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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Italian language class should I take (including questions about placement policies and proficiency exams)?
See the section on “Basic Language Courses” or contact the Italian Language Coordinator for more information.
I want to take an Italian class, but it is full. What do I do?
If it is a language class (IT 001, 002, 003, 010, or 020), contact the language coordinator for your options. If it is any other course, contact the instructor directly. Sometimes the classroom can accommodate a few more students and the instructor may permit more students, especially if they are declared Italian majors, to enroll. If there are as many students enrolled as the classroom can maximally hold, however, then the professor must turn students away in order to respect fire codes.
I officially declared my Italian minor, but I have decided to graduate without fulfilling all of the minor requirements. What do I need to do to "undeclare" my Italian minor?
You do not need to do anything to “undeclare” an Italian minor. If you have not met the requirements when you declare your intent to graduate, you will be cleared to graduate (if all major requirements have been met), but you not receive the minor. You must “undeclare” only majors.
Awards Offered to Students
Undergraduate Awards - Italian
The Commencement Laurel Crown
Italian majors are encouraged to do a capstone project during their fourth year. The capstone project may be any significant contribution of the student’s Italian talents or interests beyond the classroom. Examples of previous capstone projects include (but are not limited to): homeschooling/tutoring Italian language and culture to young children, conducting conversation hours with elderly Italian-speakers at retirement homes, revising and submitting course papers for national prizes or publication, writing Italian subtitles for student films in the Film Studies program, and creating a website of Italian resources for Penn State students.
Capstone projects are proposed by the student with adviser approval. Projects requiring significant time commitments may qualify for IT 496 credit (please see an Italian adviser for more information). Successful completion of the capstone project earns the student a laurel crown, the ancient Roman symbol of achievement with distinction, which is awarded at the departmental awards ceremony in April and may be worn by the student at commencement ceremonies with the cap and gown.
The Josephine J. And David C. Rhea Endowment For Excellence In Italian Studies
Awarded annually in the spring, this honor and monetary prize recognizes exceptional students at all levels of Italian. Although nominations are solicited in the spring from all Italian instructors, students from both fall and spring semesters are eligible. Usually approximately ten students are recognized each year in April at the departmental awards ceremony.
Gamma Kappa Alpha
The National Italian Honor Society. Students must meet specific requirements and apply for this honor. Information is distributed every spring semester, and applications are screened by the Italian advisers. Successful inductees participate in a ceremony and buffet dinner hosted by the Italian faculty.
Undergraduate Awards - Spanish and Italian
Irving L. Foster Memorial Award
This award is given to a full-time undergraduate with a superior academic record. This award is rotated between three majors: Spanish, Italian, and French and consists in a scholarship of approximately $150.00.
SIP Department Student Marshal
Each spring, one student is selected from among our majors to represent The Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese as Department Student Marshal at graduation ceremonies. Finalists for this honor are graduating seniors with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. Finalists wishing to be considered for Student Marshal are required to write an essay of no more than 500 words in Spanish describing his/her accomplishments and career goals. Members of our Department Undergraduate Committee review all essays and select the winner. Students names a faculty member from the department to serve as the Faculty Marshal. The Student Marshal then becomes a finalist for the College Student Marshal.
Undergraduate Awards - Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese
The Passaic Family Undergraduate Scholarship In Spanish, Italian, And Portuguese
This endowment is intended to support undergraduate students who are majoring in or planning to major in Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese and are participating in a study abroad program in Spain.
Careers and Opportunities for Graduate Studies Options
Because the study of Italian comprises advanced-level language proficiency and the development of cultural understanding, critical thinking, and communicative capacities, successful Penn State students have gone on to pursue many professions. In the Italian program, majors and minors have access to:
- Individualized advising aimed at integrating complementary majors/minors, education abroad, and internship opportunities.
- Italian-specific fellowships, prizes, and capstone project opportunities to ready them for future goals.
- Mentorship that connects Italian students with alumni who have applied successfully to graduate schools, participated in Fulbright/Peace Corps/Teach for America/etc., or are making contributions in the career path of particular interest.
Potential Careers
As a humanistic program in the liberal arts, Italian is not designed to be directly vocational. Italian prepares students to access a wide array of rewarding and unique careers, including those related to international business, travel, journalism, ministry, diplomacy, banking, science fields, the arts, and education. The federal government employs graduates with advanced foreign-language skills in organizations including the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Information Agency, and the Department of Labor. Students with degrees in the humanities are also particularly successful applicants to graduate and professional schools, such as law, business, and medicine.
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
Either of the baccalaureate degree options in Italian (the Bachelor of Arts in Italian and Bachelor of Science in Italian) can serve as the foundation for graduate studies in Italian, as well as other humanistic, social science, and STEM disciplines. Italian can also lead to advanced professional degrees in business, educational administration, law, and medicine.
Advising
Questions about the Italian Major and Italian Minor should be directed to Shawn Bainbridge. Additional questions about the Italian Minor can be directed to Brian Tholl, Professor Maria Truglio and Professor Sherry Roush. Together, they will help keep you on track toward your degree and will work with you to navigate co-curricular opportunities.
Advising Roles
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Appointments
Please make an appointment if you need help with:
- Your next semester schedule (language pre-majors and majors)
- Concurrent major planning (feasibility, courses needed)
- Academic difficulty
- Faculty Senate petitions (retroactive withdrawal or registration, etc.)
