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

French programs include B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees as well as several minors. Programs are designed for students to develop excellent reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in the French language and build an understanding of the history and cultures of the French-speaking world.

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 additional education 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

Spanish programs include B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees as well as several minors. Programs encompass the richness and diversity of language, literature, and culture in the Spanish-speaking world. There are also opportunities for language and cultural immersion through education 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

A photo of Michigan State University's Beaumont Tower rising through the trees. To the left of Beaumont Tower is the text: "#36 worldwide in arts and humanities research" with the Spartan helmet below the text.
International Impact

MSU Ranks No. 36 Worldwide in Arts and Humanities Research

Michigan State University (MSU) ranks No. 36 worldwide and No. 17 in the United States in arts and humanities research performance, according to the U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities for 2026-2027. The U.S. News and World Report rankings highlight 51 subject areas that evaluate academic research performance. The arts and humanities subject area considers publications, citations, books, conferences, and global and regional research reputation. “This U.S. News and World Report ranking recognizes the ways faculty and students in the College of Arts and Letters and across Michigan State University are leading arts and humanities research, discovery,

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October 20, 2026
Michigan State University student Anthony Wilson smiles while holding a green MSU Spartans flag in a plaza in Valencia, Spain, wearing a white T-shirt that reads “I ❤️ Valencia,” with historic buildings in the background.
Study Abroad

From Lansing to Spain: MSU Student Expands His World Through Education Abroad

Long before Anthony Wilson arrived in Valencia, Spain, studying abroad was already part of the Michigan State University student’s story. Growing up in Lansing, Wilson heard stories about his mother’s experience as an MSU student majoring in Spanish and studying abroad in Ecuador. Years later, during his senior year at Eastern High School, Wilson traveled outside the United States for the first time on a two-week class trip to Costa Rica.

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October 19, 2026
Photo composite featuring headshots of seven Michigan State University students: Anastasia Breen, Kaylin Casper, Lily Dixon, Eleanor Pugh, Isabel Buckles, Kevin Koch, and Carolina Mercado. The portraits are arranged in two rows of four, with the Spartan helmet logo in the bottom-left corner.
Student

Record Number of Nominations from College of Arts and Letters for Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships

A record number of Michigan State University College of Arts and Letters students and alumni have been nominated for two of the world’s most prestigious international scholarship programs, the Rhodes Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship, both of which provide opportunities for graduate study in the United Kingdom. Three College of Arts and Letters students and one alum are nominated for both the Rhodes and Marshall scholarships, while three additional College of Arts and Letters students are nominated for the Marshall Scholarship. The nominees represent a range of academic disciplines within the college, including Arts and Humanities, German, Humanities-Prelaw, Professional

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October 13, 2026
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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

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