The Major

Students may pursue a broad curriculum in general Italian Studies, or combine Italian Studies with a particular emphasis. Courses focusing on Italian Studies offered in other departments may be included with the approval of the Undergraduate Program Director.

Minimum total # of credits required: 36 above the 100 level, including:

  1. Advanced Language Preparation (6 credits): Intermediate Italian I and II (ITAL 230 and 240) or Intensive Intermediate Italian (ITAL 246). Students may place out of these courses and should speak with the Undergraduate Program Director if they have previously taken Italian or would like to take a placement test. 
  2. Two core courses (6 credits): ITAL 371 Advanced Grammar and Composition; and one introductory course to Italian Studies (ITAL 324 Introduction to Italian Literature I or ITAL 325 Introduction to Italian Literature II).
  3. Junior Year Writing (3 credits): ITAL 303. This course is required if Italian is the student's primary major. If Italian is the student’s secondary major, they will take Junior Year Writing in the primary major; if a student takes Junior Year Writing in the primary major, ITALIAN 303 may be taken as an elective. This counts towards the 36 total credits for the major.
  4. Integrative Experience (3 credits): ITAL 394MI. This course is required for primary majors. For secondary majors, this course may count as an elective. This counts towards the 36 total credits for the major.
  5. Eight area courses (electives) (24 credits). No more than two courses may be conducted in English or at another 5-College institution without special permission.

With the approval of the Undergraduate Program Director, courses in literature, history, film analysis, critical theory, art history, business studies, and other subjects may be counted towards the major. Without special permission, no more than two courses conducted in English may count towards the major. A maximum of nine credits from foreign study is usually counted towards the major.

Education Abroad Siena Program

Students are encouraged to attend the University’s Italian Studies Program in Siena or Forlì, Italy during the spring semester. Courses taken in Siena or Forlì may count towards the major, after consultation with the Undergraduate Program Director.

Five Colleges

Students may also participate in the offerings pertinent to Italian Studies in the Five Colleges. These courses may count towards the major, with approval of the Undergraduate Program Director.