The major in Portuguese is a liberal arts major intended to develop competence in the Portuguese language and provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of the literatures and cultures of Portugal, Brazil, and African and Asian lands of Portuguese language or influence.

More than 30 Yale undergraduates have studied Portuguese in the summer in Brazil or Portugal in the last five years with fellowship support from the Portuguese program.

The undergraduate "Brazil Portugal Club" organizes social and academic activities each semester. Many Yale students are from Brazil.

The Malcolm C. Batchelor Fund of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese sponsors one major conference annually on Luso-Brazilian literature and culture.

All majors in Latin American Studies take Portuguese at Yale.