Minor in Brazilian Studies

Why pursue a minor in Brazilian Studies?

Portuguese is the official language of 9 countries. It is 1 of the official languages of the European Union and it is also an official language in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. In 1958, it was declared 1 of the 6 critical languages by the National Defense Education Act. Within the U.S., it is spoken in the Portuguese, Brazilian, and Cape Verdean communities in states like Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Iowa, and Kansas.  

Brazil is home to the Amazon Forest and River and is the most biodiverse country in the world. It is the 5th largest country in the world by land area and 6th largest by population. It is also a multicultural and diverse country. Afro-Brazilians constitute the largest black population outside of Africa; the largest Japanese population outside of Japan also lives in Brazil. It has one of the world’s largest economies and the United States is its 2nd trading partner.

A minor in Brazilian Studies is the ideal complement for those studying Portuguese and/ or Spanish, as well as for anyone interested in Latin America from a professional or personal perspective. Our interdisciplinary minor will allow you to improve your Portuguese language skills and to learn about the culture, history, politics, and economy of Brazil, South America's largest country. 

See the University Career Center’s page for foreign language and international studies careers for more information about careers in which you can use your Brazilian Studies minor.