As the European Union evolves, challenging traditional national boundaries and giving rise to regionalist movements, as interest grows in the cultures and histories of post-colonial countries in North Africa, West Africa, and the Caribbean, as the importance of relations between the United States and Latin American countries increases, as Latino culture grows in importance within the United States, as Canadian studies develop, and as Italian-American studies gain in prominence, a knowledge of Romance languages, literatures, and cultures becomes ever more essential to people who wish to participate in the internationalization of contemporary political, social, and cultural life. Knowledge of Romance languages and literatures, as well as their complex, interrelated cultural heritages, provides a unique means for understanding contemporary articulations among European, New World, and post-colonial cultures. Such knowledge provides a unique understanding of the emerging political and social networks marking the passage into the 21st century. Courses taken in the Department of Romance Studies will prepare students for exciting international opportunities, whether they elect to undertake further specialized study in one of the Romance languages, literatures, and cultures following graduation, or decide instead to use their knowledge and experience to enhance their career opportunities in publishing and journalism, management, law, government, or medicine.

The Department of Romance Studies offers comprehensive undergraduate programs–from beginning language courses to minors and majors–in French and Francophone Studies, Italian Studies, and Spanish and Latin American Studies. Although there is not yet a major or minor in Portuguese, the department hopes to create a minor very soon. The department also offers comprehensive PhD programs in French and Francophone Studies and in Spanish and Latin American Studies, as well as a Romance Studies PhD track that allows qualified graduate students to combine two Romance languages in their PhD studies. The department sponsors many undergraduate and graduate activities throughout the year, and interested students should consult the "News & Events" page of the web site regularly for updates.