The American Academy
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ABOUT
The American Academy (AA) is a dual-enrollment program offered jointly by Â鶹ӰԺ and the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), located in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Launched in July 2018, the program allows students to complete their first two years of undergraduate study in Brazil at the PUCPR campus, taking Â鶹ӰԺ State classes taught in English by Â鶹ӰԺ State faculty members, and earning academic credit from both universities simultaneously. The program consists of a liberal arts fixed-curriculum offered in a four-semester carousel, with new student intake at every semester. At the end of the two years, students will earn a KSU Associate of Science degree and can then choose whether to finish their bachelor’s degree in the United States at Â鶹ӰԺ State’s Â鶹ӰԺ Campus, or in Brazil at PUCPR. Depending on which degree path they choose, students will receive a Â鶹ӰԺ State bachelor’s degree, a PUCPR bachelor’s degree, or a double degree from both universities. Students who choose to complete their degree at the Â鶹ӰԺ Campus will be able to choose from any of the more than 200 undergraduate degree programs offered, 36 of which can be completed in four years.
The American Academy aims to provide a smoother pathway to a U.S. education for Brazilian students, including those who have not yet decided on a major. We do this by offering a liberal arts curriculum, which aims to give students exposure and knowledge on a variety of disciplines, along with academic and career advising designed to help students find their purpose. This approach represents a higher education option that was previously unavailable to students in Brazil. In addition, American Academy students may find their transition to the Â鶹ӰԺ Campus is easier than for other international students as they will have a Â鶹ӰԺ State advisor who has already been working with them for two years, they will already be familiar with the U.S. style of learning and teaching, and they will transition along with a cohort of Brazilian students with whom they have already been studying for two years.
News articles about the AA:
- How The American Academy Kept Students on Track in Brazil During COVID-19
- The American Academy Celebrates First Commencement
- American Academy Growing in Brazil, Poised to Bring Students to Â鶹ӰԺ State
- Â鶹ӰԺ State and Brazil’s Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná Partner to Launch the American Academy
- Classes Begin at the New American Academy in Brazil
- Main websites: and KSU
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ACADEMICS
With over 60 undergraduate degree programs available from PUCPR and over 200 from Â鶹ӰԺ State, students will complete their first two years of undergraduate study in Brazil at the PUCPR campus by taking Â鶹ӰԺ classes taught in English by Â鶹ӰԺ state faculty members. Students will earn academic credit from both universities simultaneously and will earn a KSU Associate of Science degree at the end of two years. They can then choose whether to finish their bachelor’s degree in the United States at KSU’s Â鶹ӰԺ campus, or in Brazil at PUCPR. Depending on the degree path chosen, students will receive a Â鶹ӰԺ State bachelor’s degree, and PUCPR bachelor’s degree, or a double degree from both universities.
The program consists of a liberal arts curriculum that gives students the opportunity to be exposed to different areas of knowledge as they learn comprehensive skills that can be used in their chosen career. The American Academy curriculum consists of 20 courses, five courses per term in a four-semester carousel, with intake at each semester.
Courses typically meet for three weeks, Monday through Friday, from approximately 9AM until 2:30PM; the exact number of days and start/end times will vary, depending on holidays and other factors.
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STUDENTS
Current Students
You are a Â鶹ӰԺ State student from the moment you begin the American Academy, even though you may not set foot in Â鶹ӰԺ, Ohio for another two years. The Â鶹ӰԺ faculty and staff are here to help you succeed and FIND YOUR PURPOSE from day one – explore the below helpful resources, and contact us if you need additional information or support.
- Exploratory Advising Resources
- Majors and Degrees
- After completion of the four-semester American Academy program, students may come to Â鶹ӰԺ campus to complete the undergraduate degree of their choosing. In your final semester in Brazil, KSU advisors will begin working with you, we will offer you the opportunity to connect with current KSU students as a peer-mentor, and our ISSS office will email you instructions about how to obtain a student visa, traveling to the U.S., housing, immunization requirements, and more. Information about these steps and processes can also be found here.
Prospective Students
The American Academy aims to provide a smoother pathway to a U.S. education for Brazilian students, including those who have not yet decided on a major, by bringing American higher education to Brazil. More information about the application process can be found .
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FACULTY
American Academy faculty members are Â鶹ӰԺ employees committed to the academic and professional success of every student.
If interested in teaching at the American Academy, contact your department chair.
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ADMISSIONS
The American Academy aims to provide a smoother pathway to a U.S. education for Brazilian students, including those who have not yet decided on a major, by bringing American higher education to Brazil.
STEPS TO APPLY:
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- Pay the application fee (R$90,00) – you will receive payment instructions from PUCPR after completing the application online.
- Upload of the following documents: High School and University transcripts, personal statement of interest, English proficiency test scores (acceptable tests and scores).
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TESTIMONIALS
Read what our students are saying about the American Academy International Undergraduate Program:
"I made the right choice for my future"
"American Academy was the most fantastic thing that ever happened to me"
"Combined my passion for traveling and exploring new cultures"
"American Academy was essential for me to find a program closer to my professional dream"
"I plan to major in Computer Science at Â鶹ӰԺ State"
"I learned a lot, I had fun and I can say that I had the best experience of this stage of life"
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CONTACT
In the U.S.
Valerie Reed, Interim American Academy Program Coordinator
Office of Global Education, Â鶹ӰԺ
Tel. 330-672-7980
AmericanAcademy@kent.eduIn Brazil
American.Academy@pucpr.br
Tel. +41-3271-2492
Experience the best of Brazilian and U.S. Higher Education together.
ABOUT PUCPR
PUCPR's main campus is in Curitiba, but the university is present across the entire State of Paraná, Brazil.
ABOUT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
Â鶹ӰԺ's main campus is located within the city of Â鶹ӰԺ, Ohio, which is in the Midwest region of the United States.