The ISA semester programs in Florianópolis combine solid academic offerings with a variety of excursions and cultural activities. Students choose 4 to 5 courses from a selection of Portuguese language courses and electives taught in English. All courses are taught by highly experienced professionals and academics from the host faculty of the Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (UNISUL). The classroom is comprised of ISA students, Brazilian students, and other visiting international students.

After spending over three months living and studying in Florianópolis, students will return home with specialized knowledge of Brazil's cultural and economic significance in today's globalized world. The exciting seminar courses are designed to provide broad overviews of many of the most important and challenging issues facing Brazil today. Along with lectures and discussions, many of the courses integrate excursions to important sites in southern Brazil.

Examples of site visits led by UNISUL professors:
- Visit to one of the largest marketing agencies in Florianópolis, Grupo SBC
- Visit with the creators of southern Brazil's largest music festival, Planeta Atlantida
- Visit to the largest samba school in the region - Interaction with local indigenous groups like the Guaraní
- Visits to innovative eco-tourism sites
- Visit to key tourist destinations on the island to understand growth of tourism industry in Brazil: includes a fashion and surf company, world-famous seafood restaurant, and El Divino nightclub

Spring Semester:
Students in the Spring semester begin courses at the end of February and complete their program in mid-June. The first weeks of the program coincide with the end of Brazil's carnaval festivities and students will arrive during the height of the summer months. During this time, the island's population nearly doubles due to the influx of visitors who come to enjoy the city's outdoor attractions during the warmest time of the year. Florianópolis truly comes alive with outdoor festivities, music, surfing and a wide array of adventure sports.

The Fall semester program:
The Fall program begins in early August and runs through the first week of December. Students will arrive at the end of Brazil's winter months and enjoy increasingly warm temperatures as the semester progresses. The 3 months spent in Florianópolis will allow students a unique immersion experience in one of Brazil's safest and most desirable cities. Not only will students receive Portuguese language instruction by a team of professors with 15+ years of experience, but they will also be exposed to the unique lifestyle of "manezinhos," or locals of Florianópolis.

Click to view Semester / Trimester Programs for Florianópolis

ISA's summer session in Florianópolis is an intensive 5-week program that combines Portuguese language courses with economics and culture studies taught in English. The program is designed to appeal to students at all levels of Portuguese background and serves as a thorough introduction to contemporary Brazil. Students must select one Portuguese language course and one elective from the following options:

- Economics in the Age of Globalization – Focus on Brazil
- Ethnicity and Society in the History and Culture of Brazil
- Culture for Language Learners (in Portuguese)

Students may also select a maximum of two optional courses if not already required by their program level:

- Portuguese Language Lab (required only for beginning level students)
- Brazilian Culture

Courses are taught by host faculty of UNISUL and the classroom is comprised of ISA and other international students.

Click to view Summer Programs for Florianópolis