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Major Related Resources Department of Resources Career Resource | Description of MajorA major in Portuguese offers students an in-depth encounter with the rich and diverse realm of Portuguese, Brazilian and Lusophone African literature, culture, while focusing on the study of the Portuguese language. Students can 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.Skills & Knowledge Developed in this Field of StudySpeaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in the Portuguese language.Minors and Second Majors that Expand Career Options with this MajorBusiness, economics, political science, public and environmental affairs, sociology, Spanish, and teaching certification.Career OptionsCareers Specific to the Bachelor's DegreeIU's Portuguese majors typically seek and have found jobs in government agencies (FBI, U.N., offices in Washington, D.C.) as foreign service officers and translators, the Peace Corps, the armed forces, law enforcement, private business (international relations, marketing in the United States and abroad), teaching in the United States and abroad, and paramedical and paralegal professions.Other Career Possibilities with a Bachelor's DegreeKnowledge of Portuguese, one of the world's most widely-spoken languages, is expecially attractive for students contemplating careers in foreign language teaching, business, communications, government, or international affairs.Careers that Normally Require a Graduate DegreeTeaching and research at colleges and universities, some language translation positions.Employment OpportunitiesJob OutlookVaries according to the wide choice of career fields, but generally it is good. The outlook is best in fields such as nursing, social services, law enforcement, teaching, and internationally oriented work,Salary InformationAccording to the 1996 College Placement Council Salary Survey, the average starting salary received by foreign language majors is $25,166.Potential Career GrowthVaries throughout the possible career fields, but the potential is excellent.Placement Statistics for IU Graduates with this MajorNot available.High School PreparationFor prospective Portuguese majors,the best preparation is studying the language. If that’s not available, any experience with foreign languages is very valuable. Prospective majors should get as much prior language training and exposure to foreign languages as they can.Special OpportunitiesNumerous excellent opportunities are available to students who choose to major or minor in Spanish and Portuguese. The department's outstanding faculty and diverse course offerings have helped to make its programs some of the best in the country. A national report recently ranked the program in Spanish eleventh in the country, and the undergraduate program in Portuguese tenth. Students are encouraged to take advantage of IU's wide variety of overseas study programs to spend a summer, or a year abroad. Our honors program is highly active, and allows students with a GPA of 3.0 or better to take especially challenging and exciting courses. In addition, it is very popular to combine our undergraduate major with work in another major, such as business, psychology, or political science, for students who want to specialize in the Hispanic or Lusophone aspects of another field. Another way to combine Spanish or Portuguese language interests with another field is to add a minor in Spanish or Portuguese. Our department sponsors the Spanish House, which gives students the opportunity to live in a Spanish-speaking environment. The Spanish House has a language assistant who works with the department to develop special programs such as cultural festivals, guest speakers, and movie nights. Certification to teach Spanish in high school is an option students may also choose. To become certified Spanish teachers, students take a number of education courses and acquire substantial practice in teaching. Preparation for high school teaching should start early in one's college career.Noted AlumniNot Available | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
