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Undergraduate Programs

ROMS Undergraduate Programs

The Department of Romance Studies provides opportunities for studying the languages and cultures throughout the world where Romance languages are spoken.

Studying French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish has become increasingly important because of the economic and political significance of these languages abroad and in our multicultural society in the United States. Language study also offers important support to other majors at UNC-Chapel Hill, such as history, linguistics, political science, economics, Global Studies, Latin American Studies, European Studies, Communications, Media and Journalism, and Business.

The department offers the Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages, with a specialization in French and Francophone Studies, Italian Studies, Portuguese, Hispanic Studies, or Hispanic Linguistics. The department also offers minors in French and Francophone Studies, Italian Studies, Portuguese, Hispanic Studies, Spanish for the Professions, and Spanish Translation and Interpreting. Highly qualified and motivated students are encouraged to pursue the B.A. in Romance Languages with Honors.

Explore

Français

French at UNC-CH gives students the opportunity to acquire a good command of the language (reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension), introducing them to French and Francophone literatures and cultures.

Italiano

UNC has a rich tradition of Italian studies, including courses on language, literature, film, food, politics, history, philosophy, and theater. Students maybe obtain a major or minor in Italian, and many combine Italian with their other areas of specialization.

Português

Portuguese at UNC-CH combines the study of the language, culture, and literatures of Brazil and Portugal. Emphasis is placed on the language as it is currently spoken and its historical development.

Español

Spanish Studies at UNC-CH thrives on innovative literary, linguistic and theoretical approaches to the Spanish-speaking world, and includes the study of indigenous, Afro-descendant, Asian, and other cultures.

ROMS Undergraduate Support Team

Elizabeth Bruno
 
Elizabeth Bruno
Spanish Advisor (Spanish for the Professions Minor)
Spanish
ebruno@email.unc.edu
Amy Chambless
 
Amy Chambless
Director Undergraduate Studies, Undergraduate Advisor of Italian, Director of Italian Language Instruction
Italian
achamble@email.unc.edu
Dorothea Heitsch
 
Dorothea Heitsch
Undergraduate and Study Abroad Advisor for French
French
dheitsch@unc.edu
Gosia Lee
 
Gosia Lee
Undergraduate Advisor of Spanish
Spanish & Italian
gosialee@email.unc.edu
Sheena Melton
 
Sheena Melton
Undergraduate Student Services Specialist
smelton@email.unc.edu
919-962-2062
Martha Ruiz-Garcia
 
Martha Ruiz-Garcia
Spanish Advisor (Hispanic Linguistics Major)
Spanish
ruizgar@email.unc.edu
Loida Slate
 
Loida Slate
Spanish Advisor (Translation & Interpreting Minor)
Spanish
lpereira@unc.edu
Richard Vernon
 
Richard Vernon
Director of Portuguese Language Instruction, Undergraduate and Study Abroad Portuguese Advisor
Portuguese
rmvernon@email.unc.edu

Why choose a ROMS undergraduate program?

Regan Curtis

Spanish
Current Undergraduate Student

“As a senior Hispanic Literatures and Cultures major, I have spent the last four years taking ROMS classes in Dey Hall. My favorite aspect of this department is the faculty; each professor is clearly passionate about their work and students. The past three years I have been working with Dr. Hélène de Fays, my research adviser, to study reproductive health in Guatemala. I even got to work in Antigua, Guatemala this summer! I also did a smaller research project that involved a close reading of “La Bastarda” by Trifonia Melibea Obono. From research to taking classes in Spanish, Galician, and Portuguese, I love the rich variety of opportunities that this department offers.“

Brenna Kuder

Spanish
Undergrad Alum

“ROMS helped me to unlock some amazing opportunities in my undergraduate career. One of the professors helped me study abroad in Ecuador, where I gained a deeper understanding of the language. I want to go into agriculture, and with the skills that I was taught in my many Spanish classes, I was able to tour large flower farms while abroad and understand the intricacies of their day-to-day operations. That knowledge has already helped me in my farming jobs at home, as well as given me the chance to work beyond the U.S. I am excited to see where my Spanish minor takes me, and I am grateful to the grammar, vocabulary, and culture that I studied during my time with ROMS.“