Italian
Italian is the voice of one of the formative cultural traditions of the Western world. The study of Italy and its language offers a rigorous, interdisciplinary exploration of the continuing vitality of modern Italian and Italian American culture though literature, cinema, translation studies, the arts, Roman thought, fashion, tourism, Mediterranean cuisine, and much more. Italian, in its humanistic breadth and depth, offers students access to a wide variety of professional pathways through an emphasis on global communicative understanding and cultural sensitivity. Italian is increasingly important in business; six of the 100 biggest companies are headquartered in Italy, and Italy is the world’s fifth largest industrial producer of goods. Learning a foreign language also improves oral and written skills in English interactions. Penn State’s Italian program is small, and prides itself on its capacity to provide individual attention and mentoring to each of its majors and minors.
Degree Types: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Minor
Degree Options
Popular Double Majors or Minors
- Art History
- Music
- International Politics
- Political Science
- Global and International Studies
- Foreign Languages
About the Program
Why should I pursue this degree?
You might like this program if…
- You enjoy learning languages and communicating with people from a particularly rich cultural civilization.
- You dream of studying abroad. More Penn State students currently study in Italy than in any other nation of the world, and you will enjoy more memorable experiences with a deeper preparation through advanced coursework in Italian.
- You wish to learn more about the roots of your family heritage and traditions.
Coursework
Opportunities to explore the following topics:
- Italian-American Cultural Studies
- Italian Children’s Literature
- Dante in Translation
- Pathways to Fluency
- Growing Up in the Renaissance: Family, School, Sport
Out-of-Classroom Experiences
Internships
- WSFS Bank
- Penn State Division of Development and Alumni Relations
Education Abroad Destinations
Colombia
Germany
Italy
Spain
Post-Graduation Opportunities
Continuing Education
- Graduate school to study psychology, accounting, global studies, business analytics, and art history
Alumni Industries
Communications, Compliance, Consulting, Human Resources, Management, Sales
Have questions about this program?
Future students, contact the Liberal Arts Recruitment Team.
Current students, contact your academic adviser.
This program is housed in the Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese
at Penn State University Park.