"To have another language is to possess a second soul."

These words, spoken by Charlemagne, King of the Franks, more than 1200 years ago, could not ring truer in today's interconnected societies.

In the context of UBC's commitment towards a global citizenship, the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies plays a pivotal role by adding to the curriculum of more than 4,000 undergraduate students the richness of the languages, literatures, films, cultures and civilizations of Canada, France, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Spain, Italy and Portugal. It is also an important centre for research with its faculty members engaging in ground-breaking work and publishing in international venues, and with its 50 graduate students pursuing M.A. and PhD programs in French and in Spanish with a specialization in Literature or Linguistics.

Our department offers the following undergraduate programs:

• Bachelor of Arts : Minor or Major in French; Minor or Major in Spanish; Minor in Italian.
• Bachelor of Arts with Honours in French or Romance Studies.

Many of our courses are also of interest to non-specialists who want to learn a second language or expand their knowledge of other cultures.

More than 70 instructors (continuing faculty, sessional lecturers, and teaching assistants) are dedicated to sharing their expertise and passion for their subject through a variety of methodologies, including new media technologies.

We are also implementing exciting initiatives such as exchange programmes and community service-learning.

Our research and teaching strengths lie in an in-depth coverage of various fields as well as in an interdisciplinary approach, both within the department (Romance Studies) and with other units and programs: Arts One, Canadian Studies, Comparative Literature, Education, European Studies, Foundations, History, Medieval Studies, Latin American Studies, 19th Century Studies, Women's Studies.

The Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies disseminates and celebrates research through publications, conferences, guest lectures, and events. It also provides a home to different student organizations, such as the French, Spanish and Italian clubs.

To those who visit this website, drop by our main office in Buto 797, read us, or attend our classes, we say:

Bienvenue, bienvenido, benvenuto.

André Lamontagne

Professor and Department Head