Giving voice to the literatures and cultures of the world
Department of Romance Studies
The Department of Romance Studies gives voice to the literatures and cultures of those parts of the world where French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish are or have been spoken. The undergraduate and graduate programs offer students a broad range of opportunities for language acquisition, as well as the chance to become sophisticated interpreters of cultures and deliver intellectual engagement across linguistic and textual boundaries.
A new round of Einaudi Center seed grants will help faculty from across Cornell, including three from the College of Arts & Sciences, tackle issues ranging from drone-assisted healthcare delivery for migrants to sustainable infrastructure design for Ukraine.
Carolyn Fornoff explores how contemporary Mexican writers, filmmakers and visual artists have reacted to climate change in her book "Subjunctive Aesthetics: Mexican Cultural Production in the Era of Climate Change."
Recent graduates reflect on their experiences and studies at Cornell:
"Thanks to my Arts & Sciences education, I am a fluent reader, writer and scholar in four different languages... I wrote my honors theses on Italian and German works of literature, and I spent a summer conducting anthropological research on Quilombola communities in Brazil. The ability to think critically and express myself in several languages has contributed to my analytical skills, professional development and provided me with an international perspective."
- Ariana Croese, '22
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: