Portuguese

Why Study Portuguese?

Portuguese is the sixth most spoken language in the world, with over 270 million native speakers across multiple continents, including the Americas (Brazil), Europe (Portugal), Africa (Angola and Mozambique), and Asia (Macau and East Timor). Despite its global significance, Portuguese is studied far less than other major European languages—so learning it will set you apart. If you already speak a Romance language (such as French, Italian, or especially Spanish), you have a significant advantage in learning Portuguese quickly. Given Brazil’s growing influence in Latin American geopolitics, mastering Portuguese is key to developing expertise in the region. Beyond Brazil, studying Portuguese opens doors to understanding the historical, cultural, and economic complexities of other Lusophone countries. Portugal, a historic global power, continues to play a crucial role in the European Union and international trade. Angola and Mozambique, two of Africa’s

fastest-growing economies, are rich in natural resources and cultural heritage. Cape Verde, known for its strategic Atlantic location and vibrant Creole culture, offers unique perspectives on migration, sustainability, and tourism. This interdisciplinary minor allows you to explore topics in diplomacy, history, business, international relations, and social sciences. For example, our undergraduate students have traveled to Brazil to study the incipient bamboo industry, the expanding Brazil-China trade relations, and Brazil’s response to the global refugee crisis. Similarly, students in Portugal have examined the impact of European Union policies on the Portuguese economy, sustainable tourism in Lisbon and the Algarve, and the role of Lusophone literature in shaping cultural identity. Those interested in Africa have explored Angola’s oil economy, Mozambique’s post-colonial development, and Cape Verde’s innovative approaches to renewable energy and climate resilience. By studying Portuguese, you gain access to a rich, interconnected world spanning four continents—along with a competitive edge in the global job market.

Portuguese minor at Notre Dame

In our Portuguese minor, you will have the opportunity to learn the language through interactive, dynamic, and communicative classes enriched with cultural activities. These include the Portuguese Language Table, Trivia, SpotiFridays, Karaoke nights, Lusophone film screenings, and celebrations of cultural traditions from Brazil, Portugal, and Lusophone Africa, such as Carnaval and Festa de Todos os Santos (known in Brazil as Festa Junina). Additionally, a diverse selection of upper-level courses allows you to explore not only Brazil but also Portugal and Lusophone Africa. Alongside courses on Brazilian Pop Culture (sports, soap operas, music, and cinema), Brazil Beyond Stereotypes (soccer, the Amazon, Rio, and Carnaval as key topics to understand Brazilian society), Brazil: Giant of the South (current issues in Brazilian society and politics), and Race and Social Inequality in Brazil, you can also take courses such as:

• History, Art, and Cultural Identity in Contemporary Portugal (offered during the summer study abroad program)
• Portuguese Pop Culture: Fado, Futebol, and Fátima (exploring major cultural elements of Portuguese identity)
• Portuguese and Brazilian Literature
• Cinema of Portugal and Lusophone Africa
• Women’s Voices in Luso-Afro-Brazilian Literature
• Portugal Unchained: Politics, Culture, and Resistance from Estado Novo to Democracy

These courses provide a comprehensive understanding of the Lusophone world, allowing you to engage with the historical, social, and artistic narratives that shape Portuguese-speaking communities across four continents. Through these experiences, you will connect language learning with history, politics, and culture, deepening your understanding of this globally significant linguistic and cultural sphere.

Requirements (5 courses or 15 credit hours)

Minor Worksheet

Required Courses: Three of the five courses must be in Portuguese language and/or Luso-Brazilian literature, film and culture taught in

Portuguese.

• ROPO 20201 (Intermediate I)
• ROPO 20202 (Intermediate II)
• ROPO 30000/40000-level course
• Elective Courses: The fourth and fifth courses may be on Luso-Brazilian literature, film and culture (taught in English or Portuguese).
• (2) ROPO 30000/40000-level courses

Elective courses may be on a Portuguese or Brazilian subject in another discipline (for example, Anthropology, History, Latin, American Studies, FTT, Political Science, Romance Languages and Literatures, Theology, etc.).

Note: Courses from foreign study programs or other universities may be substituted by permission, but at least three courses for the Portuguese minor must be taken in residence at Notre Dame. AP credit may not be applied toward the minor.

Student Opportunities

Portuguese minors at Notre Dame have numerous opportunities to enhance their language and cultural skills through immersive experiences in Brazil and Portugal. The Kellogg Institute and the Nanovic Institute offer undergraduate research grants for students conducting studies in Brazil and Portugal, respectively.

The Engaged Learning Initiatives Committee, through the Institute for Social Concerns, offers an eight-week program in Brazil and four- and eight-week programs in Portugal, allowing students to engage in service-oriented projects while being fully immersed in local communities.

Additionally, the Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures provides internship and summer language programs in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil, as well as Lisbon, Portugal. Notre Dame Global also offers a variety of study abroad opportunities, including semester programs in Brazil, business-oriented programs, and the highly popular summer programs in both Brazil and Portugal.