Brazil: Movements and Intersections (Summer 2017)

Application deadline: April 3, 2017

This program provides a unique opportunity to study in Brazil and receive up to 13 credits of UW coursework in a four-week period. You will study Portuguese, engage in experiential learning projects, learn research methods using digital media, and receive an in-depth, critical understanding of contemporary social movements in Brazil.

The program will start in the large urban area of Sao Paulo where you will take an intensive 2-week Portuguese language class and learn about urban social and environmental movements while living with host families. You will then visit urban communities and iconic sites in Rio de Janeiro before traveling to Campo Grande in central west Brazil where you’ll visit rural communities while engaging with host families and Brazilian university students.

This study abroad program is led by Margaret Griesse from UW Tacoma and Angelica Macklin from UW Seattle.

Academic Content

Students will earn up to 13 credits for this study abroad program for the following three courses:

TPOLS 435 (5 credits) – Popular Movements in Latin America

This course will focus on the particular context of social movements in Brazil, as they relate to issues of ethnicity, gender and class. Students will engage in seminars with Brazilian scholars and observe the current work of various urban and rural movements. Proposed site visits include social projects, favela projects, quilombos, indigenous communities, afterschool programs and cultural centers.

TIAS 499/TCOM 498 (5 credits) – Undergraduate Research/Study Abroad

Students will learn to use digital media methods for documenting and presenting social issue-related research across borders. Students will produce a piece of theoretically informed media that reflects on social and environmental issues in Brazil. This class will engage in questions of agency and subjectivity, relational research, production and consumption of knowledge, and representation of culture, self, and others.

PORT 199 (3 credits) – Portuguese Language

Students will study Portuguese with professors at the Methodist University of São Paulo who are well-skilled in teaching Portuguese as a second language. The course will include vocabulary training, reading of different types of materials (journals, magazines, letters, essay), grammar, listening to dialogues (CDs, DVDs) and speaking.

Program Schedule

The program runs from July 25-August 25, 2017. July 25-28 will be taking place at UW Tacoma, and July 29-August 25 in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Campo Grande, Brazil.

Housing

You will be staying with home stay families in Sao Paulo and Campo Grande. Families provide students with breakfast and dinner and teach them how to get to the university.  In Rio de Janeiro, we will be staying in a hotel (double-occupancy).

Student Eligibility

The course is designed for undergraduate students of all majors. Graduate and non-matriculated students are welcome to apply. There are no prerequisites or language requirements.

We are looking for students who are open to learning in another country, who can express their reasons for participating in the program in a written essay, and who have shown commitment to academic studies.

Application

Applications are due on March 20, 2017. Applicants will be notified of acceptance decisions April 15. Once accepted to the program, applicants will need to confirm their participation in the program by April 25. Click the "Apply Now" button below to begin.

Travel Documents and Insurance

A passport and visa are required for entry into Brazil. You must obtain your Brazilian visa in advance from the Brazilian Embassy or consulate nearest to your place of residence in the United States. Students may apply in person at the Brazilian Consulate in San Francisco or use an organization such as Bay Document Services for a fee. Once you are accepted into the program, the program director will walk you through this process.

Note: If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the Brazilian Consulate in San Francisco to learn their document requirements. You can also email uwtintl@uw.edu.

Study abroad insurance coverage is required. We strongly recommend students take advantage of the UW Study Abroad Insurance as an easy and affordable option. Students with personal insurance may petition for a UW Study Abroad Insurance waiver. For details, please contact the UW Tacoma Office of Global Affairs.

Program Cost

The total cost of the program is $4,750** (includes a $250 administrative fee).

Included in the cost of the program:

• Course fee (in lieu of tuition) for 13 UW credits.
• Instructional costs in Brazil. 
• Accommodation (single or double occupancy) with carefully chosen families in Sao Paulo and Campo Grande (includes breakfast and dinner).
• All scheduled excursions during the program (incl. transportation, lodging, meals, and tours).
• Welcoming lunch on campus and farewell dinner.

Not Included in program fees:

• Airfare to/from Brazil.
• Transportation to and from airport.
• Personal expenses (phone calls, eating out, etc.).
• Textbooks.

Payment Schedule*

*Additional important dates can be found in the "Refund Conditions for Fees" section.

**Approximate cost, may be less, final cost will be established before the application deadline.

Method of payment: Payments made in person or by mail will need to be paid by personal check, cashier's check, or money order made payable to University of Washington Tacoma (UWT). Please write "Brazil 2017" in the memo line of the check.  Please submit the check to the University of Washington Tacoma Cashier's Office (CAR 400) during regular business hours. Please do not submit your check to the Office of Global Affairs. You can also mail it to:

UW Tacoma Cashier's Office

Campus Box 358433

1900 Commerce Street

Tacoma, WA 98402

To make the payment online, click this button to proceed with your Visa or Mastercard.

For questions about the payment schedule or the methods of payment available, please email uwtintl@uw.edu or call 253.692.4426.

The program fee will be charged automatically to your UWT student account upon registration and can be paid online through your MyUW account. Please note: students do not register themselves for this program. The Office of Global Affairs will register you once the Administrative Fee and all appropriate program documents have been received.

Orientation

To be eligible to study abroad, all program participants must attend an in-person pre-departure orientation facilitated by the Office of Global Affairs/UW Study Abroad as well as your program-specific orientations, offered by your program directors. Orientation must be completed prior to the enrollment deadline for the quarter that you are studying abroad.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Students receiving financial aid which they intend to apply toward the program cost should consult with a financial aid adviser before applying to the program. Some sources of funding, i.e. the GI Bill®, do not cover the cost of study abroad programs. Check with a financial aid advisor to understand how your funds apply toward study abroad. Please bring the Brazil 2017 student financial aid budget form with you to your meeting.

Please also review this list of scholarships: these are opportunities that can help fund your study abroad experience. Please note that many of them have deadlines before your study abroad application is due. For help with the application process, please contact uwtintl@uw.edu.

Refund Conditions for Fees

1. If you withdraw prior to May 19, 2017, all payments, less the $250 Administrative Fee, will be refunded to you.
2. If you withdraw on or after May 19, but prior to May 31, 2017, you are obligated to pay 50% of the total cost of the program.
3. If you withdraw on or after June 1, 2017, you are obligated to pay the full cost of the program. No refunds will be given for unused accommodations, meals or other fees and services.

If you cannot participate in a study abroad program due to unanticipated changes in your financial situation, a medical emergency, death, military duty, or other unusual or extenuating circumstances, you may submit a Petition for Emergency Withdrawal. If granted, the Emergency Withdrawal may allow for partial or full relief from your financial obligations to the program. More information.

Notice of Withdrawal from the program MUST be made in writing and submitted to the Office of Global Affairs in GWP 102 or by mail to:

Office of Global Affairs

University of Washington Tacoma

Box: 358415

1900 Commerce Street

Tacoma, WA 98402

Changes in Cost or Scope of Program

In the event of significant devaluations of the dollar, some adjustments to program activities may be necessary. If there are any political events that might compromise the safety of the participants, a rescheduling or cancellation of the program may be necessary. If such changes occur, students will be notified of the changes and options will be presented.

Program Cancellation

If viable enrollment is not reached by April 30, 2017 the program will be cancelled. Participants will be notified and the administrative and program fees will be refunded.

Equal Opportunity and Disability Accommodations

The University of Washington reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran in accordance with University policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations. The University of Washington is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process contact the Disability Support Services Office at least six weeks in advance.

GI Bill^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.