Romance Languages

Department Head: Mohamed Kamara; kamaram@wlu.edu; 540-458-8821

Academic Division: The College

French (FREN), Italian (ITAL), Portuguese (PORT), Spanish (SPAN)

Talented and dedicated faculty engage students in the study of the languages, literatures, and cultures of the diverse populations that once spoke the Latin of the Roman Empire. Majors in Spanish and French learn to speak a second language fluently, explore the history and culture of its speakers through coursework and study abroad, and gain expertise in the literary arts by reading and analyzing texts produced from the medieval to the post-colonial periods.

Students may combine two languages in a Romance Language major, as well as study Italian and Portuguese language and culture. The affiliated Latin American and Caribbean Studies program provides the intellectual excitement of an interdisciplinary approach to the exploration of multicultural societies that speak French, Portuguese and Spanish.

Students who plan to work in either French or Spanish and another Romance language are advised to refer to the description of the Romance Languages major. Students interested in using Portuguese or Italian in combination with French or Spanish for the Romance Languages major should consult with the appropriate faculty member (or department head).

HONORS: An Honors Program is offered for qualified students majoring in French, Spanish, or Romance languages; see department head for details. Honors coursework is in addition to major requirements.

Spanish courses are numbered according to the following scheme.

200-209, 300-309 Language and Linguistics
210-219, 310-319 Civilization and Culture
220-229, 320-339 Peninsular literature
240-249, 340-359 Spanish-American literature
260-269, 360-369 Hispanic (Transatlantic)
270-279, 370-379 Literary Analysis and Theory

Romance Languages

Majors may count one literature, film, or culture course taught in English by Romance Languages faculty toward the 200-level requirements of the Spanish or French major, or the primary language of the Romance Languages major. Students interested in using Portuguese or Italian in combination with French or Spanish for the Romance Languages major should consult with the appropriate faculty member (or department head).

Teacher Certification

Students wishing to teach French or Spanish in secondary school have the opportunity for certification from the Commonwealth of Virginia, reciprocal in 40 additional states. In general, fulfillment of general education requirements and requirements for the major in French or Spanish make up the core of the certification requirement. Students must complete at least 33 credits in language. In addition, students must take up to 15 credits in education courses, as well as additional credits in student teaching. Interested students should consult the Director of Teacher Education.

Offerings

French major leading to BA degree  

Romance Languages major, with a French emphasis, leading to a BA degree  

Romance Languages major, with a Spanish emphasis, leading to a BA degree  

Spanish major leading to BA degree  

French minor  

Faculty

First date is the year in which the faculty member began service as regular faculty at the University. Second date is the year of appointment to the present rank.

Matthew Bailey, Ph.D.—(2008)-2008
Professor of Romance Languages
Ph.D., Tulane University

Jeffrey C. Barnett, Ph.D.—(1989)-2007
S. Blount Mason Jr. Professor of Romance Languages
Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Mónica Botta, Ph.D.—(2006)-2022
Professor of Romance Languages
Ph.D., University of Connecticut

Jose Dominicci Buzo, Ph.D.,—(2024)-2024
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Ph.D., Boston University

Mohamed Kamara, Ph.D.—(2001)-2021
H. Laurent Boetsch, Jr. Term Professor of Romance Languages
Ph.D., Tulane University

Ellen C. Mayock, Ph.D.—(1997)-2008
Ernest Williams II Professor of Spanish
Ph.D., University of Texas

Stephen P. McCormick, Ph.D.—(2014)-2018
Associate Professor of French
Ph.D., University of Oregon

Seth R. Michelson, Ph.D.—(2014)-2020
Associate Professor of Spanish
Ph.D., University of Southern California

Antonio Reyes, Ph.D.—(2011)-2024
Professor of Spanish
Ph.D., University of Illinois

Kristina Roney, Ph.D.—(2019)-2024
Assistant Professor of French
Ph.D., University of Kansas