Rice and Brazilian university create dual-degree program

By Dixita Viswanath     11/28/12 6:00pm

 

Rice University's first dual-degree doctoral program with the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), located in Brazil, was approved by the Faculty Senate on Nov. 14. 

This program offers graduate students in history the opportunity to study at both Rice and UNICAMP and receive certification from both universities, according to Associate Vice Provost for International Education Adria Baker. 

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Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies Arnaud Chevallier attributed the conception of this program to a need for students to be prepared for the rapidly globalizing world. 

"Having two degrees will allow students to have better connections and access to resources that they would not have [had] previously," Chevallier said. 

History professor Alida Metcalf conceived this program, and it awaits approval by President David Leebron. According to Metcalf, this program will enable a few students to have a truly global experience by providing them with an education in both a leading United States institution and a Brazilian university. 

According to Metcalf, students will have to take graduate-level courses at both universities. For example, all Rice graduate students are required to take an Introduction to Doctoral Studies course, a reading seminar and a research seminar in a subject of their interest. 

Students in the dual-degree program have to study at both campuses and complete minimum requirements for both, Metcalf said. If any potential courses overlap, the credit will count toward both universities. In order to receive certification from both universities, students will have to write one doctoral dissertation in their native language and defend it with their advisers in their home university as well as write a publishable paper in their host language and present it to their host advisers, Metcalf said. 

Rice and UNICAMP will, to the best of their abilities, match financial aid and will attempt to cover the tuition for participating students, Metcalf said. 

Metcalf believes this program is a stepping stone for future international endeavors by Rice. 

"At the moment, the dual-degree program is distinguished from all other graduate programs in history where students might want to study Brazil or the Atlantic world because students who come to Rice will be able to study in Brazil," Metcalf said. "There is no other such program in the U.S. We believe, also, that it is the first such dual-degree program in the humanities entered into by a Brazilian university." 

Metcalf said Rice established a relationship with UNICAMP through undergraduate study abroad programs, and Brasil@Rice has made this program possible. Brasil@Rice is an undergraduate program aimed at increasing study abroad opportunities for students in science or engineering fields, Metcalf said. 

"Under the Rice-UNICAMP memorandum of understanding, UNICAMP students can study for a semester at Rice, and Rice students can study for a semester at UNICAMP, tuition waived," Metcalf said. "This was established after the Brazilian government initiated the Science Without Borders Program, which gives scholarships for select Brazilian students to study abroad in [science-, technology-, engineering- and mathematics-related] fields." 

According to Baker, UNICAMP graduate student Ludmila Maia will be the first student to participate in this program. Maia is currently on campus completing her dual degree with Rice. In the future, the program plans to expand with more exchange students from both Rice and UNICAMP in both countries, Baker said. According to Metcalf, the program is looking to stay small and will accept one to two students every year. 

The mission of the program is to have Rice students proficient in multiple languages and to make global connections, Baker said. 

"When a student graduates from Rice, they are held to a certain standard of excellence," Baker said. "Dual-degree programs such as this one ensure that students can thrive in the growing global sector." 

Maia said her experience in the United States is something every student should have. 

"My adviser chose me to participate in this program because I have studied abroad before and know English fairly well," Maia said. "Here at Rice, I am excited to take a gender issues course because it is very different from my courses [in] Brazil. One of the main differences [I noticed between Rice and UNICAMP] is the number of opportunities that Rice provides. Students really do have the ... opportunity to study anything they want here. " 

Maia said she will spend a total of two semesters at Rice and will keep in touch with her Rice co-adviser via Skype and email. 

Metcalf said she believes the most challenging aspect of this program is being able to communicate effectively in both English and Portuguese. 

"By the end of this program, a student should be functionally proficient at an academic level in two languages," Metcalf said. "Both their English and Portuguese have to be sophisticated enough to learn, write and communicate effectively in both countries. Students who are aiming to take this program should take at least two years of the other language in order to prepare themselves for the rigor studying abroad demands." 

Baker said Rice's recent efforts toward globalization will contribute to the university's constant pursuit of excellence in education. 

"It is important to expand our initiatives because it allows for true globalization with top universities and top programs," Baker said. "It is very important that our globalization is not spread thin. In the future, we are aiming to broaden our sights to other universities in Latin America." 

Duncan College sophomore Eshan Kejriwal said studying abroad has a major impact on a student's education. 

"Having a foreign experience is more than just education," Kejriwal said. "It is definitively a life-changing experience because it takes you out of your comfort zone and gives you an opportunity to grow." 

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