Program Overview
The Italian major provides students the opportunity to study the rich language, vast history and intriguing culture of the beautiful country of Italy. The mastery of spoken and written Italian is developed through the study of an evolving artistic tradition: Medieval literature and culture, Renaissance philosophy, modern Italian poetry and prose, contemporary cinema and new media.
Students who choose this major often choose to double major within a different discipline such as humanities or social/natural science to build a holistic degree plan.
Degrees Offered
- BA in Italian
Minors
- Italian
Internships, Research Opportunities and More
Students seeking internships should consider the many opportunities offered abroad, such as through the Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute, where internships are offered in a wide variety of fields.
Students can also hold internships in the Romance Languages department. Our internship program allows Italian majors to work with us as events planners and coordinators, creating opportunities for all students to practice the language they're studying and to learn more about the culture of the regions in which it is spoken.
Our Undergraduate Teaching Assistant program (UGTA) gives our majors the opportunity to develop important skills by being in front of the classroom and getting a strong hands-on experience of what effective teaching and communication entail. We support our students' applications to teach abroad for a year and many have been chosen to teach in foreign countries where their language proficiency is valued.
We take advantage of opportunities the university provides for recognition of excellence by nominating students for awards, scholarships and fellowships that can make a significant difference when they apply to graduate programs or for jobs. Because of our commitment, our students have won the Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, Fulbright Scholarships and numerous Foundation Awards at graduation.
Italian majors who wish to further their training and advance their career prospects can pursue an accelerated degree program to earn their BA in Italian and their MA or MPA in five years.
Many Italian majors choose to study abroad to immerse themselves in the target culture and language.
The faculty of the Italian program are outstanding educators and recognized scholars in their research fields, which include:
- Italian linguistics and rhetoric
- Italian and European history from 1800 through the present
- Italian lyric poetry
- medieval science and magic
- modern and contemporary film, literatures and culture
- the literature and historical influence of Dante Alighieri
Coursework
Some courses to consider in your first year:
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After You Graduate
The Italian major not only provides a student with a solid foundation of language skills, but also develops the student’s written and oral communication skills, critical-thinking skills and overall cultural awareness. Graduates find employment in many fields including:
- art curation
- global business and finance
- law and diplomacy, international aid, etc.
- teaching
- translation and interpretation
- writing and publishing
Students who graduate with this degree also pursue a myriad of graduate degrees including the MBA, MPA, Master of Italian and MAT.
Accelerated/4+1 Degrees
You may also be interested in our accelerated/4+1 degree programs which allow students to complete their bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in just 5 years!
For more information, visit the Italian website.
