All the courses offered in the Department of Romance Languages & Literatures propose an exploration of the culture and literature in countries around the world where French, Italian, and Spanish are spoken. In addition, the department has created a number of courses for inclusion in the Arts and Sciences Core in Literature and Cultural Diversity designed especially to meet the needs of non-specialists.
Literature Core
Core offerings, whether in the target language or in translation, are distinctive in several important ways. The department is committed to reading literary texts in their fullest linguistic, artistic, and cultural context. Literature Core courses offer majors and non-majors alike the opportunity to read great books with the guidance of a teacher sensitive to their original language. Even in courses given in English, qualified students may decide to read texts in the original language. Comparative literature courses introduce students to the interplay of literary forms and themes across national boundaries. In order to achieve an intimate understanding of the texts studied, all Core courses propose close reading and thorough discussion of a limited number of texts.
Cultural Diversity Core
In addition to their focus on the languages, literatures and cultures of western Europe, the course offerings of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures also take into account the presence of Hispanic and Francophone cultures in the Caribbean, South and Central America, Africa, and Asia. Students can choose from a number of courses that focus on these cultures in order to satisfy the Cultural Diversity Core Requirement.
Photos: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Home of Real Madrid; desserts in Paris