The Italian major prepares students to live and work in a global society by developing multilingualism and intercultural competency. Students will master Italian language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) needed for all purposes of daily life and gain diverse perspectives on Italian culture though courses focusing on literature, history, visual arts, film, media and business.

The program promotes an understanding of the role of the Italian literary and cultural tradition within today's global society. As the birthplace of Dante, Boccaccio, Michelangelo and Da Vinci, Italy was the cradle of the Renaissance. Italy continues to project a powerful, formative influence into our own day through the work of contemporary writers like, Elena Ferrante, Dacia Maraini, Primo Levi, Italo Calvino and Umberto Eco; composers like Gioachino Rossini, Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi; philosophers and critics like Benedetto Croce, Antonio Gramsci, Franco Cassano and Giorgio Agamben; educators like Maria Montessori; and filmmakers like Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Roberto Benigni. Thus, in addition to supplying the necessary background for advanced professional study and specialization, the Italian major introduces students to a rich literary, artistic and intellectual history at the roots of the modern world.

For courses in other departments with an Italian emphasis (including classics, humanities, art and art history, history and honors) see those sections. 

Requirements

Program Requirements

Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses listed below. Thirty-two credit hours beyond the first year of the Italian language with a 2.00 (C) grade point average or better are required, as listed below. All required major courses must be passed with a C- or better and cannot be taken pass/fail. 

Required Courses and Credits

Italian Lower-Division Courses
ITAL 2110Intermediate Italian Reading, Grammar, and Composition 14
ITAL 2120Intermediate Italian Reading, Grammar, and Composition 24
ITAL 2130Introduction to Literary Analysis3
Italian 3000-Level Courses
ITAL 3015Advanced Composition 13
Select one of the following:3
Advanced Composition 2: Introduction to Literary Writing
Storia dell'arte: Advanced Composition/Conversation 3
Italian Conversation Through Cinema
Select two of the following (prereq. ITAL 2130):6
Literary and Artistic Cultures in Italy 3: 1900-present
Literary and Artistic Cultures in Italy 2: 1800-1900
Literary and Artistic Cultures in Italy 1: 1200-1800
Italian 4000-Level Courses
Students must take at least three 4000-level courses in the Italian department, of which one will be:9
Senior Seminar 1
Total Credit Hours32

Honors Requirements

Honors candidates must meet all of the regular requirements for the major, plus the following:

FREN 3200Introduction to Literary Theory and Advanced Critical Analysis 13
Two semesters of independent study or research
ITAL 4840Independent Study6
Total Credit Hours9

Graduating in Four Years

Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. Keeping in mind that the outline below is only one possible option, to maintain adequate progress in Italian, students should meet the following requirements:

  • Declare the Italian major as early as possible, preferably while enrolled in ITAL 1020 or ITAL 2110.
  • Complete 12 credit hours of requirements (including ITAL 2110 and ITAL 2120) by the end of the second (sophomore) year.
  • Complete 12 of the remaining 24 credit hours by the end of the third (junior) year.
  • Complete the remainder of the major requirements in the fourth (senior) year.

Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study

Through the required coursework for the major, students will fulfill all 12 credits of the Arts & Humanities area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement and possibly the Upper-division Written Communication component of the Gen Ed Skills Requirement.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
ITAL 1010 Beginning Italian 1 (If needed, does not fulfill Italian major course requirements) 4
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-division Written Communication) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/US Perspective) 3
Elective/MAPS 3
 Credit Hours13
Spring Semester
ITAL 1020 Beginning Italian 2 (If needed, does not fulfill Italian major course requirements) 4
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: QRMS) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Elective/MAPS 4
 Credit Hours14
Year Two
Fall Semester
ITAL 2110 Intermediate Italian Reading, Grammar, and Composition 1 4
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/Global Perspective) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences with Lab) 4
Elective/MAPS 3
Elective/MAPS 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring Semester
ITAL 2120 Intermediate Italian Reading, Grammar, and Composition 2 4
ITAL 2130 Introduction to Literary Analysis 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Year Three
Fall Semester
ITAL 3015 Advanced Composition 1 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Upper-Division Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
ITAL 3140
Literary and Artistic Cultures in Italy 3: 1900-present
or Literary and Artistic Cultures in Italy 2: 1800-1900
or Literary and Artistic Cultures in Italy 1: 1200-1800
3
ITAL Upper-Division elective (options include courses outside of ITAL with an Italian topic) 3
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Upper-division Written Communication, if necessary) 3
Upper-Division Elective 3
ITAL 3025
Advanced Composition 2: Introduction to Literary Writing
or Storia dell'arte: Advanced Composition/Conversation 3
or Italian Conversation Through Cinema
3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
ITAL 3140
Literary and Artistic Cultures in Italy 3: 1900-present
or Literary and Artistic Cultures in Italy 2: 1800-1900
or Literary and Artistic Cultures in Italy 1: 1200-1800
3
ITAL Upper-Division elective (options include courses outside of ITAL with an Italian topic) 3
ITAL 4000-level elective 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) 3
Upper-Division Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
ITAL 4990 Senior Seminar (4840 Independent Study if completing Honors) 3
ITAL 4000-level elective 3
Upper-Division Elective 3
Upper-Division Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing an undergraduate degree in Italian studies, student will be able to:

  • Communicate effectively in writing and speaking in the target language while developing proficiency in aural and written comprehension.
  • Analyze and interpret a variety of texts and materials from an interdisciplinary perspective with attention to cultural, historical and social contexts.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of Italian and Italophone literatures, cultures and thought by identifying, evaluating, and arguing from primary and, when appropriate, secondary sources.
  • Engage with diverse perspectives with a view to building intercultural competence and critical-thinking skills.