The Romance Languages and Literatures Department offers baccalaureate degrees in French, Italian and Spanish. Each major program provides students with a strong foundation in language comprehension, speaking, reading and writing, as well as an understanding of national cultures and literatures. Each program also develops students’ analytical, argumentative and creative skills. Department courses use a variety of approaches that incorporate written texts, film, visual arts and music. Language tables, clubs and a vibrant offering of extracurricular activities (cultural celebrations, film series, dance and cooking lessons, etc.) supplement the course offerings.
Students may major or minor in more than one language within the department. While French, Spanish and Italian majors complete 10 courses in the language, starting at the intermediate level,* minors complete six non-introductory courses. See requirements for each specific language major and minor below. Romance languages majors may also qualify for the International Studies Certificate, and they may use department courses as a foundation for the Global Studies minor or as electives for the minor and major in LACAS, TRIP, Linguistics and Comparative Literature. Additional details on these options, as well as information on education-abroad programs and guidelines for membership in language honor societies are available on the department’s website and through department advisors. Majors may seek scholarship support for education abroad, and they may also qualify for departmental tuition scholarships and awards. Term or year-long internships in each language, as event coordinators or working with the local community and regional companies/institutions are also available to majors.
All students, whether or not they intend to major or minor, are invited to take courses in the Romance Languages Department.
*Students who are interested in completing a Spanish, French or Italian major but need to start with elementary courses should reach out to a department advisor during their first year to map out their schedule of classes in advance.
Harpur College Requirements
Harpur College students must complete the following requirements in addition to those listed for the major:
- 126 credits
- 94 liberal arts and sciences credits
- Minimum of 46 upper-level credits
- Completion of the Harpur College writing requirement (four to five courses as described in the All-College Writing section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin. Maximum of one C/J course and two W courses may be transferred).
- Minimum of 44 credits in residence in Harpur College
- 2.0 or higher GPA
Harpur College requirements are described in detail in the Requirements for Graduation section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin.
Romance Languages and Literatures Major and Minor Guidelines
In order to declare (or drop) a minor or major, students should fill out the or contact the Romance Languages Department main office (romlang@binghamton.edu), should they first like to speak with a department advisor.
Students who intend to pursue a major or a minor are encouraged to make their declarations as early as possible, preferably in the sophomore year or earlier. Any deviations from program requirements must be discussed with, and approved (in writing or via email) by the student's advisor or the undergraduate director.
Courses taken under the Pass/Fail grading option do not count toward the major or the minor. A minimum grade of C (satisfactory performance) is required for a course to be applied toward any of our majors or minors
Of the 10 courses required for all majors, a minimum of three 400-level courses in French or Italian, and five courses in Spanish (including one at the 300-level and two at the 400-level), must be taken on campus or in the abroad programs sponsored by Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ.
Language course 491 (Teaching College French, Italian or Spanish) is intended for students who are interested in enhancing their command of the language by assisting a professor in class, as undergraduate teaching assistants. It can be taken for one to four credits toward graduation, but it does not count toward the minor or major. In order to be considered for this course, students need to fill out an .
*During spring 2020, exceptions to this policy were in place; speak to a Harpur advisor if you have any questions.
French Major
Undergraduates may choose to major in French and Francophone studies or in French language and linguistics. Each track consists of a total of 10 courses, as described below. Students who are interested in completing a French major but need to start courses prior to FREN 215 should reach out to a department advisor during their first year to map out a schedule of classes in advance.
Students beginning their French courses at a level higher than 211 will be able to make adjustments in suggested course sequence, in consultation with their French major advisor. At least three 400-level courses must be taken on campus. Any 400-level transfer credits, including education abroad, must be approved by the department.
NOTE: Students should consult placement guidelines provided by the department. Depending on prior exposure to the language, introductory courses may be required prerequisites for the major.
Option 1. French and Francophone Studies
Students who choose the French and Francophone studies track of the major can expect to develop a high level of fluency in both written and spoken dimensions of the language. Through an interdisciplinary approach, they will also gain knowledge of the literature, culture, history and politics of those parts of the world where the French language is an important medium of expression. Courses at and above FREN 211 may be counted toward the French and Francophone studies major.
This major consists of 10 courses:
A. Four 200-, 300- or 400-level FREN courses
B. One 300- or 400-level FREN course
C. One 300-level topics course in French and Francophone studies
D. Three 400-level topics courses in French and Francophone studies
E. One 400-level course in French language and linguistics
Suggested sequence:
- FREN 211
- FREN 215
- FREN 241
- FREN 341 or 351
- FREN 380 or 381 (variable topics courses)
- FREN 381 (variable topic)
- FREN 481 (variable topic)
- FREN 481 (variable topic)
- FREN 481 (variable topic)
- FREN 480 (variable topic)
Option 2. French Language and Linguistics
Students who choose this track can expect to develop a high level of fluency in both written and spoken dimensions of the language. Through the study of language and linguistics, they will also gain knowledge of linguistic forms and structures, language use and variation, and sociohistorical context of French-speaking communities throughout the world. Courses at and above FREN 215 may be counted toward the French language and linguistics major.
This major consists of 10 courses:
A. Three 200-, 300- or 400-level FREN courses
B. One 100-level linguistics course: LING 118 or 114
C. Two 300- or 400-level linguistics courses (including FREN courses cross-listed as LING)
D. Two 400-level courses in French language and linguistics
E. One 300-level topics course in French and Francophone studies
F. One 400-level topics course in French and Francophone studies
NOTE: At least three 400-level courses must be taken on campus. Any 400-level transfer credits, including education abroad, must be approved by the department.
Suggested sequence:
- FREN 215
- FREN 241
- FREN 341 or 351
- LING 114 or 118
- FREN 380 (variable topic)
- FREN 380 (variable topic)
- FREN 480 (variable topic)
- FREN 381
- FREN 481
- FREN 480 (variable topic)
Italian Major
The major in Italian consists of 10 courses in language, culture and literature, and accommodates students with no previous preparation in the language, as well as those with some previous knowledge.
Note: Students should consult placement guidelines provided by the department. Depending on prior exposure to the language, ITAL 111 may be a required prerequisite for the major.
Requirements
The 10 required courses for the major shall be distributed as follows:
- One of the following: ITAL 113, ITAL 115 or one course at the 200 level or above,
- Three ITAL courses at the 200 level or above,
- Two ITAL courses at the 300 level or above, and
- Four ITAL courses at the 400 level.
Spanish Major
Students majoring in Spanish will take a total of 10 courses, beginning at the intermediate level (SPAN 211) or above*. Students should consult placement guidelines provided by the department before enrolling in their first course at the department. Those starting above SPAN 211 can complete the ten required courses by taking additional 300- or 400-level courses. Spanish majors should progress toward degree completion according to the guidelines included below before enrolling in the first language course.
A. For students starting at the intermediate level, the courses required for the major are:
- SPAN 211 (or 212 for heritage learners)**)
- SPAN 215 (or 213 for heritage learners)
- SPAN 250*** (or 249 for heritage learners)
- SPAN 251
- SPAN 344
- Two of these three courses: Span 351, Span 360 and Span 370 (in any order or concurrently)
- Three 400-level seminars
*Students who are interested in completing a Spanish major but need to start with elementary courses should reach out to a department advisor during their first year to map out their schedule of classes in advance.
** Students who were raised in a home where Spanish was spoken but received the majority of their formal education in English are considered heritage learners.
***Upon consultation with a department advisor, students with native or near-native fluency in written and oral Spanish may begin at Spanish 251 instead of a heritage language course (e.g. Spanish 249); students will not receive credits, however, for any course they do not actually take.
Native speakers are those who were born in a Spanish-speaking country and received formal education (elementary/secondary) also in Spanish, before they started to acquire a second language.
B. At least five courses must be taken on Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ’s campus*, including at least one 300-level course and two 400-level courses.
*Courses offered through Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ sponsored programs in Spain (Barcelona), Colombia (Bogota), and Peru are considered on-campus courses.
NOTES:
Prior to their enrollment in abroad courses or programs, students must consult a departmental advisor for guidance and approval of their course selection.
Students wishing to transfer courses from other institutions, especially at the 400-level, must obtain approval by a departmental advisor.
Students who have not taken college Spanish courses previously should consult and follow placement guidelines (found under "resources" on the department's website), before enrolling in a course.
Honors Program
The department offers an honors program for junior and senior major students who have demonstrated motivation and ability within the fields of language, linguistics, literature and culture. Generally, students complete, in one or two semesters, a project in the subject language under the direction of a faculty advisor. For details, consult the department's undergraduate director.
Minors
The minor in French, Italian or Spanish consists of six courses starting at 211 or above; one must be in literature, and two courses must be at the 300- or 400-level. Consult with professors to confirm that the courses you are planning to take fulfill the literature requirement. Of the six courses, three must be taken at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ University, including one at the 300- or 400-level.