Modern Languages, with Concentration in Portuguese B.A.

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In the Portuguese Studies Program, students can major in modern languages with a concentration in Portuguese or minor in Portuguese:

Concentrations in Portuguese are also provided by the World Languages Education Program in the Department of Educational Studies:

Portuguese electives count in the following programs:

Program Details

Portuguese Self-Assessment Test

Do you have some knowledge of Portuguese? Whether you took classes in high school or grew up in a Portuguese-speaking household, expanding your current knowledge of Portuguese gives you an opportunity to develop an academic and professional strategy at RIC that will make you stand out in your future career(s).

The Portuguese Self-Assessment Test provides you with feedback on your proficiency in Portuguese and helps you plan for your course enrollment at Rhode Island College. It can also be useful for thinking about how easy it might be to pursue a minor or major in Portuguese. If you understand spoken Portuguese and are disappointed with your score, it only means that you need more exposure to the written usage of Portuguese.

The Portuguese Self-Assessment Test assumes that you have had some prior instruction in Portuguese or have been exposed to the Portuguese language to an extent that PORT 102 or above will be in your best interest. It is not intended for credit or testing out of the Second Language Milestone requirement of General Education.

Note that PORT 115: Literatures of the Portuguese-Speaking World fulfills two General Education requirements: the Second Language Milestone Requirement and the Literature Requirement. PORT 115 also counts toward the Portuguese minor. Are you curious to see where you would place? The Portuguese Self-Assessment Test is free for RIC students. Contact the program director, Professor Silvia Oliveira at soliveira@ric.edu with any questions.

Portuguese Self Assessment Test Signup Form

Course Information

The links below provide information on course requirements, course descriptions and the Academic Rhode Map, which lists all the courses you will need to complete this program and graduate in a timely fashion.

Course Requirements

Course Descriptions

Academic Rhode Map

Program/Learning Goals

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate language proficiency.
  2. Analyze linguistic systems.
  3. Compare target and other languages, identifying key differences​.
  4. Demonstrate cultural understanding and understanding of cultural diversity.
  5. Demonstrate understanding of literary and cultural texts and traditions.
  6. Demonstrate understanding of language acquisition​.

Writing in the Discipline

1. Why or in what ways is writing important to your discipline/field/profession?

Writing is an essential component of second language acquisition and proficiency advancement and is central to each concentration in the Modern Languages Department. Writing in the concentration language is at the core of the development of intercultural communication skills and cross-cultural understanding in the disciplinary areas of literary, cultural and linguistic studies.

2. Which courses are designated as satisfying the Writing in the Discipline (WID) requirement by your department? Why these courses?

Our courses are tiered, with each level building on the previous one for proficiency advancement in the target language. The courses below satisfy the WID requirement for each concentration within the Modern Languages Department:

FREN/PORT/SPAN 201 and 202: Conversation and Composition/Composition and Conversation. Students acquire cultural, literary and linguistic knowledge and skills in intercultural communication in a variety of genres, while demonstrating proficiency advancement in the target language.

FREN/PORT/SPAN 420: Applied Grammar. This course is conducted as a writing workshop in which students examine and polish writing style in the target language through creative writing, translation and reflection in a variety of textual genres and registers.

FREN/PORT/SPAN 460. This is the capstone experience where students demonstrate advanced language proficiency and communication skills learned throughout the major in intercultural communication, cross-cultural knowledge and critical and creative literary and cultural analysis. Students demonstrate research competence, organizational and editing skills, and critical thinking skills.

3. What forms or genres of writing will students learn and practice in your department’s WID courses? Why these genres?

Students produce a variety of genres of academic, creative and professional writing in the concentration language consistent with the literary, cultural and linguistic focus of the major such as storytelling, journaling, film review, literary and cultural analysis, narrative/expository/analytical essay, annotated bibliography, translation and professional writing. Through these genres, students will advance in language proficiency and critical thinking while practicing skills and building portfolios for graduate studies, internships and careers.

4. What kinds of teaching practices will students encounter in your department’s WID courses?

Students will engage in diverse writing assignments in WID courses and throughout the curriculum, ranging from low-stakes, informal exercises to high-stakes, formal exercises, including journaling, annotating, summarizing and analyzing academic and creative writing, translation, editing and peer-review.

5. When they’ve satisfied your department’s WID requirement, what should students know and be able to do with writing?

Students will demonstrate intermediate proficiency (in 200-level courses) to advanced proficiency (in 400-level courses) in the target language and will be able to write in a variety of genres and registers. They will have a good understanding (in 200-level courses) to an in-depth knowledge (in 400-level courses) of the literatures and cultures in their concentration and will be able to demonstrate cross-cultural competency and critical-thinking skills.

Minor in Portuguese

Declaring a minor allows you to explore other areas of interest and make interdisciplinary connections. Minor areas at RIC complement and reinforce all major areas of study. By declaring a minor, you can set yourself apart as a candidate for job, internship and volunteer opportunities.

Minor in Portuguese

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to study abroad during the summer for one semester or for one full academic year at a University in a Portuguese-speaking country. There are many advantages:

  • You can boost your linguistic and cross-cultural abilities in Portuguese while receiving academic credit toward your Portuguese concentration or minor.
  • You can fulfill your General Education courses in English
  • You can transfer credits earned abroad to your major
  • You can engage in an English-language or Portuguese-language internship
  • You can enhance your curriculum by demonstrating your capacity to adapt to a new linguistic and cultural environment.  

Apply for study abroad scholarships at the Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies and through the Office of Study Abroad.

The Study in Portugal Network (SiPN) is Rhode Island College’s preferred program provider for studying and interning in Portugal.

Watch the videos "Summer Abroad Program” and “How to Choose Your Semester,” and contact Professor Silvia Oliveira at soliveira@ric.edu.