Romance Language and Literature

Overview

Programs in Romance language and literature teach people the spoken and written traditions of the languages that derive from Latin.

Programs in Romance language and literature teach people how words begin and languages develop. They study the Romance languages and their dialects. Students also learn how to apply their knowledge to business and technology.

Romance language and literature programs include topics such as:

Reading, writing, and speaking a romance language
Art
History
Anthropology
Translation techniques
Literature and poetry
Society and culture
Folklore and film
Dialects
Linguistics

Concentrations

In Romance language and literature programs, students may be able to specialize in:

Conversation
Interpreting
Literature and Literary Criticism
Teaching

Schools

Several colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in Romance language and literature. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

A few universities offer graduate degrees in Romance language and literature. A master’s degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master’s degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Contemporary World Issues
Humanities
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Political Science
Second Language
World Area Studies
World Geography
World History

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores. In addition, you must be able to speak, read, write, and understand at least one Romance language at an advanced level.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
Undergraduate degree or significant course work in Romance literature
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement
Academic writing sample

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Applied Phonetics
Civilization and Cultural History
Conversation and Composition
Linguistics
Literary Studies
Literature, Film, and Folklore
Reading and Speaking Skills
Translation
Study in a Romance language or its dialects (beginning, intermediate, advanced)

Graduate Program Courses

Graduate programs in Romance language and literature typically require:

Required courses
Thesis (master's degree)
Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)

Things to Know

The most common Romance languages are French, Italian, and Spanish. Romance languages also include Portuguese, Romanian, Catalan, and Provencal.

Colleges that do not offer programs in Romance language and literature may offer elective courses or certificates as part of a major in interdisciplinary studies or liberal arts. Many programs offer certificates at the graduate level as well.

Students who major in Romance language and literature may be required or encouraged to spend some time living, working, and studying abroad. Most programs coordinate semester abroad or work internships. In most cases, you can participate in these after you have completed at least two years of language study.

Being able to speak and read Spanish is useful for many careers, including social services, journalism, health care, law enforcement, and teaching.

Schools

King-Snohomish Area

University of Washington - Seattle

French Studies
Italian Studies
Linguistics--Romance Linguistics