French

Why Study French at the UO?

As one of the major languages of world governance, diplomacy, commerce, and culture, French opens up a world of opportunities. In addition to gaining real-world proficiency and mastering communication skills across languages and cultures, students of French learn essential critical thinking skills, analytical reasoning, and adaptability. No matter the career and life path you choose, studying French will prepare you to face the challenges and opportunities both of the job market and of an increasingly globalized world.

Undergraduate Programs

You can get a BA in French language and literature or a BA in Romance languages, combining French with Italian or Spanish. And you can also double-major in hundreds of other UO degree programs. Recent undergraduate courses include offerings focused on shipwrecks, graphic novels, street art, Francophone African music, and French film.

Graduate Programs

The Department of Romance Languages offers both MA and PhD programs in French. Our graduate students have the opportunity to study with leading scholars whose research interests range from modern and contemporary French studies in fields ranging from Francophone Africa and the French Enlightenment to terror studies and translation studies.

French master's student Arezou Darvishi

Finding Family in RL

"Enrolling in the RL department was a life-altering decision. Being far from home, I not only developed resilience but also discovered a family within the department. Their unwavering support nurtured my passion for my research, while also fostering my potential for independence and ambition. This journey has transformed me into a stronger individual with refined interpersonal skills, and I remain eternally grateful for the empowerment I've gained."

—Arezou Darvishi, MA in French, '24 

Angers France

Travel and Study Around the World

The Department of Romance Languages prepares students for the future of global citizenship and the workforce. Many of our students spend time traveling and living in another culture. We offer study abroad opportunities in France and in many Francophone countries or regions. Programs are as short as four weeks and as long as a full academic year. The department offers several scholarships to help students pursue their studies. We also send many graduates to France on the assistantship program run by the French Ministry of Education, while others take advantage of Francophone opportunities in the Peace Corps. 

Paris Eiffel Tower tourist with camera taking pictures in front of the Eiffel tower, Paris, France

What You Can Do with a Degree in French

What kind of career will you pursue? French language study opens up a wide range of career opportunities — from non-profit work to high-tech, foreign service, healthcare, social justice, and beyond. As our alumni profiles demonstrate, language study can take you just about anywhere!

Learn from Experts in French

Our department faculty is composed of three French specialists who work on all aspects of the French-speaking world, including Africa and the Caribbean. They are passionate scholars who inform and inspire, and are dedicated mentors who help students build real-world skills and strong professional networks.

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.

Undergraduate Scholarships
Graduate Funding

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.

Undergraduate Advising
Support for Graduate Students

Romance Languages News and Events

ROMANCE LANGUAGES, ITALIAN – Migration “crises” continue to make headlines, but according to Professor Eleanor Paynter, the ways we often talk about migration in public debate rarely line up with the experience of migrating across a border. She's been researching the issue and published her findings in her new book, "Emergency in Transit: Witnessing Migration in the Colonial Present."
ROMANCE LANGUAGES, WOMEN'S AND GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES - Oregon Ducks come from all over the world, including the Basque Country, a small region carved out of northern Spain on the border with France. Meet Nagore Sedano Neveira and learn about her life's journey that brought her to University of Oregon.
GLOBAL STUDIES AND LANGUAGES, LINGUISTICS, SPANISH - U.S. Latinx students studying Spanish while studying abroad can encounter discrimination and condescending attitudes from their instructors. For students who grew up speaking Spanish, known as heritage speakers, this can lead to missed learning opportunities, according to Devin Grammon and Sergio Loza, both assistant professors of Spanish sociolinguistics in the College of Arts and Sciences.

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