RLL at UB

he class reviewed examples of AI generated work versus student work.

Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

Connect with the world through language.

At the University at Buffalo, language is more than words—it's culture, history and human connection. Whether you're drawn to French poetry, Italian design or Latin American film, you’ll explore the world while sharpening your communication skills and expanding your perspective.

What are the Romance languages?

Romance languages all evolved from Latin, the language of the Roman Empire. Today, they include:

  • French
  • Italian
  • Spanish
  • And others like Portuguese, Romanian, Creole and Catalan

At UB, you can study multiple Romance languages—and see how they intersect through linguistics, culture and shared history.

Why study Romance languages?

Spoken by more than a billion people, Romance languages connect communities across continents. At UB, you’ll bring that global connection into the classroom—then carry it into your career.

With small classes, immersive coursework and faculty who know your name, you’ll grow as a communicator, scholar and global citizen.

Our programs open doors in:

  • Education
  • Global health
  • International business
  • Diplomacy and public policy
  • Media, law and the arts

Our students graduate with strong communication, writing and analytical skills, and gain confidence, are curious, and adaptable—traits every employer (and parent) can feel good about.

Why UB?

At UB, you’re part of a supportive, globally minded campus in a city that feels like home. Buffalo is known as the City of Good Neighbors for a reason—and our students experience it every day.

Here’s what makes Buffalo a great place to live and learn:

  • Affordable cost of living (yes, that's a win for families)
  • Welcoming, inclusive neighborhoods
  • Easy travel to NYC, Toronto and beyond
  • A growing food, arts and innovation scene

Stay four years or a lifetime—Buffalo will stick with you.

Aerial images taken at sunset of the Center for the Arts with rainbow lighting in the atrium glass to show support for UB’s LGBTQ + community.

Fields of Study

  • French
    7/11/25
    Spoken on five continents, French is the language of diplomacy, literature and international business. With over 220 million speakers worldwide, it’s the sixth most spoken language and an official language in 29 countries—including France, Canada, Morocco, Switzerland and Vietnam. Studying French at UB connects you with a truly global network.
  • Italian
    7/11/25
    Italian is the language of design, art, opera and food—spoken in one of the world’s most culturally rich regions. It’s the fourth most studied language globally and one of the official languages of the European Union. From Dante to contemporary fashion houses, Italian gives you access to centuries of influence.
  • Spanish
    7/11/25
    With over 500 million speakers worldwide, Spanish is a language of connection across the globe. It’s the official language of 20 countries, including Spain, Mexico, most of Central and South America, and much of the Caribbean. Whether you’re traveling, working or engaging in your own community, Spanish opens doors.

What you’ll learn

From introductory classes to graduate-level seminars, our courses help you build:

  • Speaking and writing fluency
  • Cultural literacy and historical insight
  • Critical thinking and analysis

Sample topics include:

Take the next step

You don’t need to know exactly where your future is headed. But knowing another language will open doors—on campus, across cultures and in your career. If you're ready to grow, we’re ready for you.

Apply Today

Contact us

  • Amy Graves Monroe.

    924 Clemens Hall

    Office Hours: Widely available by appointment

    Phone: (716) 645-0880

    acgraves@buffalo.edu

    Chair
    Associate Professor of French
    Department of Romance Languages and Literatures
    College of Arts and Sciences

    Scholarly Interests: Wars of Religion; Print Culture and History of the Book; Early Modern Philosophy and Political Thought; Satire and Irony; Intellectual History and Literary Theory

    924 Clemens Hall

    Office Hours: Widely available by appointment

    Phone: (716) 645-0880

    acgraves@buffalo.edu

  • Henry Berlin.

    911 Clemens Hall

    Office Hours

    Monday, Wednesday 10-10:50 am (in person); Tuesday 9-10 am (Zoom)

    Phone: (716) 645-2243

    hsberlin@buffalo.edu

    Director of Undergraduate Studies
    Associate Professor of Spanish
    Department of Romance Languages and Literatures
    College of Arts and Sciences

    Scholarly Interests: History and theory of the emotions; Medieval rhetoric and poetics; Literature, philosophy and theology; Iberian Studies

    911 Clemens Hall

    Office Hours

    Monday, Wednesday 10-10:50 am (in person); Tuesday 9-10 am (Zoom)

    Phone: (716) 645-2243

    hsberlin@buffalo.edu

  • Paola Ugolini.

    915 Clemens Hall

    Office Hours:

    Monday, Friday 2 - 3 pm

    Phone: (716) 645-0865

    ugolini@buffalo.edu

    Director of Graduate Studies
    Associate Professor of Italian
    Department of Romance Languages and Literatures
    College of Arts and Sciences

    Scholarly Interests: Early modern Italian literature, culture and conduct manuals; Satire; Chivalric poems; Gender studies

    915 Clemens Hall

    Office Hours:

    Monday, Friday 2 - 3 pm

    Phone: (716) 645-0865

    ugolini@buffalo.edu

  • Barbara Avila-Shah.

    910 Clemens Hall

    Phone: (716) 645-0867

    bia@buffalo.edu

    Language Coordinator
    Adjunct Assistant Professor of Spanish
    Department of Romance Languages and Literatures
    College of Arts and Sciences

    Scholarly Interests: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Language Education; Alternative Grading; Sociolinguistics in Caribbean Spanish; Second language acquisition and teaching; Spanish for heritage speakers; Linguistics; Sociolinguistics; Caribbean Spanish