Italian for Undergraduates

Italian is the language of everything from one of the most vivid imaginings of the afterlife (Dante’s Divine Comedy) to one of the most vibrant immigrant communities in modern North America. It’s also the language of espresso and Chianti, prosciutto and ricotta. Whether you’re interested in exploring the culture responsible for this formidable culinary legacy in the world, or whether you’re curious to learn more about the rich poetic tradition that Italian’s unique musicality has made possible; whether you’re drawn to Italy’s films, its operas, its landscapes, its cities, or its saints—our Italian program has something to whet your appetite.

For information about placement, testing, and transfer of credit, please consult our placement page.

Inquiries of a general nature can first be directed to the Undergraduate Coordinator, Cal Hile.  Students who wish to major or minor in Italian are advised to consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Marilyn Migiel, who admits students into the major and assigns a faculty adviser after taking into account a student’s interest, preparation, and career goals.

Marilyn Migiel's office hours are listed on the Department Directory and Office House page.

• Click here to download the Italian Major registration form.
• Click here to download the Italian Minor registration form.

We expect our undergraduate majors to demonstrate:

• An understanding of the artistic, cultural, political, and social movements within the interdisciplinary field that includes various methodologies (visual and iconographical analysis, semiotics, social history, material science, ecocriticism, etc.) and theoretical models (critical theory, feminism, Marxism, materiality, cultural memory, postcolonialism, etc.) throughout history
• Critical inquiry and analytical writing in English and the target language
• The ability to conduct independent research and collaborate creatively within broader regional and global contexts
• The breadth of knowledge needed to identify, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate cultural theories within specific cultural contexts and theoretical frameworks
• An awareness of the ethical implications of one’s own work within the academic community and society
• Mastery of a Romance language –French, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish – at the second year level or higher

The major in Italian at Cornell readies students both in the language and cultural context of Italy. Students gain proficiency in speaking, writing, listening and reading in Italian and learn about Italian culture and literature across different historical periods, different media, and different regions.  Students learn to perform close readings, providing the relevant historical contexts for the most significant Italian cultural artifacts across the country’s eight-hundred-year history. Finally, students develop the ability to form critical judgments on Italian cultural works, while having learned to appreciate and evaluate cultural and literary expressions according to the varying modes of perceiving, experiencing, and understanding related to Italian culture.

Completing the major, students will be able to demonstrate:

• Oral, aural and written proficiency in Italian.

• Training in the centuries-long traditions of Italian literature and culture.

• Training and familiarity with a variety of methodologies for studying literature and culture.

• Skill in expressing themselves both in writing and orally on topics related to Italian culture and literature.

• International and interdisciplinary exposure.

Required for the major are eight courses focusing on Italian culture including: 

1. ITAL 2202 – Italian IV (or equivalent course);

2.  Either ITAL 2900 – [Perspectives in Italian Culture] (or equivalent course), offered in English in Spring; OR ITAL 2204 – The Cinematic Eye of Italy (or equivalent course). Students who elect to take both of these classes may count them both toward the total of eight courses required for the major.

3. ITAL 2203 – Languages/Literatures/Identities (or equivalent course), offered in Italian in Fall.

4. At least five electives at the 2000-level or above from an approved list of courses offered in Romance Studies or other departments such as History, Architecture, History of Art, Government, Sociology, and so on.  At least one of these five electives must focus on a period prior to the 1800s, and no more than three of these five electives may be taken in English. We strongly urge majors to take as many of these electives as possible in Italian.

Please note that:

• No more than three of the total of eight courses toward the major may be taken abroad or at an institution other than Cornell.

• The minimum grade for a course to be applied toward the Italian major is B-. No courses taken for S/U grades may be applied toward the major.

• Students majoring in Italian are encouraged to study abroad, especially at the Bologna Consortial Study Program, where linguistic as well as cultural competence is emphasized. Students enroll at the University of Bologna and can take a wide variety of courses in Italian literature and culture in fields such as history, philosophy, government, and art history.

• Qualified students are encouraged to pursue Honors in Italian, writing and researching a thesis in close consultation with the faculty in Italian.

The Italian minor is designed to give students pursuing other majors the opportunity to engage with and reflect upon Italian literary, philosophical, and visual cultures.

Required for the minor are five courses focusing on Italian at the 2202 level and higher. 

1. Students must take ITAL 2202 – Italian IV (or equivalent course).
2. Students must take ITAL 2900 – [Perspectives in Italian Culture] (or equivalent course), offered in English in Spring; or ITAL 2204 – The Cinematic Eye of Italy (or equivalent course). Students who elect to take both of these classes may count them both toward the total of five classes required for the minor. Note that ITAL 2900 has no prerequisites and may be taken at any time.
3. Students must take at least three other classes in Italian Studies. Of these at least one, but ideally more than one, must be offered in Italian (literature/culture). We strongly urge students to consider ITAL 2203 “Languages/Literatures/Identities” as one of the electives.

Please note that:

• Students may apply up to two courses from abroad or from another institution toward an Italian minor. Courses from an institution other than Cornell University may be counted toward the Italian minor, provided that 50% of the content of these courses, again, deals directly with Italian world. (Merely being taught in Italian is not, on its own, a sufficient criterion for a course taken abroad to count for the Italian minor.) Remember that you cannot apply more than two courses taken abroad to the Minor.
• The minimum grade for a course to be applied to the Italian minor is B-.
• S/U grades are only allowed for one of the courses applied to the Italian minor.
• Students may declare the minor at any time.  

The Major and Minor at a Glance:

Italian Club at Cornell

Italian Club at Cornell is a student-led organization that aims to foster an appreciation for the Italian language and culture. The Italian Club organizes several cultural and social events each semester, such as an annual visit to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Italian movie screenings (with English subtitles); the Club also sponsors by-weekly Coffee and Conversation hours with regional presentations by native speaker students. For further information, please contact Michela Baraldi.

Cornell Italian-American Organization (CIAO)

CIAO promotes the appreciation of Italian culture across the Cornell campus by sponsoring activities related to Italian music, language, history, literature, film, and food. Participating in CIAO-related activities gives students, particularly Italian-Americans, a chance to learn more about Italy, its culture, and their heritage. For further information, please contact K. E. von Wittelsbach.

Please refer to the Italian section of the Romance Studies Course Offerings list. See our departmental course roster here.

There are many opportunities to learn about Italy and its culture also through the First-Year Writing Seminars (FWS) offered through the Italian program by the John S. Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines. While these seminars are primarily geared to teach how to think and write rigorously, their topics explore themes and texts that introduce students to the richness of Italian culture. The Italian program regularly offers seminars on Dante and Boccaccio, Jewish-Italian literature, modern women writers, Italian cities in literature, and Italian cinema.

Here is a link to browse brochures (in PDF format) of past FWS offerings (all seminars sponsored by the Romance Studies Department start with the abbreviation ROMS):

http://knight.as.cornell.edu/past-fws-offerings

Completing the French, Italian, or Spanish major with Honors allows students to do independent study on a topic they choose, to work closely with a faculty adviser, and to write a researched critically analytical paper.  For information about completing your major with Honors, please click on the following links:

Guide to the Honors Program and frequently asked questions

Honors Program Application

For inquiries about study abroad programs, please visit this page.

Further information:

• Bologna Consortial Studies Program
• Numerous study abroad programs in Italy available to students