Portuguese Minor

Effective Winter 2014-Summer 2015)

The objectives of the Portuguese minor are to facilitate students’ proficiency and knowledge acquisition in the Portuguese language and on the cultures of the Lusophone (or Portuguese-speaking) world, namely, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe. This minor offers students the opportunity to complement the knowledge gained in their principal field while focusing on linguistic competence and a grounding in one of the world’s most spoken languages and its greatly diverse cultures. In addition to enhanced career opportunities, it also fosters critical thinking skills in relationship to cultures other than their own.

The Portuguese minor would attract undergraduate students at the University of Michigan from a variety of disciplines, ranging from the humanities and social sciences to the business school and the health sciences, who wish to complement their degree studies with proficiency in the Portuguese language as well as a solid knowledge foundation of Lusophone countries.

Prerequisites to the Minor

One of: PORTUG 232, 280, or 415, or the equivalent.

Requirements for the Minor

A minimum of 18 credits beyond PORTUG 232 (PORTUG 415 may not be counted toward the 18 credits), including the following courses:

1. Required Core: PORTUG 287 Advanced Portuguese Conversation and Composition (this can be taken concurrently or before 400-level courses)
2. Electives
   1. At least one course with a national or regional focus
      • PORTUG 460: Portuguese Culture,
      • PORTUG 461: Brazilian Culture
      • PORTUG 462: Lusophone African Cultures
   2. At least one course with a disciplinary focus
      • PORTUG 471: Literature in the Portuguese-Speaking World,
      • PORTUG 472: Cinema in the Portuguese-Speaking World
      • PORTUG 473: Popular Music in the Portuguese-Speaking World; or equivalent)
   3. At least one topics course
      • PORTUG 301: Topics in Afro-Luso-Brazilian Cultures
      • PORTUG 474: Advanced Topics in Afro-Luso-Brazilian Cultures
   4. Other Electives:  PORTUG 290, 350, 499

Neither PORTUG 280 nor 415 may  be counted toward the 18 credits for the Portuguese minor.

Cognates. Students pursuing the minor in Portuguese may petition to have up to 3 cognate courses (no more than 9 credits) from other units (for example, History, Afro-American and African Studies, as well as Latin American and Caribbean Studies), taught in English, which have a Brazilian, Lusophone African, and/or Portuguese focus to count for the minor. Cognate courses must be approved in advance by a Portuguese advisor in the department of Romance Languages & Literatures.

Constraints: At least 9 of the 18 credits for the minor must be taken in residence or in a study abroad program affiliated with the University of Michigan. 

Effective Winter 2013-Fall 2013

The objectives of the Portuguese minor are to facilitate students’ proficiency and knowledge acquisition in the Portuguese language and on the cultures of the Lusophone (or Portuguese-speaking) world, namely, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe. This minor offers students the opportunity to complement the knowledge gained in their principal field while focusing on linguistic competence and a grounding in one of the world’s most spoken languages and its greatly diverse cultures. In addition to enhanced career opportunities, it also fosters critical thinking skills in relationship to cultures other than their own.

The Portuguese minor would attract undergraduate students at the University of Michigan from a variety of disciplines, ranging from the humanities and social sciences to the business school and the health sciences, who wish to complement their degree studies with proficiency in the Portuguese language as well as a solid knowledge foundation of Lusophone countries.

Prerequisites to the Minor: PORTUG 232 or 415, or the equivalent.

Academic Minor Program: A minimum of 18 credits beyond PORTUG 232 (PORTUG 415 may not be counted toward the 18 credits), including the following courses:

1. Required Core: PORTUG 287 Advanced Portuguese Conversation and Composition (this can be taken concurrently or before 400-level courses)
2. Electives
   1. At least one course with a national or regional focus
      • PORTUG 460: Portuguese Culture,
      • PORTUG 461: Brazilian Culture
      • PORTUG 462: Lusophone African Cultures
   2. At least one course with a disciplinary focus
      • PORTUG 471: Literature in the Portuguese-Speaking World,
      • PORTUG 472: Cinema in the Portuguese-Speaking World
      • PORTUG 473: Popular Music in the Portuguese-Speaking World; or equivalent)
   3. At least one topics course
      • PORTUG 301: Topics in Afro-Luso-Brazilian Cultures
      • PORTUG 474: Advanced Topics in Afro-Luso-Brazilian Cultures
   4. Other Electives:  PORTUG 270, 350, 499

PORTUG 415 may not be counted toward the 18 credits for the Portuguese minor.

Cognates. Students pursuing the minor in Portuguese may petition to have up to 3 cognate courses (no more than 9 credits) from other units (for example, History, Afro-American and African Studies, as well as Latin American and Caribbean Studies), taught in English, which have a Brazilian, Lusophone African, and/or Portuguese focus to count for the minor. Cognate courses must be approved in advance by a Portuguese advisor in the department of Romance Languages & Literatures.

 Constraints: At least 9 of the 18 credits for the minor must be taken in residence or in a study abroad program affiliated with the University of Michigan.