In-Depth Advising Guide for Italian

Introduction. The Italian section of the Department of French and Italian offers a variety of courses in Italian language, literature and culture. The study of the Italian language is preparatory for the upper-level courses in literature and culture. Dickinson offers a major in Italian Studies and a minor in Italian. The following guide is meant for First Year Students, Italian Studies Majors, Italian Minors and International Business Majors (taking Italian). However, if you have any questions whatsoever, do not hesitate to contact your advisor or a professor of Italian.

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Italian Courses that meet Distribution Requirements 

Language Requirement. Completion at the intermediate level (ITAL 116)
Division IB. ITAL 301, 305 or 306
WR Requirement. ITAL 231

Information for First Year Students NEW to Italian 

Courses appropriate for First Year prospective majors: Students who wish to begin studying Italian should select ITAL 101: Elementary Italian. 

Information for First Year Students with prior Italian Experience 

Test scores and credits that may affect course selection 

Advanced Placement Scores. A student who has received a grade of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Test will be granted credit for college work and will receive placement in the appropriate Italian course as determined by their scores on the online placement test.

Online Placement Test. The Italian placement test is available online through the Dickinson Gateway. The test will determine the student’s level of proficiency in Italian and the student will be informed of the appropriate course to select. To register, students must contact Prof. Tullio Pagano. If you wish to use the placement test ONLY to waive your language requirement, you will have to take the test on campus under supervision. Students who cannot take the exam during the summer will be able to take it on campus during the Orientation period. Students who cannot take the test online by July 1 will need to contact Professor Pagano before Wednesday, August 22, 2012.  

For more information, view Placement Exams. 

Major in Italian Studies 

In Italian Studies, the language and culture of Italy are inseparably intertwined. All majors pursue core courses in language, literature, and culture that establish written and oral fluency. To develop competence in one main area of Italian culture, students then pursue their interests in one of the four (4) areas of emphasis: Humanities, History, European and Mediterranean Studies or Film and Media Studies.

Italian Studies Major = 10 courses

1. Language in Context (5 courses):
a. ITAL 231: Reading and Writing Contemporary Italian Culture
b. ITAL 232: Reading and Performing Italian Texts or 270: Italian Language in Context (offered in Bologna, fall semester)
c. ITAL 301: The Discourse of Love
d. ITAL 305: Ideas of Italy or ITAL 306: Real and Imaginary Journeys
e. ITAL 400: Senior Seminar

2. Core Requirements (3 courses):
a. Culture (1 course).
b. History (1 course).
c. Visual Arts and Representations (1 course).

3. Area of Emphasis. (2 courses in one elective emphasis)
a. Humanities.
b. History.
c. European and Mediterranean Studies.
d. Film and Media Studies

For complete course descriptions and requirements for the major,refer to the College Bulletin: Italian Studies.       

 Minor in Italian 

The Italian minor consists of 5 courses beyond ITAL 116:

1) 231
2) 232
3) 301
4) 305 or 306
5) 320-level Topics course (321, 322, 323 or 324)

For complete course descriptions and requirements for the minor, refer to the College Bulletin: Italian. 

International Business Majors (taking Italian) 

INBM students are advised to take ITAL 231 (an intensive writing course with advanced grammar) and 232 (a course focused on speaking and oral production). If students are interested in a topics course where English is the primary language used in class, they should take one of the four possible 320 topics courses: 321, 322, 323 or 324. Students taking the course for language credit must take their discussion session in Italian. Students who would like to take courses taught only in Italian can also take one of the early 300 courses (301, 305 or 306). Lastly, completing a minor in Italian would be very feasible because students who fulfill the INBM language requirement in Italian would only have to take two more courses.

For more information, refer to the FAQ for International Business Majors.   

Study Abroad 

Italian Studies majors should seek information from the Coordinator of Italian Studies about the Italian Studies track at the Dickinson Center for European Studies in Bologna. Prof. Nicoletta Marini-Maio serves as the Coordinator of Italian Studies for 2012-2013. 

Students whose primary interest is the study of European politics, history, economics, and international affairs and who consider spending their junior year at the Dickinson Center for European Studies in Bologna, Italy, may want to fulfill their language requirement in Italian. This option would give them a solid linguistic and cultural background before going abroad. They could also take courses at the University of Bologna and consider a major in Italian studies as a second major.    

For more information, refer to Dickinson in Italy. 

Co-curricular Activities of the Italian Program 

The Italian Studies Program sponsors a series of campus activities to help students enhance their knowledge of Italian language and culture. Students can apply to live at the Romance Language House where an Italian student from the University of Bologna resides with other Italian majors. Students are encouraged to participate in the weekly Tavola Italiana (Italian Table), where they dine in Italian alongside Italian faculty and language assistants. The Circolo Italiano (Italian Club) organizes a variety of social and cultural events during the academic year. Also offered is an Italian Film Series that features classic and contemporary Italian movies.  

For more information, refer to Extracurricular.  

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Internships in Italy 

Dickinson now offers an annual paid internship to two (2) selected seniors to work as English language assistants after graduation in the Lombard school system in Northern Italy. All seniors are eligible. It is a fantastic opportunity for graduates to return to Italy, perfect their Italian, and obtain some rewarding work experience.

For more information, refer to Jobs. 

Careers 

Recent graduates who have majored in Italian studies have been accepted in graduate programs in schools such as Johns Hopkins University, Indiana University, New York University and Columbia University. Others have careers in education, publishing, and international banking and business. 

For more information, read how our Dickinson Alumni