Italian

Prerequisites for Major in Italian Studies

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There are no prerequisites for the Italian Studies major. Students may declare the major and begin to take courses to fulfill it before they have completed the ITAL 2020 language requirement. These initial courses will likely be those taught in English on Italian topics (Group B ITTR courses and Group C courses). Before beginning the major’s core language courses (Group A), students must complete ITAL 2020 or the equivalent, with a grade of C or better. Native speakers of Italian must consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies before taking any Italian courses in order to determine how best to proceed.

Requirements for Major in Italian Studies

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The Italian Studies major consists of 30 credits completed at the 2000, 3000 or 4000-level with a grade of C or better. Courses in which a student receives a C- or less will not count toward the major. The combination of 10 courses is constituted as follows:

Requirements for Minor in Italian Studies

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The Italian Studies minor consists of 18 credits, exclusive of ITAL 1010-2020. As with the Italian Studies major, students may declare the minor and take courses toward fulfilling it, before they have completed ITAL 2020. These courses will likely be those taught in English on Italian topics (Group B ITTR and C). Before beginning the minor’s core language courses (Group A), students must complete ITAL 2020 or the equivalent, with a grade of C or better. The combination of 6 courses is constituted as follows:

Study Abroad

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The Italian faculty at UVa strongly encourage all Italian Studies majors and minors to spend a term of study in Italy. For most students it is the best way to accelerate language acquisition and significantly deepen academic and cultural experience. The Italian program distinguishes between “recommended” and “approved” study abroad programs. The following two programs are recommended by Italian faculty: UVA in Siena and UVA in Florence. Both offer summer and semester-length study terms.

Consult UVa’s International Study Abroad Office for an up-to-date list of approved programs. Students who wish to study in a program that is not recommended or on the approved programs list must go through the petition process run by the International Studies Office, and provide a compelling academic reason for studying in a non-approved program.

Even when a study abroad program has been approved, students seeking to satisfy Italian Studies major or minor requirements must have the specific courses approved by the DUP. Students who study in a recommended program may count up to 15 credits per semester of study abroad, or 24 credits per year of study abroad toward their Italian Studies major. Students who study at an approved program in Italy may count up to 12 credits per semester of study abroad or 18 credits for a year of study abroad toward their Italian Studies major.

All students wishing to earn ITAL or ITTR credit for work done abroad must have this credit approved by the Italian Studies program. Students are advised to seek more detailed information on study abroad credit transfer on the Italian program web site.

Independent Study

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Based on faculty availability, independent study with a faculty advisor is available to advanced students of Italian who wish to pursue specific areas in depth that are not included in the regular curriculum. For an independent study course to count for the Italian Studies major it must be taken for a grade.

Distinguished Major Program in Italian

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Italian Studies Majors of exceptional ability and dedication are encouraged to enroll in the Distinguished Major Program (DMP). This program enables qualified students to explore at a higher level their interests in Italian literature, language, and culture.

Like other Italian Studies majors, DMP students are required to take ten courses (30 credits) as indicated by program requirements. In addition, DMP students in Italian must take an additional 6 credits over the course of the fourth year (3 cr Fall, 3 cr Spring), corresponding to the work they engage in researching and writing a thesis, typically ca. 30 pages in length. 

In the fall semester of their fourth year, DMP students enroll in ITAL 4980, the DMP Colloquium (a 3-cr credit/no credit course), meeting regularly with the DMP Coordinator to discuss research strategies and set intermediate goals. It is expected that significant work on the thesis will be completed in this semester. 

In the second semester of their fourth year, DMPs enroll in ITAL 4989, the Distinguished Major Thesis course (3-cr grade option). Students meet regularly with a faculty adviser to receive guidance on advanced research techniques, critical thinking skills, and effective writing strategies. The thesis is completed in this semester, and course credits depend on the successful completion of the thesis. Near the end of the spring semester DMP students present their research results to faculty, graduate students, and invited guests.

The DMP will give you the opportunity to:

• research a topic of interest in depth over the course of a year
• meet with a professor on an individual basis and receive guidance on advanced research techniques, critical thinking skills, and effective writing strategies
• share your ideas and enthusiasm with other exceptional undergraduates in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese in a monthly colloquium
• present your research results to faculty, graduate students, and DMPs in the department at the end of your fourth year

Eligibility:

Italian Studies Majors possessing a GPA close to a 3.4 are eligible, but GPA alone will not bring automatic admission. Interest, dedication and past record will be taken into account. The last semester of the fourth year, a 3.4 cumulative GPA in all courses is an unconditional requirement in order to graduate with any level of distinction.

When to Apply:

Students should apply to the program in Spring semester of their third year, by the date indicated by program administrator (usually end of March, early April). Admission will be granted by the DMP Coordinator in Italian Studies.

How to Apply:

Students must fill out an application form plus secure a written recommendation from a departmental faculty member, and present both to the DMP Coordinator.

Program Requirements:

DMP Thesis

After acceptance into the program (applying in the Spring semester third year), by the end of the second semester of their third year, students will refine their thesis topic in coordination with a member of the Italian Studies faculty serving as the student’s thesis director. (Students who are studying abroad in the spring semester of the third year should select their thesis topic and secure a faculty thesis advisor before the end of the summer before their fourth year.)

In the first semester of the fourth year, students will take ITAL 4980, “Distinguished Majors Colloquium,” for three credits [credit/no credit], meeting periodically with the DMP Coordinator and other DMPs to develop research strategies and goals. Substantial work on the thesis will be completed in this semester. During their final semester, students will take ITAL 4989, “Distinguished Major in Italian Thesis,” for three credits [grade option] and complete work on their thesis. DMPs will present their research at a departmental colloquium in the spring of their final year.

Theses will be read by the thesis director, a second reader, and the DMP Coordinator, who together will decide on levels of distinction. Details about the format of the final project should be discussed with the DMP Coordinator. A bound copy of the thesis will remain on file in the department’s Del Greco Library.

Levels of Distinction:

A departmental committee determines different levels of distinction (Distinction, High Distinction, and Highest Distinction), based on the quality of the student’s thesis, the student’s overall work in the major field of study, and the student’s overall college record (minimum GPA of 3.4).

Distinctions, Grants and Awards

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The Italian program recognizes outstanding students of Italian in a variety of ways. Each spring, the program hosts its Garden Reception and Awards Ceremony, to celebrate and honor our students of Italian at both undergraduate and graduate levels. At this April gathering we award the Lola Pelliccia Undergraduate Prizes. We also present one or more of our fourth-year students with the Marie M. Giuliano Prize, for demonstrated academic excellence in Italian language study and contribution to the growth and nurturing of Italian at the University.

Language Requirement

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ITAL 1010 is a course reserved exclusively for true beginners, students who have never studied Italian before entering UVA. Students who have studied Italian prior to coming to UVA and who wish to continue in Italian will be placed according to scores obtained on the UVA Italian placement exam. The UVA Italian placement exam is offered only twice a year, on the Monday before the Fall and Spring semesters (registration required). The sequence of courses, depending on the level at which the student begins, is as follows: ITAL 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020; or ITAL 1020, 2010, 2020; or ITAL 2010, 2020; or ITAL 2020. The sequence must be followed to complete the language requirement. Once students begin the sequence of courses, they cannot skip any course in the sequence. Students are not permitted to self-place in a language course. Students who place themselves incorrectly will receive an F for the courses in which they enroll without permission. ITAL 1010 and 2010 are offered in Fall only, and ITAL 1020 and 2020 are offered in Spring only. ITAL 2030 (Italian for Professionals) was introduced in Spring 2018 (as “Italian for Business”) and it may now count as the 4th class in the Italian Language requirement series. All Italian courses to be counted toward the language requirement must be taken at UVA or at a UVA recommended or approved study abroad program. Please note, however:  students who seek to fulfill the CLAS Foreign Language Requirement with courses taken at non-recommended abroad programs will be required to successfully pass the placement exam upon return, in order to receive foreign language requirement credit. If exam performance is not satisfactory, students must re-enter the UVA language sequence where they last left it, and may risk losing credit for the language course taken outside of UVA

Additional Information

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For more information, contact current DUP Prof. Francesca Calamita (fc4j@virginia.edu), 461 New Cabell Hall.