Brazil
Fortaleza & Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

May 22 - June 19, 2012 

Total Program Fee: $4,995

Academics and Courses      Application, Cost, and Important Details

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is possible that not all TnCIS programs or all TnCIS courses are available at your institution. A complete listing of courses offered at each member institution is available at www.tncis.org/members. Please contact your TnCIS campus representative for instructions on registering and paying fees.

 

Program Location:

Brazil is the largest country in Latin America, being roughly the size of the continental United States. It is home to the world’s tenth largest industrial economy, while also being the home to the world’s largest tropical rain forest (the Amazon). It boasts lively music and dance (from samba to forró), plays the world’s best soccer, has endless miles of sandy tropical beaches, and celebrates the world’s biggest party (carnaval). From caporeira (a mix of martial arts and acrobatics set to the twang of the beribau and drums) to Umbanda (a syncretic spirit possession religion); from açaí (milk of the Amazon) to feijoada (the black bean national meal), Brazilian culture is a truly unique blend of Indigenous, African, and European antecedents.
 
The TnCIS program will allow students to experience this unique way of life in two different locations. The first is the Northeastern city of Fortaleza. Located just 5 degrees south of the equator, the city of two and one-half million (fifth largest in Brazil) is surrounded by miles of sandy tropical beaches. Founded over five hundred years ago, today the city is the political seat of the state of Ceará, an important seaport, and a recreational retreat for Brazilians. The second location is the city of Rio de Janeiro. Rio is the home of breathtaking landscapes as the ocean meets escarpment. It also contains the world’s largest urban rain forest (Tijuca) along with the world famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema.

Program Description:

This program is designed to provide students with a choice of coursework in music or photography.  Music is ubiquitous in Brazilian culture and everyday life. You see it being played in concert halls, taverns and everywhere people gather socially. Students in these courses will greatly benefit from learning about Brazilian music from its primary source.  In the photography courses, the advantage of being in Brazil is that students will be easily inspired by their new surroundings.  Instruction that directs student's attention, as photographers, will allow them to notice the details in everyday Brazilian life. This will help students be more aware of subtle aspects of the culture they are experiencing.

Please note: Prospective students should be aware that study abroad programs require a great deal of walking. You should be prepared to walk at least one to two miles a day.  You may also walk over uneven, possibly slippery or rocky terrain even in cities. Photography students must also be able to carry the additional weight of the equipment requirements for the class.

Excursions: While in Fortaleza there will be excursions to nearby towns and beaches. Excursions may include visits to Cumbuco, the Cachaca Museum, Jericoacoara, and Morro Branco. While in Rio there will be excursions to Sugar Loaf, Corcovado (Christ Statue), and the centro (downtown).

Classes: Class will meet Monday-Friday onsite at hotels or during excursions. 

Accommodations: Students will stay in hotels, three or more per room with breakfast and one other meal provided daily.

Academics:

All TnCIS programs are academic in nature and course work that takes advantage of the program location will be the central focus. TnCIS program courses are for credit only. In Brazil, students will enroll in one of the following courses.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Basic Digital Photography (No Prerequisites)
An introduction to basic digital photography focusing on skills useful for a graphic designer. Topics include basic operation of a digital camera, composition, camera controls, exposure, and basic image enhancement for creative use. Digital SLR and laptop required. See course syllabus

PHOTOGRAPHY: Travel Photography (Prerequisites: 6-9 credits of PHO courses)
This course for intermediate and advanced photography students will provide the opportunity for photography students to develop a cohesive body of work, while refining their creative and technical skills. Digital camera and laptop are required. See course syllabus for specific requirements. Digital SLR and laptop required. See course syllabus

MUSIC: Music Appreciation (No Prerequisites)
This course will focus on developing listening skills and an understanding of Western music from the ancient world through the 20th century. Brazil, a country with a rich musical tradition, has enjoyed (and still has) a strong Western Art Music tradition, a thriving jazz and pop influence, and an enormous variety of indigenous music. Students will benefit greatly from acquiring a true appreciation for music in this diverse setting. See course syllabus

HUMANITIES: Introduction to Music in Brazil (No Prerequisites)
This class focuses on the various styles of Brazilian music, with special emphasis on genres such as Choro, Samba, and Bossa Nova. The course is open to musicians and non-musicians alike. Students may choose the performance option which will include instruction by local professors from the Universidade Estadual Do Ceara, or the non-performance option which will focus on the characteristics and history of the music.  See course syllabus

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