Note: Although it brings “Nursing” in the program name, which is required by the Study Abroad Office, the program is open to all UW students interested in the focus of the program. Students need to apply by February 15, 2026 using the link > Program Brochure
- Program Name: Nursing Brazil: Health Promotion and Community Engagement
- Program Dates: 09/05/2026 – 09/27/2026
- Location: Londrina/Brazil (12 nights); Sao Paulo/ Brazil (10 nights)
- Course: NURS 413 – Health in the Context of Culture – 5 credits – Areas of knowledge: Social Sciences (SSc) Diversity (DIV)
- General info: Experience Brazil through an immersive study abroad program that blends global health education, physical activity, and aging research with rich cultural engagement. Students will learn alongside international experts while exploring how health, movement, equity, and Brazil’s public health system intersect in real-world community and clinical settings.
- The program has no pre-requisites and no language requirements
Upcoming information sessions on Zoom – https://washington.zoom.us/j/93128948965
- Jan 29th (Thu) – 5-6 pm
- Jan 30th (Fri) – 12-1 pm
- Feb 11th (Wed) – 11 am-12 pm
- Feb 11th (Wed) – 5-6 pm
Program Description:
This 5-credit course will introduce students to global perspectives on health promotion, community health, and lifestyle interventions through immersive study abroad experiences in Brazil. Coursework combines site visits, faculty seminars, and structured reflection with a strong emphasis on writing. Students will develop discipline-specific writing skills by analyzing community and clinical health initiatives, comparing U.S. and Brazilian health systems, and articulating insights about prevention-oriented care.
The program will begin in Londrina (12 nights), a large city in southern Brazil and home to the State University of Londrina (UEL). Academic activities will be based at UEL’s Health Sciences Center and the Center for Physical Education and Sports (CEFE), which houses one of Brazil’s most respected sports science programs and state-of-the-art laboratories for exercise physiology, biomechanics, and body composition. Students will learn from research projects designed for clinical populations, including a long-standing strength training program for older women and an exercise program for breast cancer survivors. In addition, they will interact with UEL students from the English language degree program. Cultural activities will include visits to the Coffee Museum, natural parks such as the Botanical Garden and Lago Igapó, and excursions to rural districts with organic food production.
The second portion of the program will take place in São Paulo (10 nights), hosted by the University of São Paulo (USP). Activities will be organized through USP’s School of Nursing. Students will engage with urban health promotion projects, nursing research teams, and interdisciplinary collaborations focused on large-scale clinical and community health challenges. Cultural activities in São Paulo will include visits to the São Paulo Museum of Art, Parque Ibirapuera, the Mercado Municipal, the Liberdade neighborhood, and attendance at a soccer match.