Italian Studies
Areas of Study
While the program’s courses are taught in Italian, at least one course is offered in English each year, so if you are just beginning your study of Italian you will also be able to examine more advanced topics in literature and culture. The Italian Studies curriculum consists of:
- language courses that range from elementary to advanced levels
- literature courses spanning from the Middle Ages to contemporary Italy
- culture courses
Majors
The major consists of a minimum of 10 courses in Italian language, literature and culture beyond the elementary level and includes the following courses:
Required Italian Courses:
- ITAL 201 Intermediate Italian 1
- ITAL 202 Intermediate Italian 2
- ITAL 301 Italian Comp & Conv
- ITAL 260 Dante
One Medieval or Renaissance literature course:
- ITAL 325 Boccaccio's Decameron
- ITAL 411 Italian Renaissance Literature
One course in 19th and/or 20th Century literature:
- ITAL 323 Intro to Contemporary Italy
- ITAL 420 Twentieth Century Novel & World War 2
- ITAL 457 19th Century Novel
Up to two courses taught in English:
- HIST 267 Modern Italy
Four Italian electives from the lists above or comparable courses.
All students who major in Italian are required to take two courses in their fourth year. Students may not take courses in English in their fourth year without the consent of their major advisor.
The remainder of the courses taken to fulfill the major requirements may include any combination of the other courses offered by the Italian section such as literature, cinema, Special Topics and tutorials (taken either during the third or fourth year of study). Students may also take a maximum of two courses in English. These courses may include Italian courses taught in translation or approved courses in related departments such as History, Music and Visual Arts.
Students who choose to major in Italian are strongly encouraged to study in Italy. Of the courses taken in Florence or Bologna, four courses may be applied to the major. Certain courses taken abroad may be accepted as the equivalent of the specific requirements listed above or as elective courses. Those students who spend their third year in Italy are strongly encouraged to declare the major before studying abroad.
Language placement procedures for all languages can be accessed via the STAR student system. A language placement tile is displayed on the STAR dashboard.
You must follow the language placement procedures if 1) you have already studied a language that you wish to continue at Holy Cross, or 2) you have any knowledge of the language through family or community.
Minors
The minor consists of a minimum of 6 courses in Italian language, literature and culture beyond the elementary level and includes the following courses:
Required Italian Courses:
- ITAL 201 Intermediate Italian 1
- ITAL 202 Intermediate Italian 2
- ITAL 301 Italian Comp & Conv
Three Italian Elective Courses:
- ITAL 260 Dante
- ITAL 325 Boccaccio's Decameron
- ITAL 411 Italian Renaissance Literature
- ITAL 323 Intro to Contemporary Italy
- ITAL 420 Twentieth Century Novel & World War 2
- ITAL 457 19th Century Novel
One course may be taught in English:
- HIST 267 Modern Italy
All students who minor in Italian are required to take one course in their fourth year. Students may not take a course in English in their fourth year without the consent of the Italian Director.
The remainder of the courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements may include any combination of the other courses offered by the Italian section such as literature, cinema, Special Topics and tutorials (taken either during the third or fourth year of study). Students may take a maximum of one course in English: an Italian course taught in translation or an approved course in related departments such as History, Music and Visual Arts.
Students who choose to minor in Italian are strongly encouraged to study in Italy. Of the courses taken in Florence or Bologna, two courses may be applied to the minor. Certain courses taken abroad may be accepted as the equivalent of the specific requirements listed above or as elective courses. Students who spend their third year in Italy are strongly encouraged to declare their minor before studying abroad.
Language placement procedures for all languages can be accessed via the STAR student system. A language placement tile is displayed on the STAR dashboard.
You must follow the language placement procedures if 1) you have already studied a language that you wish to continue at Holy Cross, or 2) you have any knowledge of the language through family or community.
Meet Your Program Director
Opportunities
Italian Honor Society
Gamma Kappa Alpha, the Italian National Honor Society, recognizes the academic achievements of student majors and minors who have devoted much of their undergraduate career to the study of Italian language, literature and culture.
Worcester Community Resources
Worcester offers several community resources, including museums, educational institutions and cultural societies, which provide opportunities to learn more about Italian language and culture.
Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester
Worcester Nightlife Continuing Education, various locations
We the Italians, Italian Conversation Circle, West Boylston
Boston Community Resources
Boston offers several community resources, including museums, educational institutions and cultural societies, which provide opportunities to learn more about Italian language and culture.
Dante Alighieri Society, 41 Hampshire St., Cambridge
Boston Center for Adult Education, 122 Arlington St., Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston
Study Abroad in Florence and Bologna, Italy
Students of Italian are strongly encouraged to study abroad. Holy Cross offers rigorous programs at two prestigious Italian universities, one in Florence and the other in Bologna, where students enroll in a variety of academic courses. Students significantly improve their proficiency in the Italian language and deepen their understanding of Italian culture through firsthand experiences.
Events
The Italian Studies Program offers a range of cocurricular programming designed to engage students more deeply in their study of Italian language, literature and culture beyond the classroom. The most popular event is the Pasta Olympics, a pasta-cooking competition among students that takes place every spring.
Awards & Scholarships
- The Edna Grzebien Prize is awarded for excellence and commitment in the study of world languages.
- The Italian Studies Prize is awarded for the best essay on a theme of Italian literature or culture.
- AATI Essay Contest: The American Association of Teachers of Italian annually awards two outstanding undergraduate college students for an outstanding essay in Italian language, culture, literature, and cinema.
- Agnes E. Vaghi Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding female Italian American undergraduate student majoring in Italian, English, literature or journalism.
- Angela Gajarsa Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding Italian American student who is an incoming freshman. This student must demonstrate financial need.
- Caroline Guarini Memorial Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding Italian American student (undergraduate or graduate) majoring in music or a music-related field. This student must originally be from New York, New Jersey or Connecticut.
- Emanuele Gianturco Memorial Scholarship is awarded to outstanding Italian American students (undergraduate and graduate). The student must be a first-generation college student and demonstrate financial need.
- Frank D. Stella Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding Italian American undergraduate student majoring in business or a business-related field.
- Frank J. Corsaro Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding Italian American student who is majoring in political science, law (either in law school or declared prelaw in undergraduate school) or medicine (either in medical school or majoring in a medical related field in undergraduate school). This student must demonstrate financial need.
- Giargiari Medical Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding Italian American medical student (either in medical school or declared premed in undergraduate school) with a GPA of 3.5 (or the equivalent) or higher.
- Pescosolido Family Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships for study at accredited and acceptable educational institutions in Italy.
Program Outcomes
Fourth-year students and alumni may also apply for a Fulbright award, whose recipients spend a year in Italy either teaching English or conducting research.
Students who wish to pursue an M.A. or Ph.D. in Italian are encouraged to meet with a faculty member in Italian to discuss the selection of a program.
To select the appropriate program, it is important to consider:
- what kind of job the student hopes to find after completing the degree
- what specific field they wish to study (e.g., contemporary literature, cultural studies, Dante, cinema)
- if there is a professor/scholar with whom the student would like to study
- if they would like to study in Italy or in the U.S. (and where, specifically, in these countries)
- what financial resources the student has available
Holy Cross graduates have worked at the following:
- Teaching Italian in private schools
- Fashion houses in New York
- Italian American non-profit organizations
- Italian Trade Commission
- Italian textbook publishers
- Travel agencies that specialize in Italy
To work for an Italian company in the U.S., it is useful to have an Oral Proficiency Interview score through the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
Holy Cross graduates have worked in the following industries and establishments:
- American companies
- Italian schools, as English teachers
- American universities abroad, in administration or teaching
- Tourism (food, cycling, ecotourism)
- Advertising
- Childcare
Opportunities for teaching English in Italy:
- Teaching or Research Fulbright in Italy
- Internships (S.I.T.E. program)
- Private English language institutes
Other Resources:
- Italian Consulates (internships, scholarship information)
- National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)
- Italian Cultural Institutions
I can’t put into words how my experiences in Holy Cross’s Italian program and at the Università di Firenze have positively impacted my life. By immersing myself in Italian language and culture, I’ve met many lifelong friends, both on campus and abroad, and I’ve become a more confident communicator.
