The CIEE Business and Culture program in São Paulo is designed for students with a background in business [college-level coursework in college-level micro- or macro-economics, accounting, finance, management, marketing, or statistics] and an interest in learning Portuguese. Students focus on issues relating to business in Brazil and Latin America, while improving their Portuguese or learning it for the first time.

What You'll Learn

The Business and Culture program at the CIEE Study Center in São Paulo, Brazil aims to give students opportunities to study issues related to the economy and business in Brazil and Latin America, while helping them to develop skills and competency in the Portuguese language.

Program Snapshot

• Experience the unique academic atmosphere of Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), one of the most prestigious and important business schools in Latin America
• Take business courses taught in English or Portuguese alongside Brazilian and other international students
• Live in São Paulo, the most important cultural and economic center in Brazil shaped by globalization, diverse social and economic heritages, and influential cultural and social movements
• Enjoy museums, concerts, a samba school, a soccer match, and two weekend trips

Subject Areas

• Accounting
• Brazilian Studies
• Business
• Economics
• Finance
• Management
• Marketing
• Negotiation
• Portuguese Language

Eligibility Requirements

• Overall  GPA 3.0 
• 3 semesters of micro-or macro-economics, accounting, finance, management, marketing, or statistics

Academic Program

The Business and Culture program offers students with varying levels of Portuguese language skills and interests in business and the Latin American region the opportunity to begin or continue their study of Portuguese. At the same time, they take business-related courses in one of the most economically important countries in the world. All students enroll in one Portuguese language course at an appropriate level. In addition, students enroll in coursework that is part of an International Program in Management (IPM) offered at FGV-EAESP, an English language program geared to Brazilian and international students that have either completed their undergraduate degrees or are advanced undergraduate students. Students with advanced Portuguese language may directly enroll in courses taught in Portuguese at the Escola de Administração de Empresas at FGV-EAESP on a case-by-case basis. FGVEAESP staff from the international office and the CIEE Resident Staff work with students on their course registration prior to arrival.

Company Visits
A series of company visits is organized to complement academic study through firsthand exposure to business in Brazil. Students visit such places as Natura (a Brazilian cosmetics company that operates in an environmentally sustainable way), General Motors, Bloomberg (Brazilian television network), and Bovespa (the São Paulo stock market).

Academic Culture

The academic culture at FGV-EAESP focuses both on theoretical learning and practical knowledge. In the classroom, students are able to debate and discuss innovative management issues, analyze case studies, and participate in role-playing exercises to better understand business principles. Each IPM course at FGVEAESP meets for an eight-week module and is taught in English. The normal course load is three to four courses per module plus the CIEE language course. Students receive an IPM Diploma when they choose to take four courses in each module. Students should expect challenging coursework and a rigorous program of study. Under the supervision of the Resident Director, students may enroll in any IPM course. Direct enrollment courses, taught in Portuguese, run on a semester-long basis.

FGV-EAESP follows a Southern Hemisphere academic calendar: the first semester of the academic year begins in late February and finishes in mid-June; the second semester begins in early August and ends in early December.

Academic year students have an eight-week break between the fall and spring semesters. Calendar year students have a break of approximately six weeks between the spring and fall semesters.

Where You'll Study:

Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo da Fundação Getúlio Vargas

The Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo da Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) was founded in 1954 through a joint effort of the Brazilian government and community with cooperation from Michigan State University. Designed to meet the needs for business education in Brazil, FGV holds worldwide recognition as a highly reputable private college focused on business administration and economics. With more than 70 international partner schools, FGV is one of the only institutions to earn the "triple crown" of international accreditations from AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA.

Program Requirements

All students take a CIEE Portuguese language course for the duration of the semester. During each module, students are required to take three courses, one of which is the course entitled Brazilian Economy. Students take a minimum of seven courses total during the semester. Students may take one or two additional IPM courses.

For those students who place into Advanced Portuguese language, they may substitute a Portuguese-taught direct enrollment course for an IPM course with Resident Director approval.

Recommended Credit

semester: 16-20 semester/24-30 quarter hours
year: 32-40 semester/48-60 quarter hours

Duration

• Academic Year: 49 weeks late July - late June
• Spring: 17 weeks early February - early July
• Calendar Year: 40 weeks early February - early December
• Fall: 17 weeks late July - mid-December
• Academic Year: 49 weeks late July - late June

CIEE Fees - Check the CIEE website for current fees.
CIEE program fees, inclusions, and estimated additional costs, are outlined below. Please note that CIEE reserves the right to adjust its fees in the event of significant change in exchange rates or other factors beyond its control. The actual cost of the programs may vary slightly for students from different institutions.

Online Pre-Departure and On-Site Orientations
Students begin their study abroad experience in São Paulo before even leaving home--by participating in a CIEE Online Pre-Departure Orientation. Meeting with students online, the Resident Director shares information about the program and site, highlighting issues that alumni have said are important, and giving students time to ask any questions before leaving home. The online orientation allows students to connect with others in the group, reflect on what they want to get out of the program, and learn what others in the group would like to accomplish. The CIEE goal for the pre-departure orientation is simple: to help students understand more about the program and site, as well as their goals for the program, so that they arrive to the program
well-informed and return home having made significant progress toward their goals.

A three-day mandatory orientation session is conducted at the beginning of the program and introduces students to the country, culture, and academic program, as well as provides practical information about living in Brazil. Safety, public transportation, gender and race issues, and family relations are discussed. Ongoing support is provided on an individual and group basis throughout the program.

Housing & Meals

Housing and two meals per day are included in the program fee. One meal per day, usually lunch or dinner depending on class schedules, is not included in the fee and is the responsibility of the student. During orientation, students are housed together in a hotel. During the remainder of the semester, students are placed in carefully screened Brazilian homestays. For academic and calendar year students, housing during the respective two-month break ( mid-December--early February) and the one-month break (July) is not included in the fee and is the responsibility of the student.

Internet

Students have access to computer labs at FGV. In addition, CIEE pays for each student to use a private Internet café for three hours per week. Please note that access to the Internet and computer labs at Brazilian universities is much more limited than at U.S. universities. Students may use any of the numerous Internet cafés throughout the city and located near the FGV campus and are strongly encouraged to bring wirelessenabled laptops. Many, but not all, host families offer wireless at home.

Cultural Activities

The program includes one weekend field trip and an overnight trip in Brazil and cultural visits to sites of historical and cultural importance in São Paulo. In the past, students have visited Rio de Janeiro and the colonial city of Paraty; the headquarters and community of the Landless Movement; Aparecida do Norte, the most famous center of devotion for the Brazilian Catholic population; and a samba school. Students have also participated in community service projects in disadvantaged communities, attended concerts, Brazilian movies, museums, and soccer games.

Immersion

Immersion in the local culture is a priority at CIEE Study Centers around the world.CIEE participants make the most of their program through CIEE-guided excursions, field study and internship programs, volunteering, conversation exchanges, homestays, and special events. The opportunities will vary depending on location. read on to learn more about this program.

Message from the Colleges of the Fenway
Global Education Opportunities Center

Please be aware that study abroad involves two application deadlines - the application deadline for "the Council on International Educational Exchange" (CIEE - the provider of this study abroad program), and the deadline to seek approval from your home campus Study Abroad Director (in order to receive credit for participating in this program). 

In general, you will need to inform your home campus Study Abroad Director by the "Application Deadline" indicated below.  By pressing on the "Apply Now" button, you will begin the process of notifying your home campus Study Abroad Director of your intent to study abroad.  In order to participate in this program, you will also need to follow the application instructions of CIEE, as indicated above.

Keep in mind that if it appears that a deadline date has already passed for the time that you wish to study abroad, you should still make contact with both your Study Abroad Director and the program provider, by pressing on the "Request Info" button and stating clearly your desired dates.  While it can never be guaranteed, there are cases when last-minute requests can be accommodated.