Bachelor of Arts in Italian Studies

THE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ITALIAN STUDIES prepares students to communicate effectively in spoken and written Italian. Students gain knowledge of the cultural perspectives and artistic products of Italy, including the beauty and influence of its art, music, poetry, fashion, food and architecture. Through language acquisition, cultural investigation and professional growth, graduates become well- rounded global citizens prepared for a variety of careers.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

The School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (SLLC) at the University of Maryland integrates language learning with in-depth literary and applied linguistics studies. SLLC students explore cultural landscapes in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Small class sizes ensure personalized attention.

COURSEWORK

Italian coursework delves into the language of modern Italy. Majors develop a level of linguistic and cultural understanding that enables them to actively participate in events and conversations connected to the cultural and professional worlds of this dynamic country. The Italian program offers various study abroad programs in Rome, Perugia and Florence, providing majors with an opportunity for a full immersion experience in the study of Italian language and culture.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Language House students live in a multicultural community of 11 language clusters where they develop language fluency and cultural appreciation. Led by native-speaking mentors, residents engage in hands on, immersive activities that prepare them for future global engagement.

The Language Partner Program provides students with structured one-on-one weekly interactions with an international student to develop conversation skills, deeper linguistic understanding and cross-cultural awareness.

Italian is the language of modern and contemporary Italy, through which its culture has become known to the world, including the beauty and ramifications of its art, music, poetry, fashion, food and architecture. Italian has also emerged as the language of an industrialized nation playing an active role within the European Union. It is the intent of the Italian program (ITAL) to bring its students to a level of linguistic and cultural understanding that allows them to participate actively in on-going events and conversations connected to the cultural and professional worlds of this dynamic country. The Italian Program offers a range of courses well suited for students who are preparing themselves for graduate study, research, professional development in the varied fields of the humanities and sciences, and those seeking a teaching career in education.