Bryn Mawr College

Romance Languages

Students may complete a major in Romance Languages.

Coordinators:

Grace M. Armstrong, French and Francophone Studies
David Cast, Italian
María Cristina Quintero, Spanish

The Departments of French and Francophone Studies, Italian, and Spanish cooperate in offering a major in Romance Languages that requires advanced work in at least two romance languages and literatures. Additional work in a third language and literature is suggested.

Major Requirements

The requirements for the major are a minimum of nine courses, including the Senior Conference or Senior Essay, described below, in the first language and literature and six courses in the second language and literature, including the Senior Conference in French. Students should consult with their advisers no later than their sophomore year in order to select courses in the various departments that complement each other.

The following sequence of courses is recommended when the various languages are chosen for primary and secondary concentration, respectively (see the departmental listings for course descriptions).

First Language and Literature

French

FREN 101-102 or 101-105; or 005-102 or 005-105.
Four literature courses at the 200 level.

FREN 260 (BMC) or 212 (HC).
Two courses at the 300 level.

Italian

ITAL 101, 102, or 105.
Four courses at the 200 level.
Three courses at the 300 level.

Spanish

SPAN 200.
SPAN 202.
Four courses at the 200 level.
Two courses at the 300 level.

Second Language and Literature

French

FREN 101-102 or 101-105; or 005-102 or 005-105.
Two literature courses at the 200 level.

FREN 260 (BMC) or 212 (HC).
One course at the 300 level.

Italian

ITAL 101, 102, or 105.
Two literature courses at the 200 level.
Two literature courses at the 300 level.

Spanish

SPAN 200
SPAN 202.
Two courses at the 200 level.
Two courses at the 300 level.

In addition to the coursework described above, when the first language and literature is Spanish, majors in Romance Languages must enroll in SPAN 398 (Senior Seminar).* When French is chosen as either the first or second language, students must take the first semester Senior Conference in French (FREN 398) in addition to the coursework described above.** When Italian is chosen, students must take ITAL 399, offered in consultation with the department, in addition to the coursework described above in order to receive honors.*** An oral examination (following the current model in the various departments) may be given in one or both of the two languages, according to the student’s preference, and students follow the practice of their principal language as to written examination or thesis.

Please note that 398 does not count as one of the two required 300-level courses.

Interdepartmental courses at the 200 or 300 level are offered from time to time by the cooperating departments. These courses are conducted in English on such comparative Romance topics as epic, romanticism, or literary vanguard movements of the 20th century. Students should be able to read texts in two of the languages in the original.

* In order to receive honors, students whose first language is Spanish are required to write a senior essay (SPAN 399).

** For students whose first language is French, honors are awarded on the basis of performance in Senior Conference and on a successfully completed thesis or senior essay.

*** In order to receive honors, students whose first language is Italian are required to write a senior essay (ITAL 399)