Languages and Literary Studies

Department Head

Associate Professor Quiros

Professor Geoffrion-Vinci (Assistant Head, Fall / Acting Head, Spring)

Associate Professor Stafford (Assistant Head, Spring)

The study of languages, literatures, and cultures is an integral part of the liberal arts curriculum, as it provides students with an intercultural and humanistic education that prepares them for responsible and significant participation in local and global communities.

In addition to communicative competence in ten world languages, each of the programs offered by the department works to foster intellectual curiosity, empathy, openness, and knowledge of world cultures and their values, practices, and perspectives. Students acquire an appreciation for human diversity, an understanding of the purposes and possibilities of different forms of expression, and the experience and skills necessary to pursue graduate study and/or careers in a variety of fields, including education, business, information technology, and public service.

Academic Programs
LLS offers flexible pathways to fit your academic and career goals: 

• Majors & Minors: French, German, and Spanish.
• Minors Only: Chinese and Russian.
• Comparative Literature: Wide selection of courses taught in English, ideal for studying literary works across cultures.
• Second-Language Acquisition Studies: Coursework in language pedagogy and teaching methodology.

Interdisciplinary Connections

Coursework in the Department's ten languages plays a significant role in many interdisciplinary degree programs at Lafayette: 

• Chinese and Japanese: Support the major and minor in Asian Studies.
• Russian: The backbone of the major in Russian & East European Studies.
• Greek and Latin: The foundation of the minor in Classical Civilization.
• Modern Hebrew: Essential to the minor in Jewish Studies.
• Arabic: Supports the world regions and focused themes of International Affairs.
• Spanish: The mainstay of the major and minor in Latin American & Caribbean Studies. 

Study Abroad

The Department encourages all majors to participate in an approved study-abroad program. Options include entire academic years, college semesters, or summer programs sponsored by Lafayette and other Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC) institutions. 

Language Course Placement
When registering for a language class at Lafayette, please consider the following:

• Students with no experience in the target language should pre-register for 101. No further action is needed.  
• Students with prior knowledge of the language should have a subject test score on file before they register online. Those who have already submitted a subject test score (i.e., AP, IB-HL) to the Registrar, do not need to take another test. Those without a test score are expected to take an online advising test at their earliest convenience (day or night), which is unproctored: https://lls.lafayette.edu/language-placement/placement-test/
• A language faculty advisor will use the results of this test, along with the student’s high school transcripts and other relevant information, to help determine which course is educationally appropriate in level. Please remember that language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. Please contact professor Sidney Donnell (donnells@lafayette.edu) or Amauri Gutiérrez-Coto (gutierra@lafayette.edu) with any questions or for more information.