Our Portuguese program, established in the 1960s, is one of the oldest and most respected in the nation. Our faculty have lived, traveled, and studied in Brazil, Portugal, and Lusophone Africa, giving you access to some of the latest research in the field.

While your initial focus is on the study of the Portuguese language, you also gain an in-depth encounter with the rich and diverse realm of Portuguese, Brazilian, and Lusophone African literature and culture. Your courses explore topics such as race, ethnicity, national cinemas, and women's writing. The study of language, literature, and culture gives special emphasis to issues of historical and political importance that cut across geographic boundaries in the Portuguese-speaking world.