RLL at UB
Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
Connect with the world through language.
Language is more than vocabulary. It is culture, history and real human connection. In Romance Languages and Literatures at the University at Buffalo, you can explore French, Italian and Spanish while building communication skills that travel well across careers and communities.
Romance languages grew out of Latin, the language of the Roman Empire. Today they include:
- French
- Italian
- Spanish
- And other Romance languages such as Portuguese, Romanian, Creole and Catalan
At UB, you can study multiple Romance languages—and see how they intersect through linguistics, culture and shared history.
Romance languages are spoken by more than a billion people worldwide. They shape global business, education, government, health care and the arts. When you study them, you build skills that employers value and families appreciate, including clear communication, strong writing, and confident problem-solving.
At UB, global perspectives come into the classroom and move with you into internships, graduate study and your career.
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?
UB is a place where you can challenge yourself, find your community and build a future. As New York’s flagship public research university, UB gives you the power of an R1 institution and the support of a campus that feels welcoming from day one.
What you’ll experience at UB
- Affordable excellence: Earn a top-tier education at a cost that supports your goals.
- Collaborative community: Learn from faculty and peers who care about your growth.
- Built-in opportunity: Get experience through research, internships and student clubs.
- A vibrant place to live: Buffalo offers friendly neighborhoods, a lively arts and food scene and easy access to Toronto and New York.
The UB difference
UB students get big-university advantages without losing the personal connections that make college meaningful. You’ll join a campus that encourages curiosity, celebrates different perspectives and gives you room to explore your path.
From introductory courses to advanced seminars, you will build practical language skills and deep cultural understanding.
You will:
- Develop fluency in speaking, listening, reading and writing
- Gain cultural and historical insight through literature, film and media
- Strengthen critical thinking and textual analysis
- Improve research, writing and presentation skills
- Learn to communicate clearly across cultures
Sample topics include:
- Introductory Spanish for the Healthcare Professions
- Learn Portuguese!
- Italian cinema and conversation
- Advanced literature and translation
- Business and legal Spanish
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 are ready to grow, we are ready to help you begin.
