Undergraduate Overview

French Club members engage in bagette fencing on a sunny afternoon.

French Club members engage in some friendly baguette fencing near Lake LaSalle on UB's North Campus

Undergraduate students in the UB Department of Romance Languages and Literatures (RLL) develop one of the most sought-after skills in today's complex, global society: the ability to speak a foreign language. 

The Learning Environment

Beginning on the first day of class, every session is taught in the target language. Within this highly immersive and interactive learning environment, students quickly achieve the proficiency and confidence to speak in front of others. The RLL curriculum emphasizes language mastery as well as the development of analytical skill, literary interpretation and cultural competence. Current events, whether in Marseilles or Mexico City, Rome or Quebec, provide a focal point for every course.

In our introductory language classes, instructors model usage and pronunciation while students repeat and practice until the new pattern is learned. As students move through the curriculum, their participation evolves: students perform original skits and scenes from established dramatic works, and in advanced classes they present their research findings and respond to feedback, always in the target language.

By limiting class size, engaging award-winning faculty and fostering opportunities for study abroad and other experiential learning activities, the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures ensures that undergraduate students leave UB equipped with the technical and cultural skills necessary to flourish in their chosen fields

Undergraduate Fields of Study

  • French: Major or Minor
    3/18/25
    Learn about the language, literature and culture of French-speaking world regions: Algeria, Congo, France, Haiti, Quebec, Senegal, Switzerland and more.
  • Italian: Major or Minors
    2/5/26
    Learn about the language, literature and culture of Italian-speaking world regions: Argentina, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, the United States and more.
  • Spanish: Major or Minor
    11/7/25
    Learn about the language, literature and culture of Spanish-speaking world regions: Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, the United States and more.

Departmental Advising

French

Spanish

Italian

Majors and Minors (SPA/FR/ITA 200-300-400 levels)

Please make an advisement appointment via Navigate:

Learn More About RLL

Contact Us

For undergraduate-related questions, please email rll-dus@buffalo.edu.

  • Stephanie Schmidt.

    909 Clemens Hall

    Office Hours: Mondays 1 - 2 PM (Zoom); Thursdays 1 - 3 PM, or by appointment

    Phone: (716) 645-0864

    ss573@buffalo.edu

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

    Scholarly Interests: Colonial Latin American literature; Nahuatl Studies; Early Modern Spanish literature

    909 Clemens Hall

    Office Hours: Mondays 1 - 2 PM (Zoom); Thursdays 1 - 3 PM, or by appointment

    Phone: (716) 645-0864

    ss573@buffalo.edu