GLIS 400Y Global Portugal

This one-week embedded program uses Lisbon as a case study to think about histories, politics, and cultures of globalization.

As a seminar in GLIS, students are invited to think about the topics they have studied in their other GLIS classes, such as migration, human rights, health and environment, culture and identity, wealth and inequality, and global conflict. The week in Lisbon will allow students to better understand the long history of globalization and multicultural encounters in Portugal through visits to castles, ruins, and museums; walking tours of migrant neighborhoods; guest lectures by Portuguese scholars; and conversations with writers and artists. These experiences will offer GLIS students a global experience while enhancing students’ understanding of Portugal, the Portuguese language, and, more broadly, global Portuguese communities and cultures.

Program Dates: March 210, 2024

Students must be enrolled in a 400-level Global and International Studies (GLIS) course or a Portuguese (PORT) course for the spring 2024 semester.

Krista Brune (kbrune@psu.edu) and Dayse Bede (dpb172@psu.edu)

  • Program Fee: Maximum fee of $1,973 for 10–12 students; $1,845 for 15–19 students; $1,768 for 20–24 students
  • Airfare: $600
  • In-Country Costs: $200 (meals, spending money, etc.)

NOTE: The embedded program fee will be billed to participants’ Penn State Office of the Bursar accounts in January, and the payment is due Monday, January 22, 2024.

  • The embedded program fee includes: hotel accommodations (with breakfast); transportation to/from the airport to the hotel; transportation related to program activities; fees related to program activities; some meals; emergency and administrative support
  • The embedded program fee does NOT include: course tuition; domestic transportation to/from the airport; airfare; some meals; spending money (souvenirs, gifts, gratuities, etc.); passport and visa (if applicable); required cell phone that works in Portugal without relying on Wi-Fi (i.e. international plan, burner phone bought abroad, etc.)

NOTE: Students are expected to arrange and pay for their own flights to/from Lisbon, Portugal (with guidance from the faculty leader about arrival/departure time windows); the group will not be traveling together.

To officially commit to the program, thoroughly read and submit the Official Financial Commitment Form by Friday, December 1, 2023. Interested students with questions may email Krista Brune.

There are several official avenues for embedded program funding within the University. The primary ways are through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network and Penn State Global, but students can also explore funding opportunities through their academic department, the Student Engagement Network, or Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring.

Learn more about funding for embedded programs

Get career ready!

Embedded programs help students to gain key skills that employers are most looking for in college graduates, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Below are 1–2 major competencies students can start to develop by participating in this program.

Equity and Inclusion

Meet with local writers and artists, visit key cultural and historical sites, and engage in lively discussions to better understand dynamic topics experienced by contemporary Portugal, relating to colonialism/postcolonialism, Portugal’s role in the European Union, and questions of migration, race, and belonging.

Career and Self Development

Display curiosity, initiative, and a drive for personal growth by actively seeking out the opportunity to apply concepts from your classes into a real-world context, such as globalization and multicultural encounters.

Want to hear more? Meet with a Liberal Arts career coach in the Career Enrichment Network to discuss your experience and identify even more ways that this program can enhance your personal and professional development!

The Belém Tower, a 16th-century fortress and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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