RESEARCH CENTER AND GRADUATE PROGRAM ON THE AMERICAS

CEPPAC 

Introduction

CEPPAC is a University of Brasília graduate program linked to the Institute of Social Sciences (ICS). It is a member of the Latin-American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) and of the Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Ciências Sociais (ANPOCS). It is characterized as a center of higher studies, which comprises the Masters and PhD program in Compared Studies on the Americas, in addition to research by its faculty, students and associate researchers.

The objective of the Graduate Program in Compared Studies on the Americas is to contribute in a substantial way to the construction of advanced knowledge and the development of university level personnel to work in both national and international organizations, universities, research centers, and government agencies in Brazil and in other countries in the Continent.  In this regard, the innovative way in which CEPPAC is organized - as compared to the classical structures of the University - by housing both a Graduate Program and a Research Center at the same time, opens the door for cooperation by researchers and professors from different fields, who gather around several themes of interest.

Title Awarded
Master or Doctor in Social Sciences, Specialized in Compared Studies on the Americas.

CEPPAC was created in 1987, as a result of an agreement between the University of Brasília (UnB) and the Latin-American School of Social Sciences (FLACSO).

In the course of its history, the Center has stressed the importance of comparative and interdisciplinary studies by providing opportunities for considerations on highly complex and current problems such as continental regionalization processes; the impact of global power arrangements on Latin America; the implications of accelerated intercontinental migrations, particularly in the South-North direction; the effects of new communication technologies on national societies and local cultures; political processes; and the construction of new collective and individual identities.

The Social Sciences Masters program, with an interdisciplinary focus, and the Doctorate program, with a comparative focus were introduced in 2003 thus consolidating the Graduate Program in Compared Studies on the Americas. 

The origin of the current research lines dates back to the division of the course in three fundamental subareas, which are linked to Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science respectively. Although originally of a more clearly disciplinary nature, these research lines have kept pace with the evolution of the Program and thus become progressively interdisciplinary.

Culture and Identity: based on core concepts such as culture, identity and ethnicity, this research line focuses on understanding the multiple socio-cultural situations, processes and dynamics in the Americas.

Compared Politics: studies of power relations between the State and civil society, particularly as regards different forms of mass expression (both historical and emerging) in Brazil as well as in other countries in the American Continent.

Development Processes: comprises the studies of social changes and impacts produced by the public policies developed by governments in the American Continent, with special emphasis on the social area but including the development policies of large projects as well.

- A total of 32 credits are required for the Master’s degree, with 16 credits in optional disciplines. At the end of the program, the dissertation resulting from the research carried out will be defended orally before a panel of three faculty members. The average time for completing the Masters program is two years.

- A total of 40 credits are required for the PhD degree, with 20 credits in optional disciplines. At the end of the program, the dissertation resulting from the research carried out will be defended orally before a panel of five faculty members. The average time for completing the PhD program is four years.

The selection process takes place once a year, typically in the second semester of the school year (between August and December), with classes scheduled to start the following year. 

There are places reserved exclusively for foreign applicants living overseas. These applicants are submitted to a different selection process, according to a specific Public Notice. (poderia ter um link para o edital).

Foreign students can apply for a Capes’ PEC-PG Program scholarship (http://www.capes.gov.br) at the Brazilian embassy in their respective countries. (sugiro um link para a página das embaixadas brasileiras)

Revista de Estudos e Pesquisas sobre as Américas (Journal of Studies and Research on the Americas): published on a semi-annual basis by the Center for Research and Graduate Studies on the Americas, this electronic journal accepts unpublished papers in Portuguese, English or Spanish in the form or articles, book reviews or interviews. Papers should be sent to the following e-mail address: revistaceppac@unb.br

Pós - Revista Brasiliense de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Sociais (Journal of Graduate Studies in Social Sciences of Brasília): published by graduate students of the University of Brasilia’s Institute of Social Sciences, this publication aims at providing an additional channel for communicating ideas and debates. It is open to the productions of graduate students and faculty in the fields of Social Sciences and Human Sciences as well as to professionals linked to extra-academic institutions.

CEPPAC Series: publications focused on articles and works produced by CEPPAC faculty and students among other collaborators and interlocutors, which represent the research carried out at the center as well as debates involving its research lines.