Studying Italian at Penn State enables students to develop proficiency in the language and a historically informed understanding of Italy’s contemporary cultures. Students explore a rich literary and cinematic tradition and can pursue coursework in such topics as Italian American Culture and the Theory and Practice of Translation. With two major paths that are easily combined with a second major, and a minor, Italian offers various enrichment opportunities to our students including: Internships, Gamma Kappa Alpha National Honor Society, Peer Tutoring opportunities, Italian Student Society, Italian Alumni-Student Mentoring, Tavola Italiana and multiple study abroad options.
Which Courses Should I Take?
If you have little or no previous experience of Italian, choose IT 001 or IT 010. (Please note that intensive language courses can be time-consuming and demanding, and should only be attempted by students who plan to make language learning a priority and/or who have a natural language learning facility.) IT 050 is a supplemental option for dedicated students who desire individual attention to oral accent and speaking proficiency. If you have some Italian language skills (in high school, in another college or university, or in Italy), but are not a native speaker of Italian, see the following information about Italian language placement and contact the Italian Language Coordinator. If you are a native speaker of Italian, please contact an Italian adviser for enrollment options.
New Placement Policy for Italian Basic Language Classes
Students and advisors should use the official Foreign Language Policy (i.e., years of high school Italian) as a guideline for figuring out appropriate placement. This policy, using Carnegie Units, suggests that:
Years of High School Italian: | Register in Penn State Language Level: |
|---|---|
Fewer than two | Italian 001 (4cr.) |
Two or three | Italian 002 (4cr.) |
More than three | Italian 003 (4cr.) |
The departmental website provides course syllabi (sip.la.psu.edu/undergraduate/italian/courses/syllabi/), so students can review the learning objectives for each level in our basic language sequence for additional guidance. If a student thinks they are not adequately prepared to complete the appropriate course level as determined by this policy, they may drop down one level (e.g., move from IT 003 to IT 002) or they can come to the class that is the best fit during the first week of the term. Students are encouraged to discuss the best placement with their course instructor and may also complete a diagnostic questionnaire.
Please note that if the student has previously taken and passed a higher language course in Italian at Penn State OR has received credit through AP/IB/Clep tests OR has received transfer credits from courses taken at other institutions, the student is required to talk to their instructor on the first day of the term to determine the appropriate placement.
Non-Course Work Knowledge of Foreign Languages
Students who have acquired a knowledge of a foreign language by means other than course work (e.g., family background, travel or study in a foreign country, participation in noncredit summer language programs, etc.) may enroll in elementary and intermediate courses in that language only with permission of the course coordinator or department head. Once students have been placed in a skills course, they may not receive credit for a lower-level skills course.
Accelerated and Intensive Courses
Students may choose to enroll in accelerated courses such as IT 010 and 020. Because the objectives of these courses are somewhat different, students may schedule them for full credit even if they have studied the language previously.
Proficiency Examination
A department may offer students an opportunity to take an examination for credit or require an examination for initial placement in a course or course sequence. Credits for this course will be reflected on the student’s record with a symbol of S, equivalent to a grade of C or better. Credit awarded in this manner does not affect a student’s grade-point average at this University. Such credit shall not be granted for any course that the student has previously failed. In Italian, proficiency examinations are scheduled by the Italian Language Coordinator.
