3 undergraduate credits in International Studies
December 26, 2008-January 12, 2009
Professor Eduardo Vidal: vidale@vcu.edu
$2,230 + airfare + VCU tuition
Registration deadline: November 21, 2008
The Office of International Education and the School of World Studies are pleased to offer a unique opportunity for students to study the culture and history of Brazil. The program will take place in three major locations in Brazil that all once served as the nation’s capital: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Salvador da Bahia. The exposure to these three destinations, as well as to other sites en route to São Paulo from Rio de Janeiro, will allow students to observe the cultural, social, religious, environmental and historical complexity of Brazil. This program is open to students from all majors and is especially well-suited for students in international studies.
Course and Credit Options:
INTL 391: Brazilian Culture and History
Course description: This program will expose students to Brazil’s rich culture and history to awaken the desire to know more about this wonderful country. This will be done through different excursions that include museum tours, visits to beaches, monuments, and other tourist attractions in addition to the opportunity to work with disadvantaged communities in each of the cities visited.
Program Cost: $2,230 + airfare + applicable VCU tuition
The program fee is $2,230 and includes the following:
Accommodations
Study visits and tours
In-country transportation
Two meals a day
On-site Program Director support
Application fee and deposit
Pre-departure orientation
VCU administrative fees
International Student Identification Card
The following are NOT included in the program fee. Students are responsible for:
Airfare to/from Brazil
VCU tuition and fees
Some meals
Passport application fee
Personal expenses during the program (estimated at $500)
Anything not specifically mentioned above
Please budget for these additional expenses.
Tuition: Tuition is charged separately and additionally at standard VCU rates on the spring 2009 student bill. Estimated costs, based on current tuition per credit, are as follows: undergraduate in-state, $208.55 (per 3 credit class: $619.05); undergraduate out-of-state, $737.65 (per 3 credit class: $2,212.95).
Airfare: Airfare is not included. The professor will advise students of travel arrangements between the United States and Brazil. Students should plan to arrive in Rio de Janeiro on the morning of December 27.
Payment: The non-refundable registration fee of $250 is due upon registration. The balance of the program fee and the tuition costs (based on the number of credits taken) will be billed separately through VCU Student Accounting in January 2009 (both amounts may be billed at the same time).
Checks should be made payable to “VCU Brazil Culture 2009.” Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. Financial aid will apply to the program and tuition costs prior to student billing. Please consult with the Office of International Education with regard to financial aid application and processing. Advance payment arrangements may be made through VCU Education Abroad.
Eligibility: Students must have a 2.5 GPA in order to participate in the VCU study abroad program. This course is open to all students who express an interest in Brazilian culture, history and Portuguese language. Students will be selected based on personal statement and a possible interview. Preference will be given to students with Portuguese language background, strong motivation to study abroad in Brazil and clear objectives for the course.
Registration deadline: November 10, 2008. Applications will be accepted until the deadline or until participant space is full. Application is attached below.
Activities and Excursions: In Rio, we will visit the famous statue, “Christ the Redeemer,” one of the new “Seven Wonders of the World” and we will visit several historical Catholic churches built during colonial times. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in a social program with children from the “favelas,” or shanty towns. We will experience the natural beauty of Brazil at Rio’s “Floresta da Tijuca,” the world’s largest urban forest. We will also visit the Botanical Gardens, which will be celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. Students will experience the influence of Samba (and Carnival) by visiting the rehearsal sights of the “Schools of Sambas.” We will observe how Brazilians live in their daily lives by visiting their beaches, restaurants, street fairs, and a soccer match.
Historical excursions include “Petrópolis”, The Imperial City and the house of Santos Dumont who, according to Brazilian history, was the first man to fly an airplane. From Rio, we will take a road trip by the coast into São Paulo, stopping in Paraty, a preserved Portuguese colonial town.
In São Paulo, one of the largest cities in the world, we will visit our partner institution, the University of São Paulo (with about 70,000 students). Students will experience the importance of immigration in Brazilian history and culture by visiting the Japanese and Italian neighborhoods in São Paulo. We will also visit the Museum of Art (MASP), which is considered to be the most important collection of art in all of Latin America.
Other important excursions in São Paulo will be the “Pátio de Colégio” and Old São Paulo neighborhoods. After spending 3 days in São Paulo, we will fly to Salvador da Bahia, which was colonized by the Dutch.
Salvador da Bahia served as a major port during the slave trade, so today it represents the center of Afro-Brazilian culture. Students will become familiar with many aspects of Afro-Brazilian culture including religion (Macumba, Umbanda, Candomblé), music, dance/martial arts (including Capoeira), and architecture.
Accommodations and meals: For most of our time in Brazil the students will stay in hostels and bed & breakfasts. Breakfast and one additional meal per day is included.
Financial aid: Eligible VCU students may apply for need-based financial aid to participate in this program. Contact VCU Financial Aid, Ginter House, Room 110B; phone 828-6669; or email faidmail@vcu.edu.
Passports: If you have a passport, make sure it is valid for at least six months after your return date. If you do not have a passport, apply now and pay for expedited service because the processing time is up to eight weeks. For more information on how to apply for a passport, visit http://travel.state.gov
Visa: All participants must apply for a tourist visa through the Brazilian embassy. Please contact the program director for more details.
Program director: The program will be led by Eduardo Vidal, a native of Brazil, who has been a Portuguese language instructor in VCU’s School of World Studies.
