Whether you are looking for an elective or planning to specialize, there is something for you.
Reasons to try Romance Studies:
1. Explore the world
Romance Studies lets you “travel” the world from the comfort of your own home or campus—or by studying abroad in destinations like Paris, Barcelona, the Amalfi Coast, Ecuador, and the Galápagos Islands. Either way, you can earn credits towards your UBC degree while exploring the world.
2. Take low-barrier electives
Most Romance Studies (RMST) courses have no prerequisites, are taught in English, and fulfill the “Humanities and Creative Arts” Ways of Knowing breadth requirement (applicable to those who declared a Bachelor of Arts after Winter 2024). That means they’re open to students from all programs—so bring a friend!
All you need is curiosity about the cultures and regions where French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Catalan are spoken. Explore everything from food to fashion, cinema to literature, social justice to revolutions, multilingualism to translation.
3. Develop a cross-cultural perspective
Developing a cross-cultural perspective can be an asset in careers with an international or intercultural dimension, equipping you to navigate different cultural contexts—whether you’re doing business in a globalized economy, working in government and global affairs, or providing education in a multicultural city like Vancouver.
Romance Studies takes a uniquely cross-cultural, transnational, and interdisciplinary approach. Through comparative analysis, you’ll examine the similarities, differences, connections, and points of departure across Romance language-speaking regions in Europe, North and South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia—as well as the many points of contact between them.
4. Master multiple languages (if you want to)
If you’re passionate about learning multiple Romance languages, a Major, Minor, or Honours in Romance Studies gives you the flexibility to explore a range of linguistic and cultural traditions as part of your degree. Courses in French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Catalan can all count towards a Romance Studies specialization—alongside RMST courses taught in English.
