The Italian program boasts an exceptionally dynamic and caring faculty expert in a range of established and cutting-edge subjects, including migration studies, medical humanities, Medieval and Renaissance literture, film studies, queer studies, museum studies, and the Slow Food movement. Our small class sizes, interactive and proficiency-based language courses and popular culture courses draw students from the School of Engineering, Olin Business School, the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, and all major disciplines in Arts & Sciences, from biology to history and from literature to economics. Not only do our students achieve a high level of proficiency in Italian language with practical appplication for living and working in Italy, but we also offer extensive preparation in Italian literature, film, and culture, as well as opportunities for travel and study abroad. We offer semester-and year-long study abroad at our affiliate program in Padua, where students immerse themselves in Italian culture and perfect their Italian by living with an Italian family and attending varying levels of small-group language, literature and culture classes with American students at the Centro as well as by taking courses directly at the University of Padua. The Italian program extends beyond the courses we teach. We also offer ongoing series of lectures, films, and artistic performances in addition to student-organized social activities. all of which contribute to the intellectually dynamic and personally rewarding social environment of our section.
As one of the top 4 European economies, Italy is a leader in design, fashion, travel and tourism, the automotive industry, information technology, media and communications, engineering, pharmaceutical production, food and wine, and textiles. The study of Italian in our program will prepare students for work in these sectors, as well as careers in international business; diplomacy and international government and law; academia; the fine arts; and education. Benvenuti a tutti!
