The graduate program offers in-depth training in the field of Italian Studies, leading to the PhD degree. The program begins with a strong foundation in the critical analysis and historical understanding of Italian literature and encourages exploration of a wide range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas. These include (but are not limited to) film studies; comparative literature; literary, rhetorical, and cultural theory; gender studies; history; anthropology; history of art and music; architecture; classics; political science; medieval and early modern studies; and Romance languages and literature.
The Department of Italian Studies offers an integrated MA/PhD program, in which the MA constitutes the first phase in a trajectory leading to the PhD. Applications are not accepted for the MA degree alone. Students holding a master’s degree or the equivalent in Italian Studies and related fields from other institutions may be admitted directly to the second phase of the program.
Thank you for considering UC Berkeley for graduate study! UC Berkeley offers more than 120 graduate programs representing the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary scholarship. The Graduate Division hosts a complete list of graduate academic programs, departments, degrees offered, and application deadlines can be found on the Graduate Division website.
Prospective students must submit an online application to be considered for admission, in addition to any supplemental materials specific to the program for which they are applying. The online application and steps to take to apply can be found on the Graduate Division website.
Admission Requirements
The minimum graduate admission requirements are:
A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;
A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and
Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.
For a list of requirements to complete your graduate application, please see the Graduate Division’s Admissions Requirements page. It is also important to check with the program or department of interest, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree. Department contact information can be found here.
We select our graduate students on the basis of their record of academic achievement in the past, and their promise of future success in scholarship and teaching. A bachelor's degree in Italian is preferred but not absolutely required for admission; however, applicants with degrees in other fields must have already undertaken significant coursework in Italian studies.
We accept applications from students holding a bachelor’s degree from Berkeley or elsewhere, and from those who hold a master’s degree or Italian Laurea. Applicants from Italy should also be aware of the significant differences between the PhD degree and the dottorato di ricerca.
Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2021, Spring 2018, Fall 2015, Fall 2014
Linguistic development of the major Romance languages (French, Italian, and Spanish) from the common Latin origin. Comparative perspective, combining historical grammar and external history. Linguistic History of the Romance Language: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Knowledge of at least two of the major Romance languages (French, Italian, and Spanish)
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2013
This course is designed to provide the student with a general view of the major developments in contemporary criticism and an opportunity to apply critical methods to literary texts. One oral report and a final paper. Contemporary Trends in Critical Theory: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar and 1 hour of discussion per week
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Fall 2019, Fall 2017
This course introduces the study of Italian literature in its historical scope, while presenting the range of research interests represented on the Italian Studies faculty. Required of all Master of Arts candidates. Proseminar I: Italian Literary Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students taking this course for 2 units do not write a final paper and may enroll in the course on a <satisfactory/unsatisfactory> basis.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Credit Restrictions: Students taking this course for 2 units do not write a final paper and may enroll in the course on a <satisfactory/unsatisfactory> basis.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Credit Restrictions: Students taking this course for 2 units do not write a final paper and may enroll in the course on a <satisfactory/unsatisfactory> basis.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Credit Restrictions: Students taking this course for 2 units do not write a final paper and may enroll in the course on a <satisfactory/unsatisfactory> basis.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Credit Restrictions: Students taking this course for 2 units do not write a final paper and may enroll in the course on a <satisfactory/unsatisfactory> basis.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
Investigation of significant genres and modes of writing as they recur in the course of Italian cultural history. Special Topics in Genre and Mode: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students taking this course for 2 units enroll in the course on a <satisfactory/unsatisfactory> basis and do not write a final paper.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Credit Restrictions: Students taking this course for 2 units enroll in the course on a <satisfactory/unsatisfactory> basis and do not write a final paper.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Directed readings undertaken under the direction of a faculty member of the department of Italian Studies in conjunction with an audit of a 100-series seminar. Directed Readings in Italian Literature and Culture: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Italian Studies/Graduate
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Directed research leading to the writing of a term paper under the direction of an Italian Studies department faculty member. Requires concurrent enrollment in a 100-series seminar. Seminar Research Course: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Directed reading course leading to the production of a formal dissertation prospectus with detailed bibliography. Course is required for all Doctor of Philosophy candidates. Prospectus Tutorial: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Designed to allow students to do research in areas not covered by other courses. Requires regular discussions with the instructor and a final written report. Special Study: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-7.5 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1.5-5.5 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 1.5-6 hours of independent study per week
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Limited to students engaged in research for the doctoral dissertation. Directed Research: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Summer: 3 weeks - 27-60 hours of independent study per week 6 weeks - 15-30 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 10-99 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 8-18 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Italian Studies/Graduate
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Terms offered: Summer 2024 10 Week Session, Summer 2023 10 Week Session, Summer 2022 10 Week Session
Limited to students engaged in research for the doctoral dissertation. Directed Research: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 0.5-8 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 0.5-6 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 0.5-4.5 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Italian Studies/Graduate
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Three hours of classroom teaching per week with regular faculty supervision; attendance at faculty lectures where appropriate; routine meetings to discuss and evaluate teaching methods, including lecturing, discussion, classroom activities, grading and testing, design of syllabi and course materials. Practicum in the Teaching of Italian Literature, History, and Culture: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Required of Italian Studies Department GSIs not enrolled in 302 or 355 or in an approved Reading and Composition pedagogy course
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Italian Studies/Professional course for teachers or prospective teachers
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017
Required of all graduate student instructors in their first semester of teaching. This course provides instruction on the theory and practice of foreign language teaching and learning with lectures on methodology, testing, grading, class preparation, textbook selection and evaluation, course design and development, and the use of audio-visual and computer aids to instruction. A final research paper is required. It also includes supervised classroom practice. Seminar in Language Pedagogy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate student instructor status
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Italian Studies/Professional course for teachers or prospective teachers
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Individual study in consultation with faculty member with a view to the M.A. comprehensive examination. May be taken only in the semester of the comprehensive examination. Individual Studies for M.A. Candidates: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit with advisor consent.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Italian Studies/Graduate examination preparation
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Individual study in consultation with a faculty adviser. Intended to provide an opportunity for qualified students to prepare for the Ph.D. qualifying examination. May be taken only in the semester of the qualifying examination. Individual Studies for Doctoral Students: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Course does not satisfy unit or residence requirements for doctoral degree.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit with advisor consent.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Italian Studies/Graduate examination preparation
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
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