Italian Studies

The major and minor in Italian Studies provide students with a rigorous training in Italian language, as well as a broad and solid knowledge of Italian literary and cinematic culture, and of the social and political history of the Italian peninsula.

The Italian Studies major and minor provide rigorous training in Italian language, literature, cinema, and the history of the Italian peninsula. Italy, a key cultural center in Europe, has contributed greatly to European history and culture from the Roman Empire to the present day. The Italian peninsula has been shaped by diverse cultural and linguistic influences, offering students the opportunity to engage deeply with this rich legacy.

Courses cover a range of topics, including Film and Media Studies, Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Mafia Cinema and Culture, Holocaust Studies, Detective Fiction, Environmental Humanities, and Mediterranean Studies. Faculty members, recognized internationally for their expertise, have diverse research interests ranging from Dante Studies to Modernism, Renaissance civilization, Migration Studies, and Environmental Humanities to Modernism, Animal Studies, Modern and Contemporary Poetry, and Film and Media Studies.

The program prepares students for a variety of careers in fields including arts and culture, translation, research, fashion, business, education, international law, diplomacy, and journalism. It also provides a strong foundation for graduate studies in Italian Studies or the humanities and social sciences, equipping students with the intellectual and practical tools to navigate Italy’s cultural, political, and social landscape in a globalized world.