Activism and Social Movements in Brazil (Faculty-Led Program)

Learn about Brazil's history, culture, and contemporary issues related to activism and social movements.

Highlights

• Dialogue with local experts on environmental sustainability, wealth inequality, and the favela wars.
• Witness the awe-inspiring Christ the Redeemer statue, a cultural icon in Rio and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, and experience an incredible view of the city.
• Attend a capoeira class at Fundição Progresso, listen to samba and bossa nova music at the historic Beco das Garrafas, and enjoy bike rides and strolls along Ipanema Beach and Copacabana Beach.
• Explore the intersection of sustainability and innovation at the Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow).

You will enroll in a spring semester course in Rochester and travel to Brazil in early summer, where you'll meet with local leaders and activists at: 

• Brasil No Clima - a leading "think-and-do" tank dedicated to environmental sustainability efforts in Brazil.
• Observatório de Favelas - a non-profit organization that offers a critical and grounded perspective on the favela wars.
• Fundição Progresso - a cultural hub that supports grassroots efforts toward social change.

Students will stay in shared hotel rooms in Brazil.

Course Term: Spring course at RIT, travel to Brazil in early Summer
Travel Dates: May 12-21, 2025
Credits: 3

Course Details:

• HNRS 295: Civic Engagement & Resistance in Brazil

Students will be enrolled in a spring course at RIT and will travel to Brazil in early summer. Class meeting time in Spring 2025 will be Tuesdays, 3:30-4:20 pm. Note: you are not required to be an RIT Honors student to participate in the program

No pre-requisites. Open to all undergraduate majors, all year levels, 3.2 GPA or higher

Application Deadline: October 20, 2024

Eligibility:

• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher (students with lower than a 3.2 GPA would be considered on a case-by-case basis)
• Have a clear conduct record with RIT
• Have no financial holds on your RIT eServices account at the time of your program acceptance/confirmation

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Program Cost & Financial Aid

Program Cost: A student budget worksheet outlining all program costs will be available soon. 

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study abroad program which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

• Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study abroad appointment
• Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting, so they have time to prepare) 
  • Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline so you understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.

Scholarships:

• Students in the RIT Honors program are eligible to receive a $1,500 Honors Award in addition to the $500 Honors Grant

• RIT Education Abroad Travel Grants ($500-$1,000)
  All students with pending applications in the RIT Study Abroad Compass for this program will be automatically considered for an RIT Education Abroad Travel Grant. You will be informed of your scholarship status shortly after the application deadline. Scholarships awarded based on financial need.

• Other scholarships: RIT Study Abroad Scholarships, National Study Abroad Scholarships

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To Apply

1) Watch this short video on application steps for RIT faculty-led programs.
2) Start an application in the RIT Study Abroad Compass