About the Location
With a population exceding 200,000,000, Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America. Brazil borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east and shares land borders with Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Brazil is a leading economic power in the region. The program is based in Salvador, the capital of Bahía and the largest city in the Brazilian northeast. Of Salvador's 2.8 million residents, approximately 80 percent are of African descent. Salvador is an ideal base from which to explore issues of public health, community welfare, and social justice in Brazil, given its tremendous diversity.
Academics
SIT Study Abroad programs are small, theme-based, and utilize an experiential, interdisciplinary curriculum. Classroom instruction and field study are incorporated into each course. Program components form a logical progression whereby students advance from a structured learning environment to a more independent one. The semester culminates in the completion of the Independent Study Project (ISP) during the final month of the program.
The
Brazil: Public Health, Race, and Human Rights program provides an in-depth exploration of healthcare policies in Brazil—how these policies are constructed and implemented and their resulting impacts on different groups and communities. Through lectures, seminars, site visits, and ongoing engagement with local practitioners and patrons in the healthcare system, students are completely immersed in the complexities of healthcare in Brazil. In particular, students focus on the intersections between race and health, and between health and human rights.
Alongside their exploration of Brazil’s formal healthcare system, students also study traditional Afro-Brazilian healing practices in both urban and rural areas, especially those practices rooted in the
Candomblé spiritual belief system.
- Grades count toward an Elon GPA.
- Study abroad courses may not be taken on an audit or pass/fail basis, regardless of the host institution's policy.
- View information on course offerings for the Brazil, Salvador: Public Health, Race, and Human Rights program.
- Additional information about course equivalents for this program is available on the Course Planning Registration for Study Abroad and Study USA page.
General Program Dates
Fall Semester: Early September to mid-December
Spring Semester: Early March to mid-June
Cost
Costs for study abroad vary program to program and will not be exactly the same as on-campus costs of attendance at Elon.
For cost information for this program, please see the budget sheets:
Scholarships/Travel Grants
Need-based scholarships are available for Elon semester programs through the GEC. For additional information on scholarships or other funding for study abroad, see the Funding for Study Abroad page.
If you qualify for a travel grant through any of the fellows or scholars programs, see the appropriate program director for more information on how to apply the grant to your study abroad program. Visit the Deadlines and Events Calendar for travel grant deadlines.
SIT offers need-based scholarships to students studying on SIT programs, including a Pell Grant Match Program. Details are on the SIT website. Students apply for scholarships at the time of application to SIT.
Housing
Students in the Brazil: Public Health, Race, and Human Rights program have several different
homestay experiences, which help them gain a comprehensive picture of the socioeconomic differences comprising Brazilian daily life.
Host families provide a safe and welcoming environment, allowing students to experience the different facets of Brazilian home life firsthand. Many students consider the homestay experience to be one of the most meaningful parts of the program.
Applications
Students must complete the online Elon University study abroad application by the published deadline. See the Deadline and Events Calendar for the most up-to-date deadline information. Applications are generally accepted one semester in advance.
Initial approval is granted by Elon and final acceptance is granted by SIT Study Abroad.
Orientations
A successful semester abroad is dependent upon adequate preparation. Students will participate in a series of mandatory orientations during the semester prior to studying abroad. These orientations will address issues of academic, cultural, logistical, financial, and personal preparation, as well as health and safety. Failure to participate in the required orientations will result in dismissal from the program. Any financial losses incurred by this dismissal, including program fees and international airfare, are the student's full responsibility.
View the pre-departure orientation schedule for the semester programs.
Additional Information and Links
Want to know more? Like the Global Education Center
Facebook page to chat with alumni and prospective students and receive study abroad updates.
Study Abroad Student Ambassadors (SASAs) are GEC student representatives who have participated in one or more study abroad programs, and have been trained to speak about their experiences. You can be in touch with
current SASAs via email, or contact
past study abroad participants who have attended your program. They are looking forward to hearing from you!
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