Course Description

This course introduces Brazilian contemporary social issues– citizenship, race, education, policing, social welfare, health, and poverty will all be explored . Rio de Janeiro will serve as the setting to explore these issues.

Brazil has become the focus of significant international attention, not only because it is preparing to host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, but also because it has been emerging as a major player in geopolitics given the size of its economy, its tremendous natural resources, and its strengthening de-mocracy. Yet most Americans understand Brazil only as a series of tourist snapshots: the Amazon, soc-cer, Carnival, etc.

Why Brazil? Brazil is the world’s fifth largest and fifth most populous country, with the eighth larg-est economy. It is a fascinating nation of contrasts and contradictions—of poverty and wealth, of the privileges and the deprivations of race and class, and of economic leaders employing cutting-edge technology while many live and labor under primitive conditions.

Study Abroad Summer 2016

SOCIOLOGY 3525

Contemporary Social Issues in Brazil

Dr. Sukari Ivester sukari.ivester@ csueastbay.edu

Primary Text

Dancing with the Devil in the City of God: Rio de Janeiro on the Brink by Juliana Barbassa (2015)ISBN: 978-1476756257

This book is available on Amazon for $21 in paperback or $12 in Kindle format.

CSUEB Sociology Student Learning Outcomes / Institutional Learning Outcomes Satisfied by SOC XXX1

Sociology & Social Service

Student Learning Outcomes ( SLOs)

CSUEB Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

Sociology SLO1: [Critical Thinking] Students will be

able to read and analyze sociological data and, thus, be

able to critically examine “knowledge” veracity.

1. Graduates of CSUEB will be able to think critically and creative-

ly and apply analytical and quantitative reasoning to address com-

plex challenges and everyday problems

Sociology SLO2: [Communication] Orally and in writ-

ing, students will be able to effectively communicate and

engage in educated, open-minded discussions of diverse

sociocultural beliefs, perspectives, and norms.

2. Graduates of CSUEB will be able to communicate ideas, perspec-

tives, and values clearly and persuasively while listening openly to

others

Sociology SLO3: [Diversity] Students will be able to

embrace social diversity, and critically analyze cultural

representations of oppressed populations, while working

toward equity and empowerment.

3. Graduates of CSUEB will be able to apply knowledge of diversity

and multicultural competencies to promote equity and social jus-

tice in our communities

Sociology SLO4: [Collaboration with Diverse Groups]

Students will be able to work collaboratively in diverse

groups.

4. Graduates of CSUEB will be able to work collaboratively and

respectfully as members and leaders of diverse teams and commu-

nities

Sociology SLO5: [Responsibility & Sustainability] Stu-

dents will be able to promote sustainability by acquiring

knowledge of local, national and global socioeconomic

policies and practices that contribute to poverty, re-

source scarcity, violence, exploitation, and environmen-

tal degradation, as well as explore ethical, responsible

alternatives to those policies.

5. Graduates of CSUEB will be able to act responsibly and sustain-

ably at local, national, and global levels

Sociology SLO6:[Integration & Synthesis of Knowledge]

Students will able to critically read, interpret, integrate

and synthesize abstract sociological arguments, theo-

ries, and practice methods.

6. Graduates of CSUEB will demonstrate expertise and integration

of ideas, methods, theory and practice in a specialized discipline of

study.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, students are able to: Understand general social dynamics in Brazil Comprehend the theoretical and empirical debate about the welfare state in Brazil Understand the roots and the contours of contemporary issues in Brazilian society Gain practical and more experiential understanding of issues from the ground in Brazil

Learning Outcome Evaluation (Assessment) Students will become academically conversant in the major social, economic, and cultural developments of modern Brazil.

Students will complete reaction papers measuring both their mastery of the material covered in discussions, and readings and their ability to use that knowledge to make their own arguments.

Students will be able to analyze and evaluate the content and meaning of primary sources, and through critical interpreta-tion, draw reasonable conclusions.

Students will complete several news article responses requiring the synthesis of article content, other readings and experiential activities.

Students will be able to formulate original contemporary ques-tions and answer them by systematic research in primary and secondary sources.

These skills will be demonstrated in an original research paper that will demonstrate the student’s contemporary knowledge of Brazil.

Students will be able to write a research paper that is coherent and persuasive by following norms for writing and careful documentation.

Mastery of these aptitudes will assessed in the evaluation of the research paper’s prose, format, and historical insight.

The methodology of the course consists of guided visits with supporting lectures. Attend-ance is required. Students will have open discussions on course content, some of these dis-cussions are based on assignments submitted individually or as a group.

Course requirements include readings and almost daily field activities in the city of rio de janeiro. It is imperative that each student complete the assigned reading in a timely fashion, as this enables him/her to actively participate in class. Class/activity attendance and active participation constitute one of the evaluation criteria for this course. Students also complete a final paper based on an in-depth, investiga-tion.

The final grade is based on the overall performance of each student in 3 areas:

Attendance/ Participation 50% Participation and attendance, based on the student´s active presence and participation in class and other curricular activities. Special emphasis is made on the contribution of each student during the activity sessions.

JOURNAL 50% YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO KEEP A JOURNAL FOR SOCIOLOGY 3535. PLEASE READ THE VERY DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THIS ASSIGNMENT. NOTE: THERE IS A PRE-DEPARTURE ASSIGNMENT FOR THIS JOURNAL (SEE LAST PAGE), SO YOU DON’T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL YOU GET TO BRAZIL TO READ IT!

Course Requirements

Page 3

COURSE GRADING

The exam and assignment due dates will not be changed, so please take note of the scheduled requirements and plan accord-

ingly. I expect timeliness for the out-of-class assignments, and all late work will be penalized. The course employs a criterion

grading system. Therefore, theoretically, everyone in the class could earn an “A”. This helps to prevent students from being

penalized in the event one or two students do exceptionally well. To assure a specific grade, consider the following scale:

95-100% = A 83-86% = B 73-76% = C 63-66% = D

90-94% = A- 80-82% = B- 70-72% = C- 60-62% = D-

87-89% = B+ 77-79% = C+ 67-69% = D+ < 60 = F

NOTE WELL:

* Late assignments will loose 1 full grade step- for each day late.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

I expect you to be familiar with and abide by the CSUEB statement on academic honesty: http://www20.csueastbay.edu/academic/academic-policies/academic-dishonesty.html. Academic honesty is a matter of trust within the academic community as well as a matter of respect for intellectual property. It is also essential to learning. I am always happy to discuss this matter if you have any questions.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONSIf you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please inform me as soon as possible to make arrangements and contact the Office of Accessibility Services: http://www20.csueastbay.edu/af/departments/as/

Readings

Week 1

20 June CONTEMPORARY BRAZIL: BEYOND SAMBA, SOCCER AND SEX

READING: BARBASSA- INTRODUCTION AND CHAPTER 1

21 June GEOGRAPHY OF THE DIVIDED CITY

READING: BARBASSA- CHAPTER 2

22 June THE RISE OF COMMANDO VERMELHO

READING: BARBASSA- CHAPTER 3 & 4

23 June POLICING AN UNEQUAL CITY: PACIFICATION POLICE UNITS (UPPS)

READING: BARBASSA- CHAPTER 5

24 June BRAZIL’S PUBLIC EDUCATION AND DEMOCRATIC INEQUALITIES

READING: BARBASSA- CHAPTER 6 & 7

Week 2

27 June

HEALTH SYSTEM IN BRAZIL: SISTEMA ÚNICO DE SAÚDE (SUS) 28 June

INDIGENOUS BRAZIL

READING: BARBASSA- CHAPTER 14 & 15

29 June MEGA-EVENTS AND RESISTANCE

READING: BARBASSA- CHAPTER 17, 18

30 June GUEST LECTURE: THE GLOBAL GHETTO

1 July FINAL DEBRIEF/ QUESTION SESSION FOR FINAL PAPER

READING: TBA

Dr. Tyrone Simpson, Director of Urban Studies, Vassar College