in order to receive credit. No credit will be given toward the minor for courses taken in non-Portuguese-speaking countries.
Latin American Studies Certificate
Spanish and Portuguese language students may be particularly interested in the Latin American Studies Certificate. The requirements for the Latin American Studies Certificate include one course in history, one course in government, one course in economics, two elective courses, and the Latin American Studies Senior Tutorial in which students write a major research paper under the guidance of a faculty adviser. Students pursuing the certificate are exempt from the second language requirement.
Certificate in European Studies
This interdisciplinary minor concentration includes two required courses in regional history, one economics course, one government course, and two electives addressing ideological or cultural perspectives and regional or international affairs. The European Studies Senior Colloquium is the capstone of this program in which students complete a major research paper under the guidance of European Studies faculty. Students selecting this minor are exempted from the second language requirement. A detailed list of courses can be found in the FLL Handbook.
Portuguese Major with Business Administration Minor
The Portuguese Department also offers a special program for a major in Portuguese with a Business Administration minor. Detailed information about the Business Administration minor can be found here. All students choosing a Business minor or a Portuguese major with Business Administration minor must take Business Portuguese and are exempted from the Second Language requirement. (Students enrolled in this program may take no more than 25% of their total coursework from the designated offerings in the
Accelerated Bachelor/Master Degree Program
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers qualified undergraduate students the opportunity to earn both a Bachelors and a Masters degree at an accelerated pace by counting two graduate-level courses taken in the undergraduate program toward the Masters degree. Students with a minimum of a 3.5 in the major are eligible to apply for the program at the end of their junior year. Interested applicants should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies. Applications are available in the Spanish and Portuguese Department.
II. Minor
Students in other majors are invited to minor in Portuguese. Six semester courses are required as set forth below. Students who begin at the Advanced level or higher will take further courses above 230 to reach a total of six.
Students who begin their minor at a level higher than Advanced Portuguese will nevertheless have to take six courses to complete the requirements unless they receive transfer or AP credit. At least four courses must be taken on the Georgetown campus or in the Georgetown University programs in Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo (Pontificia Universidade Catalica), Brazil.
Requirements for minors entering Georgetown Fall 2006 and beyond
For students majoring in a Spanish or any other Romance language:
PORT-009 Portuguese for Spanish Speakers
PORT-101 & PORT-102 Advanced Portuguese I & II
PORT-153 or PORT-154 Expository Writing I or II
Plus 2 courses (PORT-231 or above)
For all other students:
PORT-032 Intensive Intermediate Portuguese
PORT-101 & PORT-102 Advanced Portuguese I & II
PORT-153 or PORT-154 Expository Writing I or II
Plus 2 upper-level courses (PORT-231 or above).
