Program Description
Latin American Studies, International Programs and Exchanges, and the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity are providing a unique opportunity for students to explore issues of identity, culture, development, inequality and social change in the rich context provided by Brazil’s diverse regions.
The program integrates classroom learning with community engagement opportunities in the Brazilian states of Rio de Janiero, Minas Gerais, and Bahia. Students will have the opportunity to design and conduct a research project with Brazilian students.
The program will explore today’s realities of Brazil: the complexities of economic, racial, and gender inequality; concepts of sexuality, modernity, and personhood; Brazilian health programs and their relations to global issues such as HIV; and the symbolic and lived significance of music, dance, and spirituality in Brazilian society. We will also study social movements, government action, education, and the influence of NGOs in Brazil. We will examine our own place in the world as persons of a specific gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, and economic position.
Cultural immersion is achieved through homestays, guest lectures, excursions, and community engagement projects such as Project Racial Democray in Aracuai. This project is aimed at increasing racial literacy, excavating memories of slavery and Indian extermination, uncovering and undoing internalized racism, and working with the regional quilombo and indigenous communities on projects such as economic development.. While in Salvador, students will be hosted by Bahia Street, a non-governmental organization breaking cycles of poverty in Salvador through education. Guided by Dr. Margaret Willson, students will explore Salvador through the experiences of its majority population, economically-impoverished African-Brazilians.
Schedule
Weeks 1-4: (March 31—April 25) Courses at UW Seattle, Week 5: Portuguese language immersion in Rio de Janiero, Week 6 & 7: Community Engagement in Aracuai with Project Racial Democracy, travel to Salvador da Bahia, Week 8: Community engagement projects, lectures, cultural activities in Bahia Week 9 & 10: Lectures and research projects in Salvador da Bahia
Eligibility All UW students are eligible to apply with priority given to students served by the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity.
Application Instructions
Apply on-line at: http://depts.washington.edu/brasil
Once your application has been received, IPE will send an email requesting that you schedule an interview.
Application Deadlines
Priority Deadline is November 30, 2007. Applications received after this date will be considered on a space-available basis.
Academic Credit
Students successfully completing the program will be awarded:
SISLA 355, Social Change in Latin America, 5 credits, (I+S credit) SISLA 399, Study Abroad: Latin American Studies, 5 credits, (I+S credit) PORT 199, Portuguese Language, 2 credits
Prior to your departure, we encourage you to meet with your academic advisor to discuss how credits from your program will contribute to your degree progress at UW. All grades for courses completed abroad will be reported on your UW transcript.
Fees and Payment Procedures
The program fee is approximately $3700. In addition to the program fee, students will pay the IPE fee of $200. The program fee includes instructional costs, most transportation throughout Brazil, housing in Brazil, some meals, and program excursions. The program fee DOES NOT include airfare, personal expenses or the $200 IPE fee.
Students should budget about $400 for food; $1500 for airfare; and additional funds for personal expenses.
Upon acceptance to the program, students will be required to sign and submit a payment contract. Fees will then be charged to participants’ UW student accounts and will be payable to UW Student Fiscal Services in 129 Schmitz Hall or via MyUW according to the following payment schedule:
Non-refundable program deposit: $350, upon completion of contract Program fee payment: $500, January 25, 2008 Program fee balance: $2850, April 18, 2008 IPE fee: $200, April 18, 2008
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Substantial scholarships through the GO! Grant program are being made to Husky Promise-eligible students for the Brazil program. Contact Shannon Koller (koller@u.washington.edu) or Gabe Gallardo (gabegms@u.washington.edu) for more information and an application.
Most forms of UW financial aid including loans, grants, and veteran's benefits can be applied to the costs of the program. To absorb the additional costs of studying abroad, students should submit a Financial Aid Revision Request to qualify for additional aid. To do so, students should pick up a budget for the Brazil program from the IPE office and submit it along with the revision request form (available in the Financial Aid Office). The revision request should be submitted for consideration to the Financial Aid Office in 105 Schmitz Hall.
Other Scholarships
Sonnenblick-Del Rio Scholarship: contact Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity
To research other funding options for study abroad, please contact the Undergraduate Scholarship Office located in Mary Gates Hall. http://www.washington.edu/students/ugrad/scholar/index.shtml