Courses - Environmental Studies program
For the first two weeks after arrival, students will take a non-credit, intensive Portuguese language course. For those students participating in the ACM spring semester, a structured "Portuguese for Foreigners" course will be offered for students attending either the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF) or the Universidade de Brasília (UnB). The course will be taught at UFJF, and students attending UnB may take the UFJF course, then make their way to UnB for the start of their semester. For those students participating in the ACM fall semester, alternate language options will be arranged, which may involve a structured course or tutoring.
Once the university semester begins, students then enroll in three or four classes. One course is a required Portuguese language course, while the remaining courses will be electives in areas related to Environmental Studies. Students are typically advised to take at least two courses in a single department, to foster the relationships with faculty and students that contribute to success by adapting to the university’s organizational culture. For planning purposes, UFJF has posted an online listing of courses offerings for recent and upcoming semesters. Note: Courses offered during the Brazilian "first" semester (designated by a "1" on the UFJF pages) correspond with the U.S. spring semester. Courses offered during the Brazilian "second" semester (designated by a "3" on the UFJF pages) correspond with the U.S. fall semester.
UFJF has also posted the curricular structures for each undergraduate program, including links to detailed course descriptions. Note: From this main page, it takes several clicks to browse through the tables and eventually get to the course descriptions.
All classes are taught in Portuguese, so strong background in a Romance language (Spanish, French, or Italian), along with the intensive Portuguese course at the beginning of the semester, is essential (unless a student already has a background in Portuguese).
Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF)
The International Relations Office at UFJF (known by its acronym in Portuguese as the CRI) is a key resource for exchange students, as it is the gateway for foreign students’ academic experience at the university. Not only does the office provide general guidance, advice and access for a wide range of activities at the university, in town, and even in other cities and regions to which students may travel, but perhaps most importantly it also oversees and facilitates foreign students’ enrollment in courses.
More information about the Environmental Studies coursework to be taken at UFJF will be posted here in the near future. Please check back soon for updated information.
Universidade de Brasília (UnB)
More information about the student support services and the Environmental Studies coursework to be taken at UnB will be posted here in the near future. Please check back soon for updated information.