Fostering Knowledge of the Human Experience

We study French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, as well as the cultures throughout the world where they are spoken and written, and the classical languages and cultural heritage of Greece and Rome, enabling us to become proficient in these languages, literatures, and cultures, and to think critically about the world.

We offer

Individualized Attention

Small class sizes from award-winning faculty, staff and advisors

Service Learning & Research

Programs and classes dedicated to service learning and research opportunities

Career Connections

Establishing connections for mentors, guest speakers, and networking events

Program opportunities

Roman coliseum with streaks of car lights driving below

Classics & Mediterranean Studies

A minor in Classical and Mediterranean Studies encourages a greater appreciation of our classical past, and a deeper contemplation of the traditions and ideas that have shaped the world.

paris seine river, with bridge across it

French

Programs are designed for students who want to develop excellent reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in the French language and build a strong understanding of the history and cultures of the French-speaking world. RCS offers an undergraduate minor, B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. programs in French.

Canal in Italy with buildings lining the side

Italian

A minor in Italian provides students the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge of Italian language and cultures with study abroad opportunities. 

Boat on a river in the city Porto

PORTUGUESE

The Portuguese minor creates a more globally aware, internationally focused student with knowledge of the language as well as the cultures of the Portuguese-speaking world.

Street lights and streaking car lights in centre Madrid

SPANISH

The Spanish minor, B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. programs encompass the richness and diversity of language, literature and culture in the Spanish-speaking world. RCS also provides opportunities for immersion in language and culture through study abroad and other experiences.

Program opportunities

Roman coliseum with streaks of car lights driving below

Classics & Mediterranean Studies

A minor in Classical and Mediterranean Studies encourages a greater appreciation of our classical past, and a deeper contemplation of the traditions and ideas that have shaped world.

paris seine river, with bridge across it

French

Designed for students who want to develop excellent reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in the French language and build a strong understanding of the history and culture. French offers a minor, B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.

Canal in Italy with buildings lining the side

Italian

A minor in Italian provides students the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge of Italian language and cultures with study abroad opportunities. 

Street lights and streaking car lights in centre Madrid

Spanish

This program encompasses the richness and diversity within the language, literature and culture. It provides opportunities for immersion in Spanish-speaking cultures through a study abroad. Spanish offers a minor, B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.

Boat on a river in the city Porto

Portuguese

The Portuguese minor creates a more globally-aware, internationally-focused for students with knowledge of the language as well as the Portuguese culture.

Mierda Mexico, street with colorful building on either side

Hispanic studies

The program prepares students in the language, literatures, and cultures of the Hispanic world, with an emphasis on literary, linguistic and cultural studies and scholarly investigation. Hispanic Studies offers a M.A. and Ph.D.

student clubs

The language clubs in RCS offer the opportunity to learn about and share experiences related to diverse cultures, languages, and people.

Classics Society

French Club

Italian Club

Spanish Club

PORTUGUESE Club

featured News
Award

New Awards Recognize Exceptional Contributions to Mentoring Undergraduate Students

The College of Arts & Letters at Michigan State University created two new awards this year toacknowledge faculty and staff who make exceptional contributions to mentoring students outside the classroom. These two Outstanding Undergraduate Mentorship Awards are nominated by students, endorsed by their chair or director, and selected by a student committee. These awards – the Outstanding Undergraduate Mentorship Award in Advising, Student Success, and Career Learning and the Outstanding Undergraduate Mentorship Award in Research and Creative Practice, Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Activities, and Supporting Student Belonging – were presented at the 2025 College of Arts & Letters Faculty and

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October 1, 2025
Collage of six professional headshots arranged in two rows of three. Top row: a smiling man in a suit jacket, a woman with curly hair wearing large earrings, and a smiling man with a beard in a plaid shirt and sweater. Bottom row: a man in a vest and collared shirt, a smiling woman with glasses and long hair, and a woman in a turtleneck sweater in front of a bookshelf.
Faculty

2025 Faculty Award Winners Recognized for Outstanding Achievement

The College of Arts & Letters honored its Faculty Award Winners at the 2025 College of Arts & Letters Faculty and Staff Welcome Reception on Sept. 29 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. The 2025 Faculty Award Winners are: These faculty members were recognized for their outstanding leadership, teaching, innovation, and community engagement, as well as the significant impact they have made in enhancing curriculum and student experiences. Paul Varg Award Chris Frilingos, Professor in the Department of Religious Studies, is this year’s recipient of the Paul Varg Award, which recognizes College of Arts & Letters faculty who

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September 30, 2025
News

MSU nominates nine students and three alumni for Marshall Scholarship

By Anneliese Mackel and Kristin Janka (originally published September 24, 2025) EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University has nominated nine undergraduate students and three alumni for the Marshall Scholarship, which provides support to approximately 50 of the most outstanding undergraduates in the country to study at any university in the United Kingdom. MSU has produced 20 Marshall Scholars to date. The results of this competition will be determined in the coming months. MSU’s nominees for the Marshall Scholarship are: Erik Brodsky, an Honors College fourth-year student majoring in advanced mathematics and computational mathematics through the College of Natural

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September 25, 2025
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featured News

Image of paper people of all colors and sizes holding hands

RCS DEI Committee Series Workshop: Inclusive Language in the Classroom

Come join us on Friday, November 11, 2022 from 3-4:30 pm in Wells Hall A334! 

How do we use inclusive language when teaching Romance Languages?

LEARN MORE >

Citizen Scholar Interns in Argentina

Spanish major Carla Simone experienced a different culture while teaching English to students in first through seventh grade at Colegio Norbridge in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as part of a two-month summer internship.

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me-award-ceremony

“Working closely with faculty gives me a different perspective than just a student viewpoint. I get to see how the department and administration works and I know it will help me in the future when I become a Professor.”

Jonathan Montalvo

PhD graduate, Hispanic Cultural Studies Program

Learn More >

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