Romanian Language Course and Degree Programs
Romanian language courses can be taken as elective courses at a college or university or through degree programs in Romance languages or Eastern European studies. Continue reading for more information, including classes you may take in a degree program.
What You Need to Know
Romanian language classes may be included as part of an Eastern European studies degree. Along with learning the language, students of Romanian often study the culture, customs, and history of Slavic nations. Some colleges and universities offer Romanian courses as electives.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degrees</b></td><td> Romanian language degrees aren't available, but several U.S. schools have Romanian courses and/or degree programs in related areas.</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Schools</b></td><td> If possible, it helps to select a school with an Eastern European studies program.</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Programs</b></td><td> Students interested in Romanian may want to go on a study abroad program in Eastern Europe.</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---WhyShouldIStudyTheRomanianLanguage">Why Should I Study the Romanian Language?</h3><p>The Romanian language has a rich linguistic and cultural heritage. If you're of Romanian descent, you may wish to learn more about your heritage by learning the language. Regardless of your ethnic background, several factors may influence your choice to study Romanian. Learning Romanian can enhance your studies in numerous other fields, including the following:
</p><ul><li>Political science
</li><li>History
</li><li>Social sciences
</li><li>Literature
</li><li>Art
</li><li>Linguistics
</li><li>International studies
</li></ul><p>If you don't end up working in an academic field, learning Romanian may lead you to a career as a translator.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAboutOtherLanguages">What About Other Languages?</h3><p>You may also be interested in Romanian if you're studying one of the other Romance languages, such as Italian, French, Spanish or Portuguese. Romania is also geographically and culturally related to the Slavic countries, so you might develop an interest in the Romanian language if you're studying Russian, Polish, Czech or other Slavic cultures.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatDegreeProgramsAreAvailable">What Degree Programs Are Available?</h3><p>You can take courses in the Romanian language while pursuing almost any undergraduate major or graduate program of study. While several schools in the U.S. offer courses in Romanian, none offer a specific Romanian language major. Two majors related to Romanian language studies are Eastern European studies and Romance languages. You might be able to find a Bachelor of Arts in Slavic Studies with concentrations in Polish and Russian, for example.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAboutGraduatePrograms">What About Graduate Programs?</h3><p>As a graduate student in a Slavic literature, Romance languages or Eastern European studies program, you may have the opportunity to study the Romanian language. Some departments allow students to make special arrangements to study languages other than those offered by the department. If a school offers Romanian language courses to undergraduates, you may be able to incorporate these courses into a graduate program of study. A Master of Arts in Russian might be an option to consider for your degree, or a Master of Arts in Russian, Eurasia and East Europe: Regional Studies program.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatCoursesWillITake">What Courses Will I Take?</h3><p>Schools typically offer up to three levels of Romanian language courses: beginning, intermediate and advanced Romanian. If you're studying to become a Romanian language teacher or researcher, some of the other courses you may take include the following:
</p><ul><li>Applied linguistics
</li><li>Eastern European regional studies
</li><li>Foreign language teaching methodology
</li><li>Latin
</li><li>Romanian studies
</li></ul><h3 id="section---HowCanIChooseASchool">How Can I Choose a School?</h3><p>Before you choose a school with an Eastern European studies or Romance languages department, verify that Romanian is one of the languages offered within that department. Choose programs with electives that match your career goals and interests. Some Eastern European studies programs, for example, focus on the <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Free_Online_Russian_Language_Courses_Where_Can_I_Find_Them.html">Russian language</a> and the countries of the former Soviet Union. Look for programs that include Romanian culture in their focus.
</p><p>You can also seek schools with libraries that house collections of books in the Romanian language to enhance research breadth and language comprehension. Another way to learn firsthand is through study-abroad experiences, so look for departments that facilitate study in Romania.</p>