Explore the global impact of Iberian, Latin American, and Luso-Afro-Brazilian languages and cultures
How do language and culture shape our worldviews and deepen our connections with global communities? The Portuguese minor empowers you to explore the languages, cultures, and histories of the Portuguese-speaking world—across four continents, from Brazil to Mozambique, Portugal to Cape Verde. Through courses in language, literature, film, and cultural studies, you’ll gain advanced proficiency in Portuguese while developing critical, cross-cultural, and analytical skills that position you for success in a pluralistic and interconnected world.
No previous knowledge of Portuguese is needed. This one-year course is for students who haven’t studied a Romance language before. You’ll work on basic reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, with an emphasis on oral communication.
Fast Portuguese for Spanish Speakers and speakers of other Romance Languages I
This accelerated, one-semester course covers all the material from Portuguese Elementary. It’s designed for students who already know Spanish or another Romance language like French or Italian. The class introduces basic Portuguese grammar and includes information about the cultures of Portuguese-speaking countries.
Soccer in Brazil: Opium of the Masses
Futebol offers a unique perspective on politics, race and citizenship in Brazil. This course seeks to understand Brazilian culture through the historic national pastime of futebol. By reading a variety of texts from newspapers, academic journals, fiction and film, students will be able to find their own approach to understanding the phenomenon of futebol within the social and political traditions of Brazil.
Faculty Spotlight
PROF. ALEXRONEY SANTOS OLIVEIRA
Lecturer, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
New Brazilian Lecturer for Spanish and Portuguese Program
Professor Oliveira’s appointment will open new opportunities for students to connect with SAIS and the Embassy of Brazil in Washington, DC, deepening cultural and academic ties between our institutions and Brazil.
Hopkins students are eager to pursue their interests outside the classroom. With 400+ registered student organizations, here are just a few you could join:
Investigate global ideas through literature, philosophy, art, and critical thinking
Explore literature, philosophy, and theory across periods, regions, and disciplines. You’ll develop tools for critical analysis, creative interpretation, and understanding major issues that connect literature with philosophy, history, and culture. This minor encourages you to draw connections across languages and time periods, broadening intellectual horizons and strengthening analytical skills useful in any field.
In this First-Year Seminar, you’ll dive into how humans have asked what it means to be human—from myths and religion to art, literature, and philosophy. You’ll read stories and poems, look at art in museums, and think about how our ideas shape our relationships with animals, machines, and each other.
Dilemmas: When Fiction Asks You to Take Sides
In this class, you’ll dig into tough questions from stories and films—like whether someone should obey the law or resist, or if justice means sacrificing one life for another. You’ll practice different ways of reading and thinking so you can reflect on your own role as a reader, judge, and ethical decision-maker.
The Future of Work: AI, Labor, and Migration
How is the “AI Revolution” changing work today? In this course, you’ll look at how AI impacts underemployment, migration, and diasporic communities. Through readings, writing, and presentations, you’ll explore what work, community, and solidarity mean in a world shaped by AI.
Faculty Spotlight
PROF. SATORU HASHIMOTO
Assistant Professor, Department of Comparative Thought and Literature
Satoru Hashimoto Receives MLA Scaglione Prize Honorable Mention for His First Book
His groundbreaking work on the transnational origins of modern East Asian literature reflects access to faculty leaders in cutting-edge global literary analysis.
Hopkins students are eager to pursue their interests outside the classroom. With 400+ registered student organizations, here are just a few you could join:
Explore the interrelationships between identities, institutions, migration, and displacement.
Critical Diaspora Studies (CDS) is the newest undergraduate major at Johns Hopkins University. A group of undergraduate Hopkins student activists envisioned and designed this unique program while pushing for curricular change to meet the challenges of the present moment.
The CDS major examines the intersections among geographical and cultural areas of study that are often considered separately—such as Asian-American, African diaspora, Indigenous, and Latinx studies. It looks at topics related to diasporic communities and their migrations by comparing different examples, bringing together ideas from various areas around the globe, and focusing on how the insights can be used in real-world applications.
Offered through the Chloe Center for the Critical Study of Racism, Immigration, and Colonialism, this major emphasizes community-engaged research and internships with partners in Baltimore, deepening relationships between students and the city. Students will choose from courses in these tracks: Migration and Borders; Global Indigeneities; Empires, Wars, and Carceralities; and Social Movements, Solidarities, and Citizenship.
This course examines the politics of memory: how power shapes what is available to be remembered, the timing and occasions of memory, who is allowed to remember, and the spaces inside of which remembrance takes place.
History Research Lab: Asian Diaspora in Baltimore
In this class, you’ll help build a set of digital and visual resources on local histories of Baltimore-area Asian diasporic communities. You’ll be trained in research and curatorial tools, such as critical oral history and digital storytelling, and collaborate with local community organizations.
The Trouble With Diversity
This course considers the history of “diversity” and how that concept has been institutionalized in employment, government, and educational settings. Through historical and cultural texts, we’ll cover topics from the arrival of “colorblindness” in the 1890s to the most recent approaches to “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.”
Department Spotlight
PROF. JASMINE BLANKS JONES
Lecturer, Chloe Center
In Critical Diaspora Studies Course, Students Reimagine Maryland’s 19th Century Black Schools
Undergraduate students in the Spring 2025 Critical Diaspora Studies semester course Freedom Education: Embodied Speculative History of Maryland Schools for African Americans in the 1800s brought to life the daily patterns of Black education during Reconstruction through the execution of two original short films. The respective films were filmed at historical sites: Hosanna School in Harford County and the McComas Institute in Joppa.
Critical Diaspora Studies Students Participate in Delegation to U.S.-Mexico Border
Over fall break, 10 Hopkins undergraduates enrolled in the course “Introduction to Critical Diaspora Studies” travelled to Tucson, Arizona, to participate in an experiential education opportunity. This is a report on this delegation.
Critical Diaspora Studies Students Organize Workshop on Immigrant Solidarities
True to the spirit of Critical Diaspora Studies, “Immigrant Solidarities” sought to build awareness and solidarity between different immigrant groups with similar, interconnected histories that are often mistakenly viewed as separate.
Address economic challenges across social, cultural, and political contexts.
The moral and political economy major encourages you to think across disciplines to come up with new and integrated approaches to ongoing societal issues. You’ll choose from a number of focus tracks based on a crucial problem, or propose an original focus track tailored to your specific interests.
This course is an intensive introduction to writings that put economic life in its historical, political, ethical, and philosophical contexts.
Research Lab
This class will serve as a venue for you to pursue research projects of your own design. Each seminar will be focused on a loosely defined theme, providing structure, deadlines, and a support system for independent research.
Elements of Macroeconomics
In this introduction to the economic system and economic analysis, you’ll study topics like total national income and output, employment, the price level and inflation, money, the government budget, the national debt, and interest rates.
Faculty Spotlight
PROF. GLORIA LIU
Assistant Director, Center for Economy and Society
Program Prepares Students to Tackle Challenges of a Complex World
A new degree program in moral and political economy at Hopkins aims to give students the foundational skills and knowledge needed to think broadly about multifaceted problems.
Hopkins students are eager to pursue their interests outside the classroom. With 400+ registered student organizations, here are just a few you could join:
Empowering students from all areas of study to be engaged global citizens.
What does it take for people to engage productively as informed, skilled, and effective members of democratic communities and the world? The area of civic studies examines why such skills are foundational to making liberal democracy work in pluralistic societies, how such capacities can be nurtured, and the historical and contemporary struggles to realize these principles. It is an applied and interdisciplinary field, incorporating critical reflection, ethical thinking, empirical understanding, historical perspectives, and action for social change within and between societies.
The aim is to equip students with the skills and motivation they need to engage productively in civic life, no matter where they live, or what they do.
Hahrie Han, Inaugural director of the SNF Agora Institute
CLASSES YOU MIGHT TAKE
Introduction to Civic Life
This course introduces the theory and principles of civic life and the rights and responsibilities of active citizenship. We’ll examine the history of and struggles for freedom, inclusion, and civic participation; the role of information, deliberation, and free expression in the public sphere; and the threats and opportunities for global democracy.
Civic Life Seminar
This seminar builds on the foundational questions of civic life discussed in “Introduction to Civic Life” coursewith a heavier emphasis on action: developing and practicing skills that are needed for active citizenship. Students will become well-versed in principles of collective action, communication, and the science of collaboration.
Science and Democracy
What role does scientific expertise play (or not play) in American democracy? And shat role should it play (or not play)? These are the key questions we’ll address in this class, focusing on a wide range of examples such as government responses to public health crises, environmental crises, and war.
Faculty Spotlight
PROF. LILLIANA MASON
Associate Professor of Political Science, SNF Agora Institute
PROF. CONSEULO AMAT
Assistant Professor of Political Science, SNF Agora Institute
SNF Agora Hosts Symposium on Mental Health and Democratic Agency
Experts from Hopkins led explorations of the relationship between mental well-being and democracy at a symposium in Athens.
Prepare for and compete within an expanding marketplace.
The Accounting & Financial Management program prepares students for careers in small companies, major corporations, and consultancies as well as acceptance into graduate programs in accountancy.
Students in all disciplines can complement their major fields of study with this minor. It’s not only relevant if you plan to seek employment but also critical if you plan to attend graduate programs in accounting immediately after completing your undergraduate studies.
This course is designed as an overview of three broad categories: the economic, financial, and corporate context of business activities; the organization and management of firms and organizations; and the marketing and production of goods and services.
Identifying and Capturing Markets
You’ll learn how to identify individual and organizational market needs through entrepreneurial thinking. Exposure to a broad range of organizations—from startups to a variety of industry sectors—will provide insight into the role that marketing plays in an organization’s ability to identify, capture and grow these markets.
Corporate Finance
In this introduction to the financial management of a corporation, you’ll study the following questions: How should a firm decide whether to invest in a new project? How much debt and equity should a firm use to finance its activities? How should a firm pay its investors? How do taxes affect a firm’s investment and financing decisions? What determines the value of a firm?
Faculty Spotlight
JOSHUA REITER
Senior Lecturer, Center for Leadership Education
Students learn how to turn their great ideas into viable business ventures
Course participants develop and pitch ideas in health care, biotech, and wearable technology.
Hopkins students are eager to pursue their interests outside the classroom. With 400+ registered student organizations, here are just a few you could join:
The second-oldest creative writing program in the U.S.
The Writing Seminars program offers a liberal arts education with a concentration in writing. In addition to fiction and poetry, you’ll study literature, philosophy, and history in other departments and demonstrate competency in a foreign language. You’ll compose a portfolio of original writing that not only meets the standards for application to MFA programs, but also serves as the foundation for careers in communication, law, teaching, or other fields where success is a function of skills in close analysis conveyed through lucid and intelligent writing.
Message a current student to see what it’s like to study Writing Seminars at Hopkins.
CLASSES YOU MIGHT TAKE
Writing the Unreal
In this class, we’ll look exclusively at writing which takes on what hasn’t been seen, and hasn’t been felt. Through reading works of science fiction, magical realism, gothic literature, and speculative fiction, you’ll investigate how the unreal can still speak to our experiences and perceptions of the real and craft your own fantastical worlds through regular writing assignments.
Art of the Personal Essay
This course explores the art and craft of the personal essay from Seneca to Soyinka, Montaigne to Adichie. Through personal narrative exploration, we’ll write about universal themes—family, loss, social justice—through various nonfiction essay forms, such as the braided essay, lyric essay, science essay, or humor essay.
Performing Poetry & Fiction: An Acting Workshop for Writers
This hands-on performance workshop, combining literary and theatrical practice, will look closely at what makes a performance or reading compelling, clear, and resonant. Through textual analysis, vocal technique, and group discussion, you’ll create a pliant and powerful reading style to best serve your work.
Faculty Spotlight
PROF. ERIC PUCHNER
Associate Professor, Writing Seminars
Eric Puchner’s Dream State
Writing Seminars chair Eric Puchner talks with a former advisee about why ‘dark books’ resonate with readers like Oprah Winfrey, who chose his new bestselling novel, ‘Dream State’, for her renowned book club.
Hopkins students are eager to pursue their interests outside the classroom. With 400+ registered student organizations, here are just a few you could join:
Catalyze intellectual discussions in which gender and sexuality concerns play important roles.
Join students and faculty from different departments who share an interest and need to address and interrogate their research fields from a queer, feminist, or otherwise gender- and sexuality-inflected perspective. This program encourages and supports initiatives for research projects, events, guest speakers, and curriculum developments emerging from all parts of campus. In our Seminar/Practicum, you can even combine volunteer work in a local social service agency with a seminar that explores the connections between social justice and academic inquiry.
Feminist and Queer Theory: Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality-Intersectional Feminist Theory
We’ll get to know intersectional feminist philosophy through the lens of a Black feminist epistemology, meaning we’ll focus on how the contributions of Black feminist authors can bring out the specific political and philosophical nature of an intersectional theoretical framework.
Gender Justice: From Conflict to Resolution
This course focuses on the potential and limitations of the recent efforts of the international community to introduce a “gendered approach” to conflict resolution, peacebuilding and transitional justice. It examines the fundamental theoretical issues that underlie the “gendered approach” to transitional justice by following the evolution of the gendered approach to peacebuilding through case studies.
Ecofeminist Debates: Gender and Sexuality Beyond the Global West
This course develops an interdisciplinary and comparative approach to introduce ecofeminism through a special focus on its inflections in non-western contexts. Through class discussions and sustained writing engagement, we’ll develop an understanding of the history of ecofeminism, including theoretical debates linking gender perspectives with political mobilization, as well as ecofeminism’s enduring influence on new intellectual and political movements.
Faculty Spotlight
Jeannine Heynes
Director of Women and Gender Resources
Conference Focuses on Mental Health, Well-Being of Women of Color
Networking event brings together current and former students, faculty, and staff to share their experiences with mental health and discuss ways to promote well-being.
Examine art through contemporary and historical perspectives.
With classes like drawing, painting, jewelry, Screenprinting, digital photography, fiber art, mixed media, and a range of special topics courses, you can develop your skills and examine art through contemporary and historical perspectives. Our Center for the Visual Arts hosts different exhibits, conversations with visiting artists, and connects you with study abroad programs so you can be exposed to art of all forms and cultures.
The fabric of the universe, a wrinkle in time and space—our physical universe is frequently described through fiber metaphors. Fiber processes are algorithmic. They grow exponentially, they fold, they tear, they wrinkle. These processes function as a pliable plane that can be bent, stretched, and turned inside out. This course offers students an opportunity to explore fiber processes through this sculptural lens. Topics include knitting, crochet, basketry, and lace as they come together to form sculptural armatures and objects. Together we will explore the physical properties of fiber and textiles and how they take up space and function in our world.
Introduction to Jewelry and Small Metals
This course will provide students with the basic skills needed to design and fabricate their own jewelry and/or small sculptures. Offered at the Baltimore Jewelry Center, a metal and jewelry makers-space, this class will cover piercing, filing, finishing, fabricating, soldering, forming, basic stone setting, and basic embellishment techniques as well as simple clasps. Designed for beginning sculpture, metals, or jewelry students, the projects may include a pierced pendant or brooch, a hollow constructed ring, a linked bracelet or necklace with clasp, and a bezel-set pendant or brooch. Students will become familiar with the safety, use, and maintenance of studio equipment and hand tools. No prior experience is required.
Oil Painting
This course is designed as an introduction to the tools, techniques, and concepts of basic painting for the serious student. Studio assignments focus on developing strong observation and rendering skills focusing on issues of light, color, and composition while experimenting with traditional and contemporary practices in painting. Lectures and a museum trip give students an art historical context in which they place their own discoveries as beginning painters. Oil paint will be used. No previous experience is necessary.
Faculty Spotlight
JOHN STECK JR.
Senior Lecturer and Photography Coordinator, Center for Visual Arts
A Silver Memory
On view at Moreau Gallery, John Steck Jr., a visual artist and educator in Baltimore, MD, uses light-sensitive emulsions to create photographs that fade and form over time. Steck Jr., a maker of photographic images and ephemeral objects, addresses our complex relationship with time, memory, and impermanence in his upcoming solo exhibition. This exhibition will be held at the Moreau Center for the Arts at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN through September 26, 2024.
Steck has exhibited across twenty states and five countries. His most recent solo exhibition, In the Shadow of the Bloom, was at the Hartman Gallery at Bradley University, in Peoria, IL. In the summer of 2023, he exhibited and presented at Yamaguchi University in Japan as part of Time and Measure, the 18th Triennial Conference for the International Society for the Study of Time. He has been included in over fifty publications, including a feature in Art21 Magazine as part of an article on the ephemeral nature of art. Steck has also attended artist residencies in Iceland, Ireland, Canada, and throughout the States. In 2016 he received a Fellowship Award from the Vermont Studio Center and in 2018 was a recipient of the IAP grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.
Trusting the Process at the Center for Visual Arts
For almost half a century, the Johns Hopkins Center for Visual Arts (CVA) has offered students a kind of learning not typically found in labs, archives, or lecture halls.
Hopkins students are eager to pursue their interests outside the classroom. With 430+ registered student organizations, here are just a few you could join:
Create performances of credibility, power, imagination, and spontaneity.
The theatre arts and studies minor offers a comprehensive approach to acting, directing, and playwriting, along with the fundamentals of technical direction, play production, play analysis, theatre management, and theatre history.
For those who seek careers in the arts, the acting and directing workshops, playwriting courses, and independent study opportunities provide rigorous training in acting and other theatre crafts, as well as an appreciation for and an understanding of the history of dramatic arts, its cultural significance, and the industries it has produced. Even if you aren’t pursuing a career in theatre arts, our courses offer a broader perspective and an understanding of societal traditions and culture that can be applied in any field.
Feminist and Queer Theory: Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality-Intersectional Feminist Theory
We’ll get to know intersectional feminist philosophy through the lens of a Black feminist epistemology, meaning we’ll focus on how the contributions of Black feminist authors can bring out the specific political and philosophical nature of an intersectional theoretical framework.
Gender Justice: From Conflict to Resolution
This course focuses on the potential and limitations of the recent efforts of the international community to introduce a “gendered approach” to conflict resolution, peacebuilding and transitional justice. It examines the fundamental theoretical issues that underlie the “gendered approach” to transitional justice by following the evolution of the gendered approach to peacebuilding through case studies.
Ecofeminist Debates: Gender and Sexuality Beyond the Global West
This course develops an interdisciplinary and comparative approach to introduce ecofeminism through a special focus on its inflections in non-western contexts. Through class discussions and sustained writing engagement, we’ll develop an understanding of the history of ecofeminism, including theoretical debates linking gender perspectives with political mobilization, as well as ecofeminism’s enduring influence on new intellectual and political movements.
Faculty Spotlight
Jeannine Heynes
Director of Women and Gender Resources
Conference Focuses on Mental Health, Well-Being of Women of Color
Networking event brings together current and former students, faculty, and staff to share their experiences with mental health and discuss ways to promote well-being.
