The Italian minor welcomes students interested in Italian language and culture, giving them access to the country’s extraordinarily rich tradition as well as the significant professional advantages of being proficient in a world language. In particular, it can open the door to careers in government, international business, fashion and design, the food and automotive industries and education.
We foster language proficiency, critical thinking, and intercultural fluency both in and out of the classroom. As an Italian minor, you’ll choose from a range of classes, from full-immersion language courses to interdisciplinary explorations of the Italian Renaissance, cinema, and food culture. Your learning will be enriched by a range of experiential learning opportunities: from talks and performance series on campus, to visits to galleries and sites in New England, to faculty-led courses in Italy.
We also encourage you to take advantage of the exciting possibilities offered in partnership with the Office of Global Engagement, from study abroad to international internships. We’re here to assist along the way, helping find the right programs for you, your interests, and goals. A presto!
-
Minor Requirements
To complete the minor, students must take 6 courses (18 credits) from the following:
IT 101 Elementary Italian I IT 102 Elementary Italian II IT 201 Intermediate Italian I IT 202 Intermediate Italian II IT 203 Italian through Film IT 204 Italian through Media IT 210 Italy: a Journey Through Its Food, History and Culture (in Eng.) IT 211 Italian Cinema (in Eng.) IT 212 Florence and the Making of the Renaissance (in Eng.) HS 213 The Roman World IT 301 Advanced Italian ML 370 History of the Romance Languages
-
Experiential Learning
We foster language proficiency, critical thinking, and intercultural fluency both in and out of the classroom. As an Italian minor, you’ll choose from a range of classes, from full-immersion language courses to interdisciplinary explorations of the Italian Renaissance, cinema, and food culture. Your learning will be enriched by a range of experiential learning opportunities: from talks and performance series on campus, to visits to galleries and sites in New England, to faculty-led courses in Italy.
-
Explore Your Future
Italy boasts one of the world’s 10 largest economies, creating abundant opportunities for graduates with Italian language proficiency and intercultural competence. Approximately 7,500 American companies do business with Italy, while over 1,000 U.S. firms maintain offices in Italy—including industry leaders like IBM, General Electric, Motorola, Citibank, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Moreover, Italy is a world leader in multiple sectors: fashion and design, tourism, culinary arts, automotive manufacturing, and renewable energy production. Students pursuing careers in these fields gain competitive advantages through an Italian minor, opening doors to international collaboration and career advancement.
