Romance Languages and Literatures

The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures offers courses in French, Italian, and Spanish languages, as well as their corresponding literatures and cultures, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The undergraduate majors and minors in RLL are designed to help students attain a broad interdisciplinary insight into the literature and culture of other nations, while achieving a high linguistic proficiency in one or more Romance languages.

Students can major or minor in French, Hispanic Studies, or Italian and courses range from elementary language to advanced seminars in languages, literatures, and cultures. The major offers solid preparation and guidance for students interested in teaching or in graduate studies, as well as in fields such as law, medicine, interpreting, and international business. The minors serve as a useful adjunct to a wide range of academic specializations.

French Studies

A French Studies major assures exceptional competence in French, allowing students to work extensively and closely with literary and cultural artifacts that language makes possible. Building on their linguistic proficiency consolidated in the language program, majors expand that proficiency to a wide variety of French texts. This training exercises and assures our students' ability to analyze texts and contexts, as well as to conceive, articulate, and defend an original idea.

French Studies minors reap similar benefits, albeit to a lesser extent, by attaining linguistic proficiency and taking at least two 4000-level courses.

Language Courses for the Major and Minor

Students begin the program at the level most appropriate for their linguistic proficiency.听Contact the Coordinator of the French Language Program Prof.听Ryan Augustyniak (ryan.augustyniak@bc.edu) for guidance about placement.

French Studies majors and minors may begin their program with Conversation, Composition and Reading I (FREN2209) or II (FREN2210).

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Hispanic Studies

A Hispanic Studies major assures exceptional competence in Spanish, allowing students to work extensively and closely with literary and cultural artifacts that language makes possible. Building on their linguistic proficiency consolidated in the language program, majors expand that proficiency to a wide variety of Hispanic texts. This training exercises and assures our students' ability to analyze texts and contexts, as well as to conceive, articulate, and defend an original idea.

Language Courses for the Major and Minor

Students begin the program at the level most appropriate for their linguistic proficiency. Contact the Coordinator of the Upper-level Spanish Language Program Prof. Yohana Gil Berrio (yohana.gilberrio@bc.edu) for guidance about placement.

Hispanic Studies majors and minors may begin their program with Conversation, Composition and Reading I (SPAN2215) or II (SPAN2216).

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Italian Studies

An Italian Studies major assures exceptional competence in Italian, allowing students to work extensively and closely with literary and cultural artifacts that language makes possible. Building on their linguistic proficiency consolidated in the language program, majors expand that proficiency to a wide variety of Italian texts. This training exercises and assures our students' ability to analyze texts and contexts, as well as to conceive, articulate, and defend an original idea.

Italian Studies minors reap similar benefits, albeit to a lesser extent, by attaining linguistic proficiency and taking at least two advanced courses.

Language Courses for the Major and Minor

Students begin the program at the level most appropriate for their linguistic proficiency. For advisement about elementary and intermediate level placement, contact the Coordinator of the Italian Language Program Prof. Carmen Merolla (carmen.merolla@bc.edu). For advisement at the post-intermediate level, contact the Italian Section Head Prof. Mattia Acetoso ().

Italian Studies majors and minors may begin their program with Conversation, Composition, and Reading I (ITAL2213) or II (ITAL2214).

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Study Abroad Guidelines and Policies

The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures strongly encourages all of its students to study abroad, both to strengthen their linguistic skills and to benefit from the experience of living in another culture. Majors and minors in French, Hispanic Studies, and Italian interested in study abroad should consult with the appropriate program director. For a general overview of semester and academic-year study abroad programs and to apply, visit the Office of Global Education located in Hovey House.听

Although most study-abroad courses can count towards the general elective requirement for graduation, students should be aware that not all the courses offered by study-abroad programs available to 情色空间 students are automatically acceptable toward the RLL major or minor or 情色空间 graduation requirements (e.g., fulfillment of the College's language proficiency requirement with study-abroad courses in French, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese, which necessitate the approval of the RLL Department).

Students intending to study abroad are urged to gain approval for specific courses听before听departing. Students who seek approval only after they return from abroad risk not getting credit for study-abroad courses. Final approval of courses taken abroad requires the signature of the department's Study Abroad Advisors: for French, Prof. Kevin Newmark; for Italian, Prof. Mattia Acetoso and for Spanish,听Prof. Sarah Beckjord.听To obtain approval for courses, students must complete the "Study Abroad Course Evaluation Form." Once completed and submitted online, the form will be automatically directed to the appropriate RLL faculty member for approval.

Please note: Approval for Core "Cultural Diversity" courses taken abroad are handled by the听Office of the Associate Dean for the Core.听"Lit Core" credit is not given for any study-abroad courses.

For further information about study abroad course credit see the Office of Global Education website.

Credit Transfer

Romance Languages and Literatures majors may earn credit for up to three courses (9 credits) toward their major

RLL majors may earn credit for up to three courses (nine credits) toward their major in a single semester of study abroad, and credit for up to five courses (15 credits) in a year-long program.

RLL minors may earn credit for up to two courses (six credits) toward their minor in a single semester of study abroad, and credit for up to three courses (nine credits) in a yearlong program.

No RLL credit will be granted for courses conducted in English, except for summer courses taught by Boston College faculty (in which case a maximum of three credits is transferrable). Credit is not automatically granted for courses taken in the target language. Courses must show a direct relationship to the student's program of study in the department.

In approving study-abroad courses, the department will also determine the level of the courses in question with respect to RLL courses offered at 情色空间 (3000, 4000, etc.). In choosing courses abroad, students should keep in mind the following criteria:

  • 3000-level courses at 情色空间 advance the student's linguistic proficiency as their primary objective. They develop the ability to narrate and describe, emphasizing close work with primary texts. They have at least 38-42 hours of contact time and must include a formal written component or its equivalent.
  • 4000-level (French), 5000-level (Italian) and 6000-level (Hispanic Studies) courses develop a student's ability to think critically, articulate abstractions, and construct an intellectual argument about a text and its contexts. They have at least 38-42 hours of contact time and must include a substantial analytical written component or its equivalent.
  • In the case of Hispanic Studies, majors and minors who have completed SPAN3395 (Contextos) will receive credit only for courses taken abroad at the 6000-level.

Please see the Office of Global Engagement page or the PDF on the RLL website listing pre-approved Hispanic Studies Courses.

Information for First-year Majors and Non-majors

Students planning to major in Romance Languages and Literatures, to study abroad during their junior year, and to apply for graduate work or Graduate Fulbright Scholarships are encouraged to place themselves in advanced-level language courses in French, Italian, and Spanish as first-year students. Students should place themselves initially in the most challenging course they can handle, and adjustments in scheduling can be made if necessary. The department carefully organizes a program to suit each student's individual needs and objectives.

Students who have not already fulfilled the language proficiency requirement for Morrissey College through an achievement or advanced placement test should sign up for an appropriate language course. Placement tests in French and Spanish can be taken on-line. For the placement exam in Italian, please contact Professor Carmen Merolla.

The Department offers courses, some taught in the target languages and some in English, which count for University Core requirements and for elective credit in the major. Students interested in advancing their major credits at the early stages of their careers are encouraged to consider these Core courses.

Literature Core and Cultural Diversity Requirement

All the courses offered in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures explore the culture and literature of 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 Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Core, both Literature and Cultural Diversity, which are designed for non-specialists.

Literature Core

Core offerings, whether in the target language or in translation, treat texts in their full linguistic, artistic, and cultural contexts. Literature Core courses offer students close exposure to great narrative arts, whether visual or written, under the guidance of a professor sensitive to their original language. Comparative literature courses introduce students to the interplay of artistic 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.

For a list of courses that satisfy the Literature Core requirement, visit bc.edu/core.

Cultural Diversity Core

The curriculum of Romance Languages and Literatures offers courses that treat the cultures of people around the world who speak French, Spanish, and Italian, including western Europe as well as 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.

For a list of courses that satisfy the Cultural Diversity Core requirement, visit bc.edu/core.

The Departmental Honors Program

Students in the Honors Program will conduct research under the guidance of a faculty member on a topic related to their work in a single Romance Languages & Literatures undergraduate/graduate seminar (or an undergraduate-only seminar for Hispanic Studies minors). Students may continue research begun in a seminar taken before the senior year or they may begin their research in a seminar taken in the Fall of the senior year. In either case, the student will need to obtain the support of the relevant faculty member on an agreed topic. All projects, a 20-page paper for RLL majors or a 15-paper for RLL minors, must be completed and submitted by February 15 of the Spring semester of the senior year. RLL minors must also take a seventh course to receive Honors.

In order to qualify for Honors, students must have a GPA of 3.6 in French, Italian and Hispanic Studies. Students interested in participating in the RLL Honors program should contact the RLL Honors Program Director (rll@bc.edu) and the faculty member with whom they want to work. Students can apply to the program in the Spring semester of their junior year or the Fall semester of their senior year. Applications are available in the Department of Romance Languages office in Lyons 304 and they must be completed by September 20 in the student鈥檚 senior year.

A meeting for all RLL Honors Students will be scheduled in October of the senior year for an informal discussion of the early stages of research. Another meeting, to be scheduled in late February, will allow students to share the results of their projects.

Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society

The Lambda Psi chapter of Pi Delta Phi was established at Boston College in 1997. The activities of the Lambda Psi chapter have as their goal to promote a greater awareness of French and Francophone culture at Boston College. Over the past decade, the Lambda Psi chapter has grown to include many of the University's most promising undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty, librarians, administrators and alumni who have distinguished themselves through their scholarship and their love of French culture have also been accorded honorary membership.

Gamma Kappa Alpha, the National Italian Honor Society

Gamma Kappa Alpha seeks to recognize outstanding scholastic performance in the fields of Italian language, culture and literature, to encourage students to acquire a greater interest in and understanding of the Italian language, culture, and society, and to help others appreciate and enjoy the culture of Italy and the Italian language. The Boston College chapter was established in Fall 2009. Majors and Minors in Italian Studies in good academic standing can apply for active membership in the society.

Sigma Delta Pi, the National Hispanic Honor Society

A 情色空间 Chapter is currently in the process of being created.

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