Students in the Department of Romance Languages can major or minor French, Italian, Spanish, or Romance languages—a program that combines advanced study in two Romance languages (now including Portuguese). You can also double major in multiple languages or combine a Romance language major with another major or minor.
French and Francophone Studies Major Requirements
Courses for the major are principally taught in the language of study and immerse students in a diversity of cultures and variations spoken. Cultural, linguistic and literary production – writing, film and other media – studied in RL courses reflect variations of race, gender, social class, climate, religion, and historical and artistic movements and counter-movements.
All courses for French and Francophone Studies majors and minors must be upper-division, with the exception of two lower-division classes (FR 150 and FR 203). Courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C- or better. Coursework transferred in from Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams are acceptable with a mark of P*.
Culture et Language (8 credits)
- FR 203 Second-Year French
- FR 301 La France contemporaine
- FR 302 Culture et langage: Le Monde francophone contemporain
- FR 307 Oral Skills ((must take twice for 4 credits to count toward this requirement))
Foundations (28 credits)
- FR 150 Cultural Legacies of France
- 16 credits must be in French (FR 300-level or above).
- 300-Level or above FR courses. Extra Culture and Language courses may be used (FR 301, FR 302, FR 307).
- Courses that address French-speaking communities (literature, culture, linguistics, food studies, history, art, art history, political science, etc) may be applied. Contact the department's advisor for approved course list.
- RL 407 may be used with approval from department's advisor.
Expertise (12 credits)
- FR 407 or above FR courses
- RL 407 may be used with approval from department's advisor.
(Total credits 48 credits)
Additional Requirements:
12 credits must be taught by UO faculty (in-residence or study abroad/away)
Italian Studies Major Requirements
The Italian Studies Major provides a flexible program for students to engage in the study of Italian across a variety of disciplines, including but not limited to: art and architecture, classics, environmental humanities, food studies, history, language, literature, and migration studies. Students may take courses in Italian and English to fulfill Major requirements. Credits from language and culture programs in Italy may be used to fulfill major requirements. Courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C- or better. Coursework transferred in from Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams are acceptable with a mark of P*.
Language and Culture (12 credits)
- ITAL 201, 202, 203 (or ITAL equivalent on a study abroad program)
- ITAL 301 or above, taught in Italian
Foundations (28 credits)
- ITAL 150, ITAL 152, RL 151, ITAL 300-level or above. Approved RL 300 or RL 400 courses (check with an advisor).
- Courses in or related to Italian Studies (culture, literature, linguistics, environmental humanities, film, food studies, Classics, history, art history, architecture, music etc.). Contact a department advisor for an approved course list.
- 20 of the 28 Foundation credits must be upper division.
- 12 of the Foundation upper-division credits must be taught in Italian or taken for Italian language credit.
Expertise (8 credits)
- RL 407 or ITAL 407 or above; equivalent courses approved by advisor.
(Total credits: 48 credits, including 28 upper-division credits)
Additional Requirements: 12 credits must be taught by UO faculty (in residence or study abroad/away).
Spanish Major Requirements
Proficiency in Spanish and knowledge of the cultures where Spanish is used can enhance study and career opportunities in a number of fields — in particular, education, business and social services. Students with a second major in another discipline (e.g., art history, business administration, economics, family and human services, history, international studies, journalism, music, political science, human physiology, etc.) find positions in communications media, government or foreign service, local and international business and law, libraries, social service organizations, medical fields, as well as travel and tourist-related agencies, among others.
Courses for the major are principally taught in the language of study and immerse students in a diversity of cultures and variations spoken. Cultural, linguistic and literary production – writing, film and other media – studied in RL courses reflect variations of race, gender, social class, climate, religion, and historical and artistic movements and counter-movements.
Courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C- or better. Coursework transferred in from Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams are acceptable with a mark of P*.
Spanish Major
Courses in language, literature, film, visual arts, and other media from many different regions and periods offer students the chance to explore the breadth and depth of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Students gain knowledge of the linguistic structure of the language and its different varieties and are exposed to the historical and social contexts of Spanish-speaking communities, highlighting the social characteristics of communities where Spanish is used.
Lengua y cultura (8 credits)
- Language and Culture: Choose any two from the following: SPAN 301, SPAN 303, SPAN 305, SPAN 308
Writing (4 credits)
- SPAN 311 Advanced Writing in Spanish or SPAN 312 Spanish in the Media
- Students cannot receive credit for both SPAN 311 and SPAN 312
Foundations (12 credits)
- Choose any three from the following: SPAN 320, SPAN 322, SPAN 324, SPAN 341, SPAN 342, SPAN 343, SPAN 344, SPAN 348, SPAN 350, SPAN 351, SPAN 353, SPAN 355
Expertise (8 credits)
- Choose any two from the following: SPAN 407, SPAN 420, SPAN 424, SPAN 425, SPAN 428, SPAN 448, SPAN 466, SPAN 480, SPAN 490
Electives (16 credits)
Choose any 300-or 400-Level SPAN courses; One course may be from: SPAN 150, SPAN 203, SPAN 228, SPAN 238, SPAN 248, GLBL 102, LAS 200, LING 297.
Total Credits (48 credits)
Additional Requirements
- Minimum 24 credits must be taken with UO faculty (in Eugene or elsewhere).
Romance Languages Major Requirements
To earn an undergraduate major (BA) in Romance languages, choose a primary and a secondary language and literature to be satisfied by courses taken in the French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, or Romance languages programs. Participation in overseas study in one or more of our romance-speaking countries, in global internships and participatory learning experiences (PLEs) is also encouraged.
Forty-eight graded credits in two Romance languages (passed with grades of C- or better) are required beyond the second-year language sequence. Romance languages majors must complete a minimum of 12 credits in literature, film, translation, or linguistics courses IN RESIDENCE on the Eugene campus. At least 8 credits of these 12 must be in courses numbered 407 or higher.
First Romance Language (32 credits)
Language courses (12 credits)
- FR: 301, 302, 303, 307*, 320, 416, 425
- IT: 301, 303, 305, 307*, 320
- SP: 301, 303, 305, 307*, 308, 311(L2) or 312(SHL)**, 320
*2 credits, can be taken twice**students may earn credit for either 311 or 312, but not both
Survey courses (12 credits)
Choose three from:
- FR: 312, 317, 318, 319
- IT: 317, 318, 319
- SP Lit andCult: 341, 342, 343, 344
- SP Lang andSoc: 320, 322, 324
Electives (8 credits)
Choose two additional courses numbered above the survey level. Courses may include literature, film, linguistics, or translation courses.
Please be attentive to course prerequisites.
Second Romance Language (16 credits)
Language courses (8 credits)
- FR: 301, 302, 303, 307*, 320, 416, 425
- IT: 301, 303, 305, 307*, 320
- SP: 301, 303, 305, 307*, 308, 311(L2) or 312(SHL)**, 320
Electives (8 credits)
Choose two literature, film, linguistics, or translation courses.