Languages at Notre Dame

Interested in learning a new language? Notre Dame offers majors, supplementary majors, minors, and cross-disciplinary courses to fulfill college and university requirements.  Notre Dame offers courses in more than 14 languages and literatures. Check with the specific language department or the assistant deans in 104 O’Shaughnessy Hall to learn more about the language requirements for your program.

 

The Program in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies

Delve into the culture and history of the Arab world as you pursue a major or minor in the Arabic program. Through innovative coursework and proficiency-based instruction by native Arabic speakers, you will develop skills that can help you succeed in a wide array of careers. 

East Asian Languages and Cultures

East Asian Languages and Cultures offers a global focus, innovative teaching, and rich study-abroad opportunities. 

• Chinese - Students can choose between a Chinese major, a supplementary major, or a minor.
• Japanese - The Japanese Program offers a Japanese major, supplementary major, or minor.
• Korean - The Korean Program offers a Korean minor.

Department of Romance Languages and Literatures

The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures offers vibrant undergraduate programs with options for majors, supplementary majors, and minors, and thriving graduate programs with both M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Visit RLL for more information on advanced degrees. Undergraduate language programs include:

 

• Creole -The teaching of Haitian Creole Language and Culture at Notre Dame integrates language learning and anthropological study of Haiti in a four-course sequence in Romance Languages and Literatures.
• French - Students can choose a major, a supplementary major, or a minor. Even if you don't plan to specialize in French or Francophone studies, there are a variety of cross-listed courses that can help you fulfill College and University requirements.
• Italian - Italian Studies is an area of exceptional strength at the University of Notre Dame, with its own facility at Notre Dame Rome. The Italian program offers a major, a supplementary major, a minor, and an honors track.
• Spanish - The Spanish Program offers a major and a supplementary major, as well as various forms of specialization in conjunction with other fields of study, such as international economics/Spanish and the Romance Languages Major.
• Portuguese - An interdisciplinary minor is offered by the Portuguese program.

Less Commonly Taught Languages

Housed within the CSLC, the following less commonly taught languages are offered.

• Hindi
• Quechua
• Swahili

German and Russian Languages and Literatures

Engage with some of the greatest cultural traditions in the world while also gaining skills to succeed in any career. 

• German Program - The German program offers a German major, a major in international economics with a concentration in German, a supplementary major, and a minor. 
• Russian Program - The Russian program offers a Russian major, a major in international economics with a concentration in Russian, a supplementary major, and a minor.

Department of Irish Language and Literature

Notre Dame’s Department of Irish Language and Literature, the only one of its kind in North America, gives students the unique opportunity to learn the Irish language and to engage with its literature and culture, among the oldest attested in Europe.   IRLL offers a minor in Irish language and literature and a minor in Irish studies.