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 Major Requirements
To satisfy the requirements for an Italian major, students must earn 48 credits, passed with grades of C minus (C-) or better, beyond the second-year sequence. Internship credits, always taken Pass/No Pass, DO NOT apply toward major or minor requirements.
Students have two options for organizing their study of the Italian language: concentrations in Italian Studies or Language and Culture.
Italian Major: Italian Studies
In this concentration, students can choose courses taught in English for up to half of their major credits: 24 out of 48. Many Italian-focused courses that students take in other departments qualify for this concentration (Cinema Studies; Art History; Music; History; Architecture; Humanities etc.). Italian Studies allows students to pursue interdisciplinary training while being exposed to different aspects of Italian society and culture: politics, music, art, media, art, etc. Students planning to go to Italy on Study Abroad programs taught in English (e.g. Siena, Rome, Pavia, etc.) should consider this concentration, as many of the courses taken there will be applicable. This concentration is especially useful for – but not limited to – professional areas such as food industry, arts and design, media, memory and museum centers, and journalism.
Italian Major: Language and Culture
In this concentration, students do most of their coursework in Italian: 40 credits out of 48, and will work closely with Italian faculty in the Department of Romance Languages. They will take classes in Italian literature, cinema, and cultural history, and will develop high-level skills in critical thinking and in the Italian language through written and oral expression. Students who are interested in an immersive Italian language experience during their major should choose this concentration. It also fits students interested in the semester study abroad programs where all the courses are taught in Italian (e.g. Pavia). This concentration is especially useful for – but not limited to – professional areas such as education, publishing, translation, and interpreting.
Cultura e lingua
12 credits of 300-level Italian language:
- ITAL 301, 303, 305, 306, 320, 307 (x2 for a total of 4 credits), or
- 300-level language courses taken abroad
Lit and Cinema
Italian Studies
8 credits of 300-level ITAL 317-399 (excluding 320):
- 317, 318, 319, 341, etc., or
- Equivalent course taken abroad
Literature and Culture
12 credits of 300-level ITAL literature or cinema courses 317-399 (excluding 320):
- 317, 318, 319, 341, 399, etc., or
- Equivalent course taken abroad
Expertise
Italian Studies
16 credits of Italian Studies IN RESIDENCE on the Eugene campus, in RL or other UO departments:
- At least one course (4 credits) taught in Italian
- Two courses (8 credits) must be at the 400 level; can include RL 407 (IF coursework is completed in target language)
Literature and Culture
12 credits of Italian L and C expertise courses IN RESIDENCE on the Eugene campus in RL department:
- Two courses must be at the 400-level or RL 407 (IF coursework is completed in the target language).
- Maximum of ONE course taught in English may be applied toward this requirement.
Electives
Italian Studies
12 credits of elective courses in literature, linguistics, film, grammar, culture, art history, history, political science, food studies, classics, geography, etc.:
- Courses must address the culture(s) of the Italian-speaking world.
- Courses may be taken in other UO departments or abroad.
- Maximum of 2 lower-division courses may be used.
Literature and Culture
12 credits of elective courses in Italian literature, linguistics, film, grammar, culture, art history, music, etc.:
- Courses can include ITAL 150, 152, 252, 341 and RL 151.
- Maximum of 2 lower-division courses may be used.
NOTE: 40 of the 48 credits for the Language and Culture Concentration must be courses taught in Italian. Students may apply a maximum of 2 classes (8 credits) taught in English to this major concentration.
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*.
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.