Florida International University

What you'll study

This interdisciplinary degree pairs advanced language instruction in one or more Romance languages (commonly Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian) with courses in literature, culture and linguistics. You will progress from intermediate and advanced language practice to specialised modules that examine literary traditions, film and media from Romance-language regions, and the historical development of these languages.

• Core linguistics: introductory phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and the structure of Romance languages.
• Applied linguistics: second language acquisition, sociolinguistics, language teaching methodology and assessment, and language policy.
• Literature and culture: surveys of medieval to contemporary literatures, literary analysis and critical theory, film and cultural studies focused on Latin America, Iberia and Lusophone regions.
• Practical skills: translation and interpretation workshops, advanced writing and rhetoric, digital humanities tools for language study, and professional communication in a second language.
• Capstone and experiential learning: senior seminar or capstone project, practicum placements such as tutoring or K–12 teaching internships, and opportunities for study abroad or exchange in relevant language environments.

Students typically choose a major language concentration and may pursue a minor or secondary major in linguistics, education, international relations, or another complementary field. Electives allow tailoring to interests such as heritage language pedagogy, language technology, or translation studies.

Entry requirements

Admission to Florida International University generally requires a completed secondary-school diploma or equivalent and submission of official transcripts. Successful applicants to this programme typically demonstrate proficiency or prior study in a Romance language; placement testing may determine appropriate course entry level. FIU also requires proof of academic readiness, which can include a strong high-school record and any standardised-test information the university requests.

International applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English-language proficiency through recognised tests or FIU-approved alternatives. Additional programme-specific requirements may include a language placement exam and, for some applied or practicum components, clearance for working with minors or background checks.

Career prospects

Graduates leave the programme with high-level communicative ability, intercultural competence and analytic skills valued across sectors. Common career paths include:

• Secondary and post-secondary language teaching and language programme coordination (with additional teacher certification where required).
• Translation and interpretation in government, healthcare, legal and commercial settings.
• Publishing, journalism, media and cultural institutions with a focus on Romance-language communities.
• International business, diplomacy, non-profit work and community advocacy where bilingual or multilingual skills are an asset.
• Technology roles such as localisation, corpus linguistics and language resources for natural language processing.
• Further academic study in linguistics, comparative literature, applied linguistics or area studies leading to research, policy or teaching careers.

Why study at Florida International University

Florida International University is located in one of the United States’ most multilingual and multicultural metropolitan regions, offering abundant opportunities for community engagement, internships and real-world language practice. The university hosts faculty with research strengths across Romance linguistics, sociolinguistics, bilingual education and literature, and maintains centres and programmes that support Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian studies.

Students benefit from language labs, media resources, study-abroad partnerships and practicum links with local schools and organisations. FIU’s urban campus and diverse student body create a learning environment where classroom study is consistently reinforced by professional networking and authentic language use outside the university.