Italian (BA)

College of Arts and Sciences

Program Description

The major in Italian at Cornell trains students in both the language and the 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.

Honors

Qualified students are encouraged to pursue Honors in Italian, writing and researching a thesis in close consultation with the faculty in Italian. A grade point average of at least 3.5 in courses taken for the Italian major is required for eligibility for Honors in Italian; students should also have given evidence of being able to conduct independent research. Honors coursework is in addition to existing major requirements.

Study Abroad in Italy

Italian faculty members strongly encourage students to consider studying abroad in Italy. Students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Italian and gain a singular perspective on the Italian cultural context.
Students are urged to consider the Bologna Consortial Studies Program (BCSP), of which Cornell is an associated member. BCSP offers qualified undergraduate students an opportunity to study for a full academic year or a semester at the University of Bologna for credit. During each semester of the academic year, which begins in October and extends through June, BCSP students enroll in one or two regular University of Bologna courses with Italian students. Students may also take special courses in Italian literature, art history, film studies, and contemporary politics.