Bachelor of Arts in Italian Studies

Earn a Degree in Italian Studies at John Cabot University in Rome, Italy

The Bachelor of Arts in Italian Studies is an interdisciplinary degree that combines the study of literature, history, art, and culture while developing students’ fluency in Italian language. The context of an American liberal arts university exposes students to many fields of study and ways of approaching intellectual problems related to Italy, while John Cabot University's Italian setting provides a tangible understanding of the multifaceted realities of Italian culture.

Italian Studies majors accrue the unparalleled benefits of studying in Italy’s centrally located capital, including the opportunity to travel throughout the country and take advantage of internships that require a working knowledge of Italian language and culture. The senior thesis, under the direction of a JCU faculty member, allows students to explore and research in depth a topic of their own choosing. Because of its interdisciplinary nature, the Italian Studies major is particularly suitable to be combined with other majors such as Communications, Art History, and Humanistic Studies.

The Italian Studies major offers an excellent background for students who intend to pursue graduate studies, teach Italian as a second language, work in cinema, journalism, or another creative profession, become part of the tourism industry, or begin a career in international business, diplomacy, or foreign affairs.

Learning Outcomes for the Italian Studies Major

Requirements for the Degree

A. The Proficiency Requirements of the University in English, Mathematics, and Foreign Language.

B. The General Distribution Requirements of the University in English, Mathematics and Science, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Fine Arts.

C. Core Curriculum
1. IT 201 Intermediate Italian I
2. IT 202 Intermediate Italian II
3. IT 301 Conversation and Composition
4. IT 302 Advanced Composition
5. IT 320 Survey of Italian Literature I
6. IT 321 Survey of Italian Literature II
7. One 300 level literature course (different from the ones taken as Major Electives)
8. HS 365 Italy from the Risorgimento to the First World War (1815 - 1915) or HS 366 Italy from Mussolini to the Crisis of the First Republic (1918 to present)
9. PL 215 Italian Politics and Society
10. One Art History course selected from:
       AH 223 Art and Architecture of Imperial Rome
       AH 290 Ancient Rome and its Monuments
       AH 291 Medieval Rome and its Monuments
       AH 294 Renaissance Rome and its Monuments
       AH 298 Baroque Rome and its Monuments
       AH 295 Early Italian Renaissance Art
       AH 296 Italian High Renaissance Art
11. CL 278 Literature and Society in Ancient Rome
12. IT 480 Senior Thesis (Thesis supervision for Italian Studies majors in their final year)

Please note that students who place out of language courses in the core must substitute additional major electives for the equivalent number of credits.

The University requires an overall minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all courses taken at the University, with no more than two grades lower than C- in core courses.

D. Major Electives
Five electives, to be chosen with the advisor from the following list:

1. Any 300 level Italian course (excluding courses taken in the core) approved by Advisor/Department Chair
2. TH/ITS 341 Modern Italian Drama in Translation
3. EN 278
4. TH/CMS 241 Italian Cinema
5. HS/CL 231 History of Rome and Ancient Italy
6. HS/PH 223 Historical and Philosophical Aspects of the Italian Renaissance
7. Italian history courses (excluding courses taken in the core)
8. Art History courses dealing with Italian topics (excluding courses taken in the core)
9. ITS courses

Entire list of Approved Major Electives for Major in Italian Studies available here.

E. General Electives sufficient to give a total of 120 credits.