Why Brazil:

Study social justice and inequality

Electives in a variety of fields

Direct-enroll electives at Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo

Courses taught in English or Portuguese

Live with a Brazilian roommate

Traveling Seminar to Salvador da Bahia

Portuguese language classes for all levels

Out-of-class learning and assignments

As a student of CET Brazil: Social Justice and Inequality in São Paulo, you build a foundation for understanding the dynamics of global poverty and inequality—both in and out of the classroom. Study social movements within Brazil, take Portuguese classes to better engage with the community, live with Brazilian roommates that give you an access point into local life, and even travel to Salvador da Bahia to take on learning by experiencing.

Semester
Snapshot

Curriculum & Syllabi

You take one core course, a Portuguese language class, and three electives to meet the total 15 to 18 recommended credits. Intermediate or advanced Portuguese language students can swap CET electives for direct-enroll classes, taught in Portuguese.

Core Course

You take this 3-credit core course, taught in English or Portuguese depending on your language abilities:

SP/LAST 300 Social Justice and Inequality in 21st Century Brazil

Portuguese Language

You are placed into one of these 3-credit courses:

Electives

Beginning Portuguese students choose three CET electives. Intermediate and advanced Portuguese students choose three electives with at least one direct-enroll elective at PUC-SP to meet the total 15 to 18 recommended credits.

CET Electives

Direct-Enroll Electives at Pontificia Universidade Catolica de São Paulo

Direct-Enroll Electives
Taught in Portuguese. Taken alongside Brazilian undergraduates.
2 to 4 credits each

CET converts final grades from PUC-SP to US letter grade equivalents.

Out-of-Class Connections

Gain exposure to many of Brazil’s challenges in the classroom, then make real world connections during site visits around São Paulo. Go on a guided excursion to the city outskirts to engage with residents of local communities. Head to Aldeia Pico de Jaraguá, a Guarani indigenous community, to meet with leaders and hear the community’s history. You even learn firsthand from members of the Homeless Workers Social Movement, one of the most influential organizations in the country.

Traveling Seminar to Salvador da Bahia

Journey to a port town along Brazil’s northeastern coast to learn about its history as a major port of entry for African slaves, and experience the African cultural influences that are integral parts of Brazilian society today.

Day 1: Arrive and attend an open-air jazz concert at the Museum of Modern Art.
Day 2: Visit Arte Consciente, a local NGO based in Saramandaia.
Day 3: Attend a lecture on Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian religion.
Day 4: See the Folkloric Ballet of Salvador at the Miguel Santana Theatre.
Day 5: Visit Steve Biko, an organization dedicated to providing resources and educating Afro-Brazilian teens that want to to pursue a college degree.
Day 6: Board a schooner to island hop while enjoying live music.

Day 7: Take a trip to the São Joaquim Market, then attend an ethno-gastronomy workshop that focuses on recreating dishes from African countries as a tool of resistance.
Day 8: Fly back to São Paulo.

English and Portuguese

Tailor your curriculum to suit your language level—take engaging electives in English or Portuguese, and language classes that match your abilities. And if you’re already an intermediate-level Portuguese speaker, you can choose to direct-enroll in an elective at Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo. All of your coursework at PUC is done in Portuguese, just like your local counterparts. By the end of the term, you’ll be speaking like the Brazilian undergrads sitting next to you. Maravilha!

Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo

The program is hosted by Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo. PUC-SP is a private Catholic university of 23,000 students located in Perdizes, a neighborhood with easy public transportation, plenty of cheap eats, and a lively nightlife. The campus itself is small and friendly—on your way to class, you pass students studying, playing music, holding rallies, or just out enjoying the sunshine.

"I came to Brazil with 2 bags of clothes and left with genuine friendships, a fluent grasp of a language, unforgettable experiences, and the warmth of Brazilian culture. I highly recommend this program to anybody considering it."

— Jack Nudelman,
Johns Hopkins University | Spring 2018

& Meals

Share a conveniently located apartment with CET peers and local Brazilian students. Apartments are a 15-minute walk from campus and are equipped with all the basics. And you live in Perdizes, a residential neighborhood with tree-lined streets that have everything you could need: a farmers’ market, several grocery stores, restaurants, gyms, running and biking trails.

Local Roommates

Sharing an apartment with a local student from PUC-SP can teach you everything you need to know about Brazilian college life. Where to get the best pastel (pastry turnover). Which trails to hike in Ibirapuera Park. Where to get the official jersey for your favorite futebol team (and whom to cheer for!). Some roommates even invite CET students back to their home for dinner or a weekend away, giving them a glimpse of Brazilian family life, too. It’s no wonder students often tell us that their roommate is “one of the best parts of the program.”

Eating in São Paulo

For meals, take advantage of the city’s huge and vibrant food scene… and try all the local specialties. Brigadeiro (condensed milk-based chocolate truffle), anyone? Feeling like a home-cooked meal? Grab ingredients at the farmers’ market down the street and have a night in with your roommates at home.

Life in

São Paulo is a diverse and vibrant city, filled with things to do and people to do them with. Go to a weekend festival. Learn to make feijoada (black bean and meat stew). Find your favorite café in Perdizes, the neighborhood you’ll call home for the term. Hang out with friends at a boteco (corner bar). Shop at a craft fair in Liberdade, home to the largest Japanese community outside of Japan. And if you’re studying abroad in the spring, get ready for Carnaval…

Activities & Excursions

Around São Paulo

Each term, the program offers different extra-curricular activities that allow you to explore São Paulo and Brazilian culture. Head to Embu das Artes, a nearby town that comes alive on the weekends with artisan markets, food stands, and street music. Go on a guided walk through the city’s historical center. And there’s even more to see on your own—take a road trip to the beach, see a soccer game with friends, or get food in Vila Madalena with your roommates.

Away From the City

Spend the weekend in Paraty, a colonial city in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Go on guided visits of colonial sites and monuments. Hike a waterfall and stop by a local distillery. Visit Ilha do Araújo and meet local fishermen depending on livelihoods that are both traditional and sustainable. Then learn about traditional medicine before enjoying a homemade meal. Trek along the beach in Trindade to reach a natural pool, then enjoy plenty of free time to explore the area.

"I feel lucky to have professors that explore social and political issues by posing different perspectives and making me question my preconceptions."

— Anonymous Final Evaluation | Spring 2018

On-site Staff

Sérgio Duarte Julião da Silva, Ph.D
Academic Director

Súlia Folli
Resident Director

Ariane Facci
Resident Coordinator

Program

Spring 2021

$18,790

Spring 2021: $18,790

Fee Breakdown

Of the total program fee, $16,690 goes to tuition and fees, and $2,100 goes to housing and other student life fees.

Tuition

All of your classes and program-related learning are included with your tuition.

Traveling Seminar to Salvador da Bahia

We take you to Salvador da Bahia for a Traveling Seminar. Just bring a camera and your intellectual curiosity.

Housing

We arrange for you to live in an apartment with CET peers and a local roommate. Your program fees go toward rent, furnishing, and other management costs.

Staff Support

From pre-departure to orientation, from on site to re-entry, CET provides you with the support you need every step of the way.

Insurance

You’re provided with a comprehensive insurance plan through GeoBlue that includes medical evacuation coverage.

Activities

The activities and excursions that we arrange are included in your program fee. All you need to do is remember to bring your camera!

Visa Fees & Support

We guide you step-by-step through the visa process. You’ll need to do the legwork, but we pay the consular fees if you obtain your visa through the service we recommend.

Course Materials

Your textbooks and course supplies are covered and waiting for you on site.

Transcript

At the end of the term, you can view your grade report in your online CET account. Your official transcript is issued by the University of Minnesota and sent directly to your home institution.

Estimated
Out-of-Pocket
Costs

Download a Budget Sheet for CET Brazil: Social Justice

How to

Eligibility

Open to students from any US college or university
GPA: 3.0 or higher preferred, but admissions decisions are made on a case-by-case basis; lower GPAs still encouraged to apply
Open to all levels of Portuguese language speakers

Online Application Form

Complete the application through your online CET account. This is a brief form that asks for basic information and has a few short answer questions about why you want to study abroad.

Faculty Recommendation

Use the link in your online account to send a recommendation request to one of your previous instructors.

Study Abroad Office Recommendation

This is an online form that your study abroad office completes to let us know you meet the requirements to study abroad. To send the electronic form request, simply enter the name and email address of your study abroad advisor in the designated fields of your online account.

Official Transcript

Your online CET account has specific instructions for submitting an official transcript.

Spring deadline:

November 1st

Days until deadline

Fall deadline:

May 1st

Days until deadline

Not sure Brazil is right for you? Consider a semester in Colombia.

Price Subject to Change:

CET reserves the right to increase quoted charges at any time without prior notification, based on increased instruction costs, exchange rate fluctuation or other cost increases beyond CET’s control.

Our goal is to offer every single course every term, but sometimes factors like faculty availability and program enrollment keep us from reaching that goal. If you’re concerned about needing to enroll in any one particular course, please contact us! We’ll try our best to get you the course you need.