Portuguese Minor

Course Requirements

Preparation for the Minor

Course Units

4

4

Requirements of the Minor

Course Units

3

3

3

3

3

3

TOTAL UNITS

18

Advising

For more information or advising, contact:

Duarte PinheiroDuarte Pinheiro
Ph.D., University Fernando Pesso, Porto
Lecturer; Portuguese Advisor
408-924-4022
duarte.pinheiro@sjsu.edu
Clark Hall 412J


The Portuguese-Speaking World

Portuguese is the language of Portugal, including the autonomous regions of the Azores (Açores in Portuguese spelling) and Madeira. Additionally, it is the official language of Brazil, Mozambique (Moçambique), Angola, Guinea-Bissau (Guiné-Bissau), São Tomé e Príncipe, the Cape Verde Islands (Cabo Verde), and East Timor. It is also still spoken in Macau and Goa. Over four million Portuguese who have emigrated to various countries retain their first language. Galician, spoken in northwestern Spain, is very similar to Portuguese. Altogether, Portuguese is the native language of approximately 240,000,000 people. It is the sixth most spoken language and it ranks third, behind English and Spanish, among European languages used around the world.

Why Learn Portuguese?

  • Portuguese is an important global language spoken on all world continents
  • Next to English and Spanish, Portuguese is a major language of the American continent
  • According to UNESCO, Spanish and Portuguese are the top two fastest-growing European languages
  • Also according to UNESCO, Portuguese, has the highest growth potential as an international language due to evident expansion in southern Africa and South America. 

Special Major in Portuguese Studies

A Special Major in Portuguese Studies is available by completing all requirements for a Minor in Portuguese at 91ÁÔÆæ and completing additional units through certain departments on campus and summer courses at other universities in the USA, as well as in Brazil or Portugal.

Scholarships

Available for students minoring in Portuguese:

Portuguese Endowment Trust

In order to support the Portuguese Studies Program, a Portuguese Endowment Trust (PET) has been established through the generosity of the Portuguese Ministry of Education, the Gulbenkian Foundation of Lisbon, the Luso-American Education Foundation, and other organizations and individuals in the Portuguese community.

Donations to the Portuguese Studies Program

The Portuguese Studies program is accepting monetary donations to help maintain its Portuguese Minor program at San José State University. Your help is direly needed in view of the state budget limitations.

Please send your donation to:

San José State University
WLL, Portuguese Studies Program (CL421)
One Washington Square
San José, California 95192-0091