Romance Languages

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.

Commencement Ceremony

We are delighted to announce that the commencement ceremony for undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Global Studies and Languages will be held on 

Sunday, June 16th at 10 am 
East Campus Green

The commencement will be followed by a reception nearby. Stay tuned for further details and updates!

31.5%
PERCENTAGE OF UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS WHO ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS
23
AVERAGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN AN UNDERGRADUATE CLASS
90%

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
Spanish major Melissa Torres-Duran

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

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.

Get Real-World Experience

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.

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

February 6, 2024
GEOGRAPHY, PHILOSOPHY, ROMANCE LANGUAGES - Three CAS faculty members—Mark Carey, Diana Garvin, and Colin Koopman—were awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
April 3, 2023
LINGUISTICS, ROMANCE LANGUAGES - UO senior Azusena Rosales Suares always did well in math. Her secret: find the patterns. Plus, from an early age math offered an escape into a world with its own universal language.
September 13, 2022
University of Oregon alumnae are changing the face of public service. We look to the women highlighted in this article to govern nations, lead at the highest level of the military, interpret the law, determine the constitutionality of the law, and apply it to individual cases, and serve the public in state and local government.

All news »

Let's Talk Drop-In - Wednesdays 2-4PM @ BCC
Mar20
Let's Talk Drop-In - Wednesdays 2-4PM @ BCC Mar 20 Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center
Special Collections Research Fellows Speaker Series: Tp Coughlin, 2023 Le Guin Feminist Science Fiction Fellow
Mar21
Special Collections Research Fellows Speaker Series: Tp Coughlin, 2023 Le Guin Feminist Science Fiction Fellow Mar 21
¡Juntos! Latinx Support Group
Mar21
¡Juntos! Latinx Support Group Mar 21 Carson Hall, Ramey Room
Physical Chemistry Seminar Series
Mar21
Physical Chemistry Seminar Series Mar 21 Willamette Hall
Let's Talk Drop-In - Fridays 1-3PM @ CMAE/Zoom
Mar22
Let's Talk Drop-In - Fridays 1-3PM @ CMAE/Zoom Mar 22
International & Economic Development Careers - Millennium Challenge Corporation
Apr4
International & Economic Development Careers - Millennium Challenge Corporation Apr 4 440 Lill
EXTRA! EXTRA! DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER
Apr4
EXTRA! EXTRA! DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER Apr 4 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
"'Surplus' White Nationalism and GOP Climate Obstruction"
Apr4
"'Surplus' White Nationalism and GOP Climate Obstruction" Apr 4 Knight Library
Reading by Victor Lavalle
Apr4
Reading by Victor Lavalle Apr 4 Knight Library
EXTRA! EXTRA! DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER
Apr5
EXTRA! EXTRA! DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER Apr 5 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)

All events »