The study of languages has been the fundamental basis of liberal education since the Renaissance, and it is crucial to learning in the 21st century as technologies create global channels of communication. This department, therefore, is committed to promoting the study of at least one second language in order to enable students to participate in the world of international communities and, moreover, to appreciate and contribute to a broad spectrum of diverse cultures. The Department of French, Italian, and Comparative Literature offers a complete sequence of courses in two languages and in the literatures and cultures of the world.

The department follows the Credit for Demonstrated Equivalent Preparation policy.

Programs

Comparative Literature Courses

French Courses

Italian Courses

NameRankDegreeSchoolGraduate FacultyEmeritus Faculty
Anita Alkhas Associate Professor (French) PhD Michigan State University Yes No
Lawrence Baldassaro Professor Emeritus (Italian) PhD No Yes
Sarah Davies Cordova Professor (French) PhD University of California, Los Angeles Yes No
Lawrence Kuiper Associate Professor (French) PhD Michigan State University Yes No
James Mileham Associate Professor Emeritus (French) PhD No Yes
Simonetta Milli-Konewko Associate Professor (Italian) PhD University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Yes No
Peter Paik Assoicate Professor (Comparative Literature) PhD Cornell University Yes No
Robin Pickering-Iazzi Professor (Comparative Literature/Italian) / Chair PhD University of Washington Yes No
Kristin Pitt Assoicate Professor (Comparative Literature) PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison Yes No
Nicolas Russell Associate Professor (French) PhD University of Virginia Yes No
Caroline Seymour-Jorn Associate Professor (Comparative Literature) PhD University of Chicago Yes No
Bruce R. Stark Associate Professor Emeritus (Comparative Literature) PhD No Yes
Roy Arthur Swanson Professor Emeritus (Comparative Literature) PhD No Yes
Madeleine Velguth Professor Emerita (French) PhD No Yes
Gabrielle Verdier Professor Emerita (French) PhD No Yes
Demetrius Williams Associate Profesor (Comparative Literature) ThD Harvard Divinity School Yes No
Jian Xu Associate Professor (Comparative Literature) PhD University of Iowa Yes No