Within the Department of Romance Languages, you will be welcomed into a spirited community that is committed to intellectual inquiry, social justice, and career development through language and culture. With class sizes that average under 25 students, you’ll get to know our faculty and enjoy the benefits of a program big enough to support a wide range of interests but small enough to form a real community. Our campus is “human scale”—just the right size for students to get personalized attention while also having access to extraordinary research resources.
A huge thank you to Portland real estate developer, philanthropist and UO alumnus Jordan Schnitzer and the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, for a landmark $25 million gift to CAS that will empower future global leaders and problem solvers! The School of Global Studies and Languages is now named the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages, and we are truly excited to be a part of it!
Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages Commencement Ceremony
Sunday, June 15th, 2025
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
East Campus Green
PERCENTAGE OF SOPHOMORE STUDENTS WHO REMAIN IN THE MAJOR PROGRAM AFTER DECLARING
Romance Languages at the UO
Hundreds of University of Oregon students currently major or minor in French, Italian, Spanish, or major in Romance languages—a program that combines advanced study in two Romance languages (now including Portuguese). For graduate students, the Department of Romance Languages offers programs of study leading to an MA in Romance Languages, French, Italian, or Spanish and to a PhD in Romance languages or Spanish.
What You Can Do with a Degree in Romance Languages
What kind of career can you get with language skills? Studying Romance languages can take you just about anywhere! Our alumni are traveling the world, making an impact in their communities, and building careers in a broad range of fields such as:
- International law and business
- Communications
- Education
- Fine arts
- Tourism
- Diplomacy
Making a Community Impact
Since graduating I’ve had the opportunity to work at a few different ad agencies, but I pivoted to the non-profit sector to do social community impact work. I am able to use my background as a native Spanish speaker and the many skills I developed to help my community. Studying abroad opened up my horizons and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime!
—Melissa Torres-Duran, Spanish major, '22
Learn from Experts in the Field
Our Romance languages faculty includes specialists who work on all aspects of the Romance-speaking world, including North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. They are passionate scholars who inform and inspire, as well as dedicated mentors who help students build real-world skills and strong professional networks.
Immerse Yourself in Another Culture
Studying Romance languages abroad accelerates the development of speaking and comprehension skills while giving students a real-world experience within the culture they’re studying. The Department of Romance Languages offers numerous study abroad programs in Romance-speaking areas of the world, as well as other hands-on learning opportunities to help students develop their language proficiency.
Scholarships and Funding
The Department of Romance Languages awards multiple scholarships to current undergraduate and graduate students who are declared majors or minors within the department. Learn more about available scholarships and eligibility requirements.
Academic Support
Our academic advisors can help students talk through their major or minor requirements, plan their course of study, explore study abroad opportunities, and more.
