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 acting Undergraduate Coordinator, Mary Beth Martini-Lyons.  Students who wish to major or minor in Italian are advised to consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Julia Chang, who admits students into the major and assigns a faculty adviser after taking into account a student’s interest, preparation, and career goals.

Julia Chang'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, at the ITAL 2202-level or higher focusing on Italian literature and/or culture.  

Please note that:

• An ITAL course of 1.5 or 2 credits is considered to be ½ course and must be combined with another 1.5 or 2 credit course in order to be counted as “a course.”

• Each of the eight courses must be substantially (at least 50%) concerned with Italian literature and/or culture.

• At least four courses must be conducted in Italian. 

• At least one course must focus on a historical period prior to 1900.

• Students may apply up to three eligible courses toward the major from study abroad.

• 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 may also wish to pursue Honors in Italian by writing a thesis during their senior year and enrolling in ITAL 4290-4300. (Honors coursework is in addition to existing major requirements.)

   

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, at the ITAL 2202-level or higher focusing on Italian literature and/or culture.  

Please note that:

• An ITAL course of 1.5 or 2 credits is considered to be ½ course and must be combined with another 1.5- or 2-credit course in order to be counted as “a course.”
• Each of the five courses must be substantially (at least 50%) concerned with Italian literature and/or culture.
• At least two courses must be conducted in Italian.
• Students may apply up to two eligible courses from study abroad toward the minor. 
• The minimum grade for a course to be applied toward the Italian minor is B-.
• One course taken for S/U grades may be applied towards the Italian minor.

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 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