Undergraduate Study

The Department of Romance Studies offers students a broad range of opportunities for language acquisition, as well as the chance to become sophisticated interpreters of the literature, film, philosophy and material culture produced within and influenced by the Romance languages.

Majors and Minors

The Department of Romance Studies offers three majors and four minors for undergraduate students, along with coursework in Polish. Explore the links below for detailed information each program:

French (major and minor offered)
Italian (major and minor offered)
Portuguese (minor offered)
Spanish (major and minor offered)
Polish Language Program

Questions? Our Director of Undergraduate Studies is Cecelia Lawless, Senior Lecturer of Spanish Language and Literature. Her office hours are listed on the Department Directory and Office House page

Student Highlights

Class of 2019 Extraordinary Journeys

Recent graduates reflect on their experiences and studies at Cornell:

Varun Biddanda, Spanish & Biological Sciences
Zhisheng Ivy Deng, Anthropology & Comparative Literature & French & Fine Arts
Matthew Gamboa-Lutz, English & Spanish
Eve Glasergreen, English & French
Leah Wank, Linguistics & French
Renee Williamson, Italian & Psychology

Class of 2018 Extraordinary Journeys

Benjamin Abeles, Italian & Government
Hadiyah Chowdhury, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies & Anthropology & French
Olivia Goldring, Government, French, & Psychology
Aleson Laird, Spanish & History

Class of 2017 Extraordinary Journeys

Therese Banks, French & English
Kevin Coughlin, Economics & Spanish
Jesse Gonzalez, English & Spanish
Gloria Majule, Performing and Media Arts & Spanish

Cornell is a place where you are exposed to people from all walks of life. Talk to them! Get to know them! This opens doors in many ways you may have never previously imagined, and can lead to life long friends.

— Braulio Castillo, Biological Sciences & French ’18