Courses are designed to offer students extended study of the language, literature, and cultures of these language communities. Survey introductory courses are complemented by in-depth studies, providing opportunities to fulfill electives as well as to develop more specific interests of students of literature and culture. The department insists on a high competence in the language, which is the basis for all other options.

Students will be required to complete, by coursework or placement test, all 100- and 200-level courses in sequence (except FREN, GERM, RUSS 221 and 222, which are taken concurrently) before taking any upper-level course, unless an upper-level course permits co-registration or skipping a lower course in the sequence (see inventory of courses for prerequisites).

Once a student has received credit for a higher-level language course, the student is no longer eligible to receive credit for prerequisite courses. In addition to classes at the College Station campus, the department offers summer study programs for credit. Departmental faculty and advising staff also work closely with students to match their interests with semester and full-year programs abroad.