Undergraduate Program

The major in Italian explores Italy’s vital role in the formation of Western thought and culture. The core language courses provide students with the opportunity to acquire an in-depth linguistic proficiency, together with a solid literary and historical background in the language.

In its interdisciplinary focus, the major offers a variety of advanced courses in literature, cinema, history, translation practice, art, and gender studies. Central to the major is the conviction that delving into another language and culture, in addition to the intellectual enrichment it affords, raises students’ awareness of what is distinctive about their own cultural identity.

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Italian makes an excellent double major as a complement to several extra-departmental disciplines, among them History of Art, Comparative Literature, Economics, Film & Media Studies, History, Political Science, and Architecture.

Studying and appreciating a foreign language, literature, and culture offer Yale students a useful and challenging option in their university education. In particular, the Italian major prepares for careers in international business, translation, journalism, economics, art, media, film, fashion, design, education, and tourism.