Meet Your Major

As a Romance languages student, you’ll develop your French, Italian or Spanish language skills while immersing yourself in European history and culture.

Through your travel and coursework, you’ll become well-prepared to excel in the global marketplace. Bonus? If teaching Romance languages is in your future, you can secure Massachusetts licensure through Merrimack and explore your options as an education double major.

Changes to Romance Languages Concentration
The Romance Languages concentration is no longer being offered to new World Languages and Cultural Studies majors as of Aug. 2019. 

What You’ll Learn

In the romance languages program, you will:

  • Hone your ability to understand, speak and write two Romance languages.
  • Be immersed in the language by taking select courses that are taught entirely in French, Italian or Spanish.
  • Gain a greater understanding of European literature, film and other creative achievements.
  • Study the cultural heritage and history of Europe from classical to modern times.
  • Explore international politics, finances and business.

Hands-On Learning

Don’t miss the opportunity to study abroad for a semester (or longer) in Bilbao, Spain; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Angers, France; or Florence, Italy. During your immersive study-abroad experience, you’ll develop cross-cultural competencies, improve your language abilities and gain the skills you need to excel wherever you are in the world.

Career Options

Upon successful completion of the Romance languages program, you’ll be well-equipped to pursue a career in business, academics, politics, the arts or a variety of other fields. Positions may include:

  • Cultural adviser
  • Diplomat
  • Foreign correspondent
  • Foreign Service officer
  • Intelligence officer
  • International business consultant
  • Teacher
  • Translator

What You’ll Take

The Romance languages concentration combines two Romance languages with a total of nine courses (minimum 34 credits).

Students must take at least six courses beyond 1120 in the principal language (French, Italian or Spanish):

FRE 1120 Introductory French II
ITA 1120 Introductory Italian II
SPA 1120 Introductory Spanish II

Students must take at least six courses beyond 1110 in the principal language (French, Italian or Spanish):

FRE 1110 Introductory French I
ITA 1110 Introductory Italian I
SPA 1110 Introductory Spanish I

Majors with a Romance languages concentration are required to take the intermediate sequence of the language they studied in high school during their freshman year and to begin the study of the second language by the first semester of their sophomore year.

FRE 2010 Intermediate French I
ITA 2010 Intermediate Italian I
SPA 2010 Intermediate Spanish I
FRE 2020 Intermediate French II
ITA 2020 Intermediate Italian II
SPA 2020 Intermediate Spanish II