Portuguese
Portuguese
courses
Spanish and Portuguese department home page
Director of undergraduate studies: K. David Jackson, 82–90 Wall St., 432-1158, k.jackson@yale.edu
Portuguese is taught at Yale as part of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese; the names of departmental faculty members teaching Portuguese courses appear in the faculty list under "Spanish."
The major in Portuguese is a liberal arts major intended to develop competence in the Portuguese language and to provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of the literatures and cultures of Portugal, Brazil, and African and Asian lands of Portuguese language or influence.
Students begin the study of Portuguese with PORT 110a or 125b, elementary courses without prerequisites, or with PORT 112a, an elementary course for students who are proficient in a Romance language. After two years of Portuguese language study, students have sufficient proficiency to take advanced courses in Luso-Brazilian literature and culture.
The standard major, for which the prerequisite is PORT 140b or the equivalent, consists of twelve term courses. Students must take at least two term courses each in the literatures of Portugal and of Brazil. In completing their programs, students may elect up to four courses in other languages and literatures, anthropology, history, or history of art, or from study abroad, that are related to their field of study and approved by the director of undergraduate studies. Juniors and seniors majoring in Portuguese may, with the permission of the instructor and the director of graduate studies, enroll in graduate courses in Portuguese.
Senior requirement. All majors must either present a senior essay or take the departmental examination. The essay is written in PORT 491a or b or 492a or b. A maximum of two credits counts toward the major. The examination is both written and oral and covers three periods of Portuguese and Brazilian literatures.
Placement. All students who have not yet taken Portuguese at Yale are expected to take the departmental placement test, with the exception of students who have no previous knowledge of Portuguese whatsoever. The departmental placement test covers reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The examination will be given on Sunday, August 30, from 2 to 4 P.M. and from 4.30 to 6.30 P.M., and in the spring term on Sunday, January 10, at 6 P.M.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisite: PORT 140b or equivalent
Number of courses: 12 term courses beyond prereq (incl senior essay course, if elected)
Distribution of courses: At least 2 courses in lit of Portugal, 2 in lit of Brazil
Substitution permitted: With DUS permission, up to 4 relevant courses from other depts or from study abroad
Senior requirement: Senior essay (PORT 491a or b or 492a or b) or dept exam
