Portuguese BA, Portuguese Studies BA

Program Purpose

Full program information, including detailed descriptions of measures of student learning and current data generated by those measures is available on the College of Humanities assessment summary

The undergraduate Portuguese major is a liberal arts program that aims to develop skills in critical thinking, written expression and oral proficiency in the Portuguese language. The major should provide a depth of understanding of and an appreciation for the Portuguese language and literary traditions and the multiple cultures that the language represents.

It is designed to serve students who plan to enter the learned professions or pursue other career paths that require perceptive reading, orderly and clear thinking, intellectual maturity, effective writing and acceptable oral communication.

Learning Outcomes

Language Competence

Students will speak, listen, read, and write Portuguese at the ACTFL Advanced Low level or better.

Courses that Contribute: PORT 321 PORT 322 PORT 323R PORT 325 PORT 326 PORT 330 PORT 360 PORT 491 PORT 493 PORT 520 PORT 521 PORT 522 PORT 529R
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging
Cultural Competence

Students will identify cultural practices (e.g., customs and traditions) and cultural products (e.g., literatures, arts, institutions, and individuals) from the Portuguese-speaking world, place them in their historical, political, and social contexts, and interpret the unique perspectives on human experience that they reveal.

Courses that Contribute: PORT 321 PORT 323R PORT 330 PORT 341 PORT 345 PORT 346R PORT 351 PORT 355 PORT 356R PORT 395R PORT 438 PORT 439R PORT 442 PORT 449R PORT 452 PORT 453 PORT 459R PORT 461R PORT 493 PORT 520 PORT 521
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging
Critical Thinking and Expression

Students will analyze language, literary texts, and other cultural products and practices using sound thinking and clear expression.

Courses that Contribute: PORT 321 PORT 322 PORT 323R PORT 330 PORT 341 PORT 345 PORT 346R PORT 351 PORT 355 PORT 356R PORT 360 PORT 438 PORT 439R PORT 442 PORT 449R PORT 452 PORT 453 PORT 459R PORT 461R PORT 480R PORT 493 PORT 520 PORT 521
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging
Connecting Learning to Life

Students will connect academic experience to their personal and professional lives.

Courses that Contribute: PORT 323R PORT 345 PORT 355 PORT 360 PORT 377 PORT 399R PORT 449R PORT 459R PORT 461R PORT 493
Linked to BYU Aims: Lifelong Learning and Service

Evidence of Learning

Program-level assessments include an ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT), a Capstone Portfolio, the Senior Survey, and the Alumni Questionnaire. Please see the alignment table for additional information.

Additional Assessment Tools

In addition to the Portuguese Oral Proficiency Interview and the Writing Proficiency Test taken by all graduating seniors, the Humanities Learning Resource Center offers two examinations created for Portuguese students:

- Portuguese WebCLIPS diagnostic exams to assess mastery of specific grammar topics (WebCLIPS also offers lessons with grammar explanations, practice, and immediate feedback)
-Portuguese 16-credit Exam, which provides up to 16 lower-division credits that students may purchase. Students may take this test while enrolled in their first Portuguese course at BYU.

Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement

1. Proposed curriculum changes are submitted by the appropriate section head to the Curriculum and Assessment Committee for discussion, followed by subsequent approval by the Executive Committee and the department.

2. Assessment of program-level objectives is done on department Assessment Days in Fall and Winter semesters, as well as during the college's annual Assessment Retreat in the Spring. Areas for possible improvement are noted and subsequently considered by the Curriculum and Assessment Committee and the department.