Program Requirements and Opportunities
Published annually, the Course Catalog sets out the requirements of the academic programs--the majors, minors, and concentrations. Each Bryn Mawr student must declare a major before the end of the sophomore year. Students may also declare a minor or a concentration, but neither is required for the A.B. degree. Students must comply with the requirements published in the Course Catalog at the time when they declare the major, minor and/or concentration.
The Course Catalog also sets out the College requirements. Students must comply with the College requirements published at the time they enter Bryn Mawr College.
For more information, visit the Catalog Homepage to view the current content. To view Catalogs from previous academic years, visit the Catalog Archives page.
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, one of which should be in Italian.
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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Contact Us
Romance Languages
Old Library 103
Bryn Mawr College
101 N. Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-2899
Phone: 610-526-5198
Grace Armstrong, Co-Director
Phone: 610-526-5386
garmstro@brynmawr.edu
MarÃa Cristina Quintero, Co-Director
Phone: 610-526-5080
mquinter@brynmawr.edu
Roberta Ricci, Co-Director
Phone: 610-526-5048
rricci@brynmawr.edu
Leslie Diarra, Academic Administrative Assistant
Phone: 610-526-5198
ldiarra@brynmawr.edu