Welcome to the Department of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese

at the University of Illinois, Chicago

The Department of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese is housed in a major research university in the heart of one of the most thrilling cities in the world, Chicago.  The University of Illinois at Chicago campus prides itself on the diversity of its students, the strengths of its research programs, and its firm commitment to interdisciplinary studies. The Department of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese plays an important part in the College of Liberal Arts mission to provide a first-rate education to its diverse student population, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.  Our faculty members are among the best in their fields of study and are committed to exposing students to the most current trends and sound research approaches in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies, Hispanic Linguistics, French Literary and Cultural Studies, and Italian Interdisciplinary Studies.  

Reflecting our dedication to building programs that are both interdisciplinary and of high caliber, our faculty and students work closely with faculty members in Latin American and Latino Studies, African American Studies , Gender and Women’s Studies, Disability Studies, International Studies, English, the Graduate Program in Linguistics housed in English, Psychology, Philosophy, History, and Art History, among others.  

Through our course offerings we actively seek to build the language competency of our students, expose them to the complex linguistic, cultural, and theoretical issues that are most pertinent to language studies today, and prepare them for the professional field. SFIP presently offers a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and French, a Minor in Spanish, French, and Italian, a Master of Arts in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies, Hispanic Linguistics and French Literary and Cultural Studies, and Doctoral Degrees in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies and Hispanic Linguistics.  We are looking forward in the 2009-2010 academic year to adding to our offerings a Master of Arts in the Teaching of Spanish. In addition, we are presently designing a bachelor of arts in Italian Interdisciplinary Studies to be inaugurated in the 2010-2011academic year.

We invite you to explore this website to discover the exciting offerings that await you in the study of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese!

Prof. Rosilie Hernández-Pecoraro
Department Head

Please go to our Events & News page for upcoming lectures, conferences, and other  exciting activities organized and sponsored by the Department of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese at the University of Illinois at Chicago.