Romance, German, and Slavic Languages and Literatures

The Department of Romance, German, and Slavic Languages and Literatures offers undergraduate instruction in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. In general, Romance language courses are conducted entirely in the language concerned. The proficiency-based curriculum emphasizes skills in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Culture, an essential dimension of language acquisition, is integrated from the start. 

The undergraduate program is designed to strengthen a student's ability to communicate, reason, and understand the linguistic, social, cultural, and physical environments that inform the lives of the people who speak the target language. Course work fosters critical thinking, based in the linguistic, cultural, and historical roots of the locations where the language is spoken. The curriculum prepares students for careers in academia, business, diplomacy, government, medicine, and law, among other fields.

Classroom and laboratory study is supplemented by the diverse resources of Washington, D.C., through field trips, foreign films, lectures, and cultural programs at embassies. Visit the department website for information concerning eligibility, requirements, and procedures for the wide variety of opportunities to study abroad. 

Bachelor's programs

Minors

Professors P. Rollberg, R. Robin (Chair), S. Waisman 

Associate Professors M. Belenky, C. Britt, Y. Captain-Hidalgo, L. Chang, M. de la Fuente, M.R. Gonglewski, D.B. Marshall (Teaching), M.B. Stein,  L.L. Westwater

Assistant Professors H. Bamford, J. Brant, K. Kleppinger, G. Shatalina, A. Waberi

Adjunct Professors I. Alameda-Nieto, B. Bridaa, M. Camps-Calbet, S. Erradi, S. Hoepfl-Wellenhofer, B. Marguerre, B. Mazurkiewicz, L. Michael, E. Ovtcharenko, R.I. Pozos

Instructors A. Longoni, E. Parker, D.G. Perillan (Teaching), A Suarez-Touzon

Explanation of Course Numbers

  • Courses in the 1000s are primarily introductory undergraduate courses
  • Those in the 2000–4000s are upper-division undergraduate courses that can also be taken for graduate credit with permission and additional work
  • Those in the 6000s and 8000s are for master’s, doctoral, and professional-level students
  • The 6000s are open to advanced undergraduate students with approval of the instructor and the dean or advising office

Placement examinations: A student who has not been granted advanced standing and who wishes to continue in college the language begun in high school must take a placement examination before registration. Upon completion of the examination, assignment is made to the appropriate course.

Note: In general, Romance language courses are conducted entirely in the language concerned. Oral comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing are the basis of all courses through FREN 2006 Language, Culture & Society II/ITAL 2006 Language, Culture & Society II/PORT 2006 Applied Portuguese Grammar/SPAN 2006 Advanced Spanish II, with culture integrated from the start as an essential dimension of language acquisition.