Lisbon Courses – 2024 Summer

If you have questions about the academics or courses available on this program, locate the Program Advisor to email them your questions directly.

Studying abroad can be a more meaningful and invigorating learning experience than at home—both inside and outside of the classroom. You may be more curious and alert than you usually are so use this heightened energy to enhance your studies as well as your cultural and geographical explorations. You may also encounter different teaching styles and course processes; be prepared to adapt and to learn.

Academics

USAC's partnership with Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) allows you to focus your studies on the political and socio-cultural aspects of Portugal, while also prompting critical thinking related to global trends and themes. Students can choose to take either one or two courses during UCP's June session. All courses are taught at the undergraduate level and are offered within UCP's Faculty of Human Sciences. With the exception of Portuguese language classes, courses are taught in English. Each course is worth 6 ECTS, which equates to 3 U.S. semester credits. Courses are subject to availability and approval of prerequisites which are determined by the host university.

Courses at Universidade Católica Portuguesa (subject to change):

Elementary Portuguese Language

This elementary-level course aims at the development of basic communication skills in European Portuguese. The course is designed to enable fast progression in language learning and to provide an introduction to Portuguese culture and society. Course progression is structured around the four communicative skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), which are integrated in authentic communicative scenarios.

Intermediate Portuguese Language

This intermediate-level course enables language learning through listening to oral interactions and speeches, reading written texts related to current and daily language, communicating in daily interactions and other scenarios where language is spoken, and writing both original and reproduced content. Language learning is applied to several real-life topics, including traveling, daily news, interpersonal relationships, small talk in personal and work situations, and more.

Brand Communication

This course allows students to acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge related to brand communication, while developing practical skills and analysis in planning, implementing, and evaluating brand communication strategies. Classroom sessions combine lecture, discussion, group discovery methods, hands-on projects, and case studies. Students also have the opportunity to attend guest lectures from organizations, who present and discuss with students real-life case studies in effective brand communication.

The EU and Portugal: Institutions, Policy, and Historic Landmarks

This course offers students critical analytical tools to understand the process of European integration and the institutions, politics, and historical landmarks that have paved the way for the European Union (EU). Topics to be covered include the ideals of the Union´s founders, supranational legislative production, great debates that have pitched national sovereignty against supranational clout, the advances and challenges of integration, and more. Lectures and independent study are complemented by direct observations of institutions at work, including study visits to sites that are landmarks in Portugal´s journey to European integration.

All courses are subject to meeting minimum enrollments to run.

Course Descriptions

Please contact the USAC Advising department to obtain course syllabi.