Brazil: Exploring Faith, Forest, and Future

Make São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Iguazu Falls and other great Brazilian cities your classroom for spring 2027! Earn valuable GE credit as you study in Brazil, the largest country in South America. This study abroad will introduce students to the dynamic intersection of culture, religion, and technological innovation. Through visits to the Amazon region, students will examine the cultural and political forces shaping one of the world’s most vital ecosystems. Time spent with Latter-day Saints and other religious communities will provide insight into the historical and contemporary influence of these faith traditions in Brazilian society. Students will also engage with Brazil’s rapidly expanding technology sector, including the emerging applications of artificial intelligence and digital systems.

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Courses

Students will enroll in the following courses while on this program:

UNIV 210R—Global and Cultural Awareness in Brazil (3 credit hours, fulfills GE Global and Cultural Awareness requirement)
UNIV 218R—Technology and Innovation in Brazil (3 credit hours, fulfills GE Social Science requirement)

Students may not take any other courses on this program, including BYU Online courses, without approval by the program director and ISP.

Cost

$TBD

Includes Latter-day Saint undergraduate full tuition (increased cost for graduate and non–Latter-day Saint students), housing, program excursions, admission to cultural sites and events, in-country flights, program transportation, and international health insurance coverage.

Does not include round-trip airfare to Brazil, E-visa, most meals, or personal expenses.

Funding Sources

Regular BYU tuition scholarships, Pell Grants, and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied to study abroad programs.

Students who submit the financial aid section of the ISP application and who have a current FAFSA form on file at the Financial Aid Office (3326 WSC) will be considered for a Study Abroad scholarship.

Academic departments and colleges may assist with scholarships and grants.

Private grants and scholarships outside of BYU may also assist (see kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships).

Preparation

Accepted students are required to participate in an international cross-cultural preparation course (IAS 201R, 1 credit hour). This course will be held during the second block of winter semester 2027. Part-time and non-BYU students will need to pay an additional tuition fee for enrolling in the prep class.

Students should plan to be in Brazil for the complete duration of the program and refrain from scheduling late arrivals or early departures.

International study programs are physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing and you must be in good health to participate. These programs often take place in international locations that do not have the same level of safety and services in terms of transportation, living conditions, residential accommodations, food, public behavior, and policing that you may be used to on campus. If you have further questions or concerns on this, please see our travel policy.

Housing

Students will stay in hotel accommodations throughout Brazil.

Travel

Students are responsible for purchasing their own airfare to and from the program sites. Airline reservations must be made through BYU Travel. Students should contact a BYU Travel agent.

BYU Travel
280 HRCB
(801) 422-6293
travel@byu.edu

Application Process

Students must be 18 years of age or older to participate.

Complete the online application here. A nonrefundable $35 application fee is required; applicants will be interviewed once the application is complete.

Students will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance into the program. The first payment is due upon acceptance; please refer to the Payment Information page.

Application Deadline: 20 November 2026

Program Adjustments

International Study Programs (ISP) reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost.

If it becomes necessary for ISP to cancel a program, all program payments made to BYU ISP will be refunded to the student’s BYU Financial account.

ISP is the only office authorized to cancel any of its programs.

Faculty

Steve Richardson has been a professor of Computer Science since 2021. Over previous decades, he worked at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Microsoft Research, and IBM Research. He and his wife Marianna were mission leaders of the Brazil Sao Paulo South Mission from 2008 to 2011. Marianna is an adjunct professor at the Marriott School of Business School and works with the G20 Interfaith Forum.

3372 TMCB
(801) 422-7656
srichardson@byu.edu

Scott L. Howell is a teaching professor in the Department of Church History and Doctrine. He and his wife, Lori, served as mission leaders of the North Dakota Bismarck Mission from 2018 to 2021. Lori served her young mission in the Brazil Brasilia Mission and is an adjunct professor of art at Salt Lake Community College.

275B JSB
(801) 422-1052
scott.howell@byu.edu

Contact Us

International Study Programs
101 HRCB
(801) 422-3686
isp@byu.edu

ISP Student Handbook

To see the student handbook, click here.

Payment Schedule

To see the payment schedule, click here.

Brazil: Exploring Faith, Forest, and Future

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More Information

Courses

Cost

Funding Sources

Preparation

Housing

Travel

Application Process

Program Adjustments

Faculty

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ISP Student Handbook

Payment Schedule