Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto

The Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), also known as Filô, is a liberal arts college (according to the French university tradition, in Brazil they nominate philosophy, sciences and letters as their undergraduate subjects, although some of these courses are not offered) of the University of São Paulo campus at Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil.

The school was created by a decree of the state government of São Paulo in October 1959. However, it began to function effectively with its first courses in 1966, only. In the beginning the school was helped by the Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (Medical School of the University of São Paulo). Its first director was a medical professor, Dr. Lucien Lison and several of the classrooms were shared with the medical school at its campus. Later, the FFCLRP built its own premises in the same campus. Presently it occupies an area of 21.208 m².

The school's motto is "Experientia Fides Nostra" (Experience is Our Faith) and the owl in the crest of arms refers to the symbol of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and knowledge.

Presently FFCLRP-USP has four academic departments:
* Biology
* Physics & Mathematics
* Psychology & Education
* Chemistry

The following baccalaureate courses are offered:
* Biology
* Psychology
* Chemistry
* Technical Chemistry
* Information Sciences
* Medical Physics
* Biomedical Informatics
* Mathematics applied to Business

FFCLRP has also an extensive post-graduate school, with courses in the following areas:
* Comparative biology
* Entomology
* Physics applied to Biology and Medicine
* Psychobiology
* Psychology
* Chemistry

Presently (December 2004), 1313 undergraduate students are enrolled. More than 5,800 students already graduated since its inauguration. There are also 496 graduate students (213 in Masters and 283 in Doctoral programs). There are 148 professors, the majority with tenure and full time.

There are several research laboratories and community extension centers affiliated to FFCLP:

* Centro Brasileiro de Investigações sobre o Desenvolvimento e Educação Infantil (CINDEDI);
* Centro de Ensino Integrado de Química (CEIQ);
* Centro de Instrumentação, Dosimetria e Radioproteção (CIDRA);
* Centro de Psicologia Aplicada (CPA)
* L@ife - Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Formação do Educador;
* Rede SACI - COM.VIVER - Centro de Informação e Convivência.

External links

* [http://www.ffclrp.usp.br Home page] .
* [http://www.observacionesfilosoficas.net/ Revista Observaciones Filosóficas]