Program Requirements and Opportunities

Students may complete a  major in Romance Languages.

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 and/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, if French is selected as second.  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.

Students must complete a writing requirement in the major.  Students will work with their major advisors in order to identify either two writing attentive or one writing intensive course within their major plan of study.

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.

Haverford students intending to major in Romance Languages  must have their major work plan approved by a Bryn Mawr College adviser.

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).

Writing Requirement

Students must complete a writing requirement in the major.  Students will work with their major advisors in order to identify either two writing attentive or one writing intensive course within their major plan of study.

First Language and Literature

French     (Class of 2022)                 

FREN 101-102 or 101-105; or 005-102 or 005-105. Four literature courses at the 200 level, including FREN 213. Advanced language course: FREN 260 (BMC) or 212 (HC). Two courses at the 300 level. 

(beginning with Class of 2023) 

FREN 101-102 or 101-105; or 005-102 or 005-105. Three literature or language courses at the 200 level and the Junior Seminar. Two courses at the 300 level. 

Italian               

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

Spanish      

SPAN 102, SPAN 120. 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. Three  literature or language courses at the 200 level. One course at  the 300 level.                      

Italian                      

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

Spanish

SPAN 102, SPAN 120. 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 398 and 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 should have a minimum 3.7 GPA in Spanish and 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 (FREN 403) or senior essay, the latter completed in a third 300-l. course in semester II of senior year.      

*** In order to receive honors, students whose first  language is Italian are required to write a senior essay (ITAL 398 and ITAL 399)

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