Department of Portuguese

The Department of Portuguese at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, in collaboration with the Departments of Art Education, Art History & Media, History, Sociology/Anthropology, STEM Education and Teacher Development, and the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture (CPSC) offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Arts in Portuguese Studies and the Doctor of Philosophy in Luso-Afro-Brazilian Studies and Theory.

Both degrees give graduates an in-depth understanding of literary and cultural history of the Portuguese-speaking world within a broad, interdisciplinary context of humanities and social sciences. Course offerings are complemented by a frequent guest lectures and colloquia.

The majority of core and elective courses are taught in the Department of Portuguese, in the disciplinary area of literary and cultural studies and linguistics. These courses are mostly offered in Portuguese. Students may also take courses related to the Portuguese-speaking world that are taught in English in the departments of History, Political Science, and Sociology/Anthropology. In addition to regular curricular offerings, students take seminar-level courses taught by a rotating pool of distinguished visiting scholars, in residence at UMass Dartmouth as holders of the Hélio and Amélia Pedroso/Luso-American Foundation Endowed Chair in Portuguese Studies.

Faculty and Fields of Interest

Dário Borim (Chairperson), BA 1987 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil, MA 1991, MA 1995, PhD 1997 University of Minnesota, Portuguese Language and Brazilian Cultural Discourse

John Fobanjong, BS 1984 Berea College, MA 1985 California Lutheran University, PhD 1989 University of Arizona, Political Science

Anna Klobucka, BA, MA 1986 University of Warsaw, PhD 1993 Harvard University, Portuguese and Lusophone African literatures

Cristina Mehrtens, BA 1983 University of Sao Paulo, BA 1985, MA 1991 University of Campinas, PhD 2000 University of Miami, History

Victor Mendes, BA 1986 University of Lisbon, EducSci Qualification Degree 1992 Open University Lisbon, MA 1994 University of Lisbon, EducSci Qualification Degree 1995 Open University Lisbon, PhD 1998 University of Lisbon, Portuguese Literature, Critical Theory

Isabel Rodrigues, BA 1994 Northeastern University, MA 1996, PhD 2002 Brown University, Sociology and Anthropology

Gláucia V Silva, BA 1988 Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, MA 1991, PhD 1999 University of Iowa, Portuguese Linguistics, Portuguese Language Pedagogy

Timothy Walker, BA 1986 Hiram College, MA 1990, PhD 2001 Boston University, History

Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit the required application materials to the Graduate Office, with the following additional considerations:
Applicants who do not hold a BA degree in Portuguese (or “Licenciatura”) will be considered on the basis of a BA or BS degree in another discipline and demonstrated oral and written competence in Portuguese. All applicants demonstrate written competence by submitting a written sample (a 10-page personal essay or a course paper in Portuguese are acceptable examples). Oral competence will be demonstrated in the course of an interview conducted by the Graduate Studies Committee (in person or by phone).
The Department of Portuguese does not require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for admission to the MA or PhD programs, but candidates may strengthen their applications by submitting GRE scores. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required from all international students whose native language is not English. The minimum TOEFL score is 500 (173, computer-based test) for admission and 550 (213 on computer-based test) for award of a teaching assistantship.
The required Personal Statement is to be written in English.
Three confidential letters of recommendation from professors or other senior professionals well acquainted with the candidate’s qualifications are required.
For current admission and financial assistance information, see www.umassd.edu/portgrad.

Financial Assistance

The Department of Portuguese and the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture award a limited number of Teaching Fellowships and Doctoral Fellowships (which include a waiver of tuition and partial fees) for the academic year. They are awarded on a competitive basis. The selection of candidates is based on academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, the GRE scores and, if applicable, the TOEFL scores. Other assistance, such as loans or work-study, may be available. Please consult the chapter on “Expenses and Financial Assistance.”

Contacts

Anna M. Klobucka
Graduate Program Director
Department of Portuguese
508 999-8241
aklobucka@umassd.edu

Dario Borim
Chair, Department of Portuguese
508 910-6609
dborim@umassd.edu

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300