The Graduate Program in Social Memory and Cultural Heritage of the Federal University of Pelotas began in 2006 with the Master´s program, which developed from the Specialized Course in Memory, Identity, and Material Culture which was offered from 2003 to 2005. In 2013, after already producing dozens of fine graduates, the PhD. program commenced.

The Graduate Program in Social Memory and Cultural Heritage is in line with important national and international developments in the field of Memory and Cultural Heritage, an academic area that bridges various academic disciplines.

The expansion of the concept of Cultural Heritage, the new social uses of the past, and the continuing developments in national Memory and Heritage policies have produced new objects of study and new epistemological challenges. The Graduate Program in Social Memory and Cultural Heritage embraces these developments and maintains itself in constant dialogue with these emerging objects and challenges.

The city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul and the surrounding region form part of a geographic area greatly influenced by its military and political history which was of great relevance to southern Brazil as a whole. The area was the scene of innumerable emblematic political and economic developments in the 19^th century, such as the Farroupilha Revolution and the rise of the dried meat export industry. However, beginning in the early 20th century, the region was afflicted by economic recession. This loss of economic dynamism was reflected in the distinct architecture of Pelotas, which, instead of keeping pace with modern trends such as experienced in other regions of the country, the city retained many elements of the urban landscape reminiscent of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The city gained wide recognition through its architectural heritage and historical preservation legislative initiatives. Also, the city´s rich confectionary tradition is a key element of intangible cultural heritage that has transformed into an emblem of local identity. The Graduate Program in Social Memory and Cultural Heritage developed within this context and is considered a reference in heritage research and professional activities, which are produced directly and indirectly by graduates of the program locally and regionally.

At the same time, the proximity to the borders with the nations of Rio de la Plata stimulated the incentive to research cultural heritage and memory policy in the MERCOSUR region. A line of research was dedicated to that purpose and has produced notable research projects, exchanges and academic mobility programs.