Romance Languages Major, B.A.–Portuguese

专业介绍

Portuguese is the seventh most spoken language in the world, with over 265 million speakers. It is the language of Portugal, Brazil, and parts of Africa and Asia. Brazil, with a population of more than 215 million, is the largest country in South America and has the ninth largest economy in the world.

The program in Portuguese combines the study of the language, culture, and literatures of Brazil, Portugal, and Lusophone Africa. Most students majoring in Portuguese will study abroad in one of our several excellent programs in Brazil and Portugal. In a single semester abroad, a student can complete one half of the major while taking courses that may count concurrently toward a second major or a minor. 

Learning a new language is proven to develop skills in at least ten areas, including interpersonal and social competence, cultural awareness and competency, personal growth mindset, practical life skills, metacognitive and learning skills, creativity, interdisciplinary mindset, digital literacy, critical thinking and analysis, and community engagement.  

Students majoring in Portuguese receive more individual attention from faculty and advisors than in larger programs. We have several activities per year as well as a weekly conversation hour. This, combined with a shared passion for lusophone culture leads to the development of a strong sense of community among the students and faculty in our program that our graduates point to as the highlight of their UNC undergraduate experience. 

Emphasis is placed on the language as it is currently spoken and its historical development. Students study the cultures of the Lusophone world in terms of their historical development and analyze specific texts, films, and other cultural productions from different genres and periods. Students interested in Portuguese should consult the Portuguese language advisor.

Portuguese as a second language will open multiple job opportunities in various fields and in countries with expanding economies and a promising future. UNC students graduating with a Portuguese major have gone on to study in some of the top professional schools in the county in law, medicine, the humanities, and business. Some have entered the US Foreign Service. Several of our students have been awarded Fulbright Scholarships and all have been enriched by the vibrant cultural traditions of Portugal, Brazil, and the Lusophone nations of Africa and Asia, including literature, film, art, and music.