Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo

Infobox_University
name = Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo


motto = "Sapientia et Augebitur Scientia"
(Latin for: "Wisdom and Science will be increased")
established = August 13, 1946
type = Private, non-profit, pontifical since 1947
rector = Maura Pardini Bicudo Véras
city = São Paulo City (headquarters), Sorocaba and Barueri
state = SP
country = Brazil
students = 34,000
undergrad = 29,000
postgrad = 5,000
campus = Five campuses, all of them in urban area
affiliations = Roman Catholic Church
website = [http://www.pucsp.br http://www.pucsp.br]

The Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, PUC-SP) is a private and non-profit Catholic university. It is one of the largest and most prestigious Brazilian universities. It is maintained by the Catholic Archdiocese of São Paulo.

PUC-SP was the first Brazilian university to elect the rector and other administrative functions by direct vote from the students and teachers. Founded by the archbishop of São Paulo, Carlos Carmelo Vasconcellos Cardinal Motta as the "Catholic University of São Paulo", the university received the title of "Pontifical Catholic University" in 1947, by the Pope Pius XII.

During the Military Dictatorship in Brazil, many students and teachers in PUC-SP were present in manifestations against the Government, and the archbishop at that time Paulo Evaristo Arns admitted teachers from the public universities who were dismissed by the militaries.

Most of the scientific production in PUC-SP can be found in the areas of Law, Philosophy, Social Sciences, Education and Communication, and, in these areas, it's considered one of the most important universities in Latin America, and internationally recognized by the issues and researches in disturbs of the human communication, semiotics and psychology.

Location and Campuses

The main campus of PUC-SP and its administrative headquarters are located in Perdizes, a middle-class neighbourhood in the subprefecture of Lapa, in the west side of São Paulo City. It's placed near the subway stations of Barra Funda and Sumaré, and it is comprised mostly of academic buildings, the University Theater (TUCA) and the University Church. Most of these buildings, built between 1920 and 1940, are part of the historical patrimonium of the city. São Paulo City also has two campuses: the Computing and Math School, also part of the historical patrimonium, with modern architecture by Rino Levi and gardens built by Roberto Burle Marx, located near the city centre; the Business and Economy School, in the district of Santana, in the north side of São Paulo City; the Medicine College in the city of Sorocaba (90 km from São Paulo) and a campus in the city of Barueri with some courses of Business, Economy and Psychology.

Admission

Like other Brazilian universities, students are admitted by an entrance exam called vestibular. The vestibular consists of two tests: the first test is composed of multiple-choice questions in the disciplines: Portuguese, English (or French), Chemistry, Math, Physics, Geography, History and Biology, and the second test consists of descriptive questions between the disciplines. The vestibular of PUC-SP also selects students for other colleges and universities in the state of São Paulo (Examples: Faculty of Medicine of Marília (public institution), Faculty of Medicine of ABC and the Faculty of Law of São Bernardo do Campo).

Notable alumni

*Marta Suplicy, psychologist, former mayor of São Paulo city
*Antonio Claudio Mariz de Oliveira, famous criminalist lawyer
*Luiz Fernando Furlan, former Brazilian minister and entrepreneur
*Shigeaki Ueki, former president of Petrobrás, the petroleum company of Brazil
*José Dirceu, former Brazilian minister
*Gabriel Chalita, secretary of education of the São Paulo State
*Amir Slama, Brazilian stylist and entrepreneur
*Reynaldo Gianecchini, Brazilian actor

External links

*pt icon [http://www.pucsp.br Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo - Official Site]

See also

*University of São Paulo
*Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas
*Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
*Pontifícia Universidade Católica