The intellectual mission of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures combines the study of foreign languages, literatures and cultures within specific national traditions with the investigation of literary and cultural theory and practice across national and disciplinary boundaries. International by definition, MLC offers beginning and advanced language instruction in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish, advanced coursework in literature, culture and comparative literature, and instruction in Chinese language. The Department also houses the interdisciplinary Russian Studies Program. Faculty and students examine cultural productions including the "Great Books," popular film, visual art and nonliterary texts in relation to their historical contexts and with a view toward questioning traditional assumptions about gender, ethnicity and nationality.
The teaching and research expertise of MLC faculty supports interdepartmental links to programs in Film and Media Studies, History, Susan B. Anthony Institute for Women's Studies, Visual and Cultural Studies, and the Skalny Center for Polish and Central European Studies. Each year the Department brings in a number of nationally and internationally known scholars for public lectures and seminars. Summer programs France, Germany, Russia, Spain, and Italy, and the on-location fall semester program in Arezzo, Italy provide our students with study abroad opportunities that are closely integrated with our undergraduate majors and minors. Multimedia resources to serve our programs are located in the College's Multimedia Center in Rush Rhees Library.
Department of Modern Languages and Cultures
402 Lattimore Hall
RC Box 270082
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY 14627
Phone: (585) 275-4251
Fax: (585) 273-1097
mlc@mail.rochester.edu
