Italian Studies

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Italian Studies at Berkeley is an interdisciplinary enterprise. You will find courses in Italian language, literature, history, cultural studies, film, and folklore offered by the department, both in Italian and in English. You will also discover that courses with significant Italian content are often taught in other departments and programs, including history of art, music, comparative literature, film studies, anthropology, political science, history, and Medieval studies which may be applied to major or minor requirements by advance consultation with the undergraduate adviser.

Declaring the Major

Students who are considering a major in Italian Studies should contact the undergraduate student services adviser as early as possible in their academic career in order to plan an individualized course of study. The earliest a student can declare the major is following the completion of one year of elementary Italian or the equivalent.

Once students are ready to declare the major — or if they still have some unsettled issues regarding their academic preparation — they should schedule an appointment with the undergraduate student services adviser for creation of a study list plan to help realize their goals to major, double major, or incorporate courses for major credit from UC study abroad programs in Italy.

Honors Program

To enter the honors program, in addition to having a minimum overall 3.3 grade point average (GPA), majors must have completed at least 20 upper division units in the major with a minimum GPA of 3.5. Candidates must enroll in ITALIAN H195 for one semester in their senior year during which they will carry out research and write an honors thesis under the guidance of a faculty member. Students who meet the GPA requirements must first consult with the undergraduate faculty adviser in order to pursue an honors thesis.

Minor Program

The Department of Italian offers two undergraduate minors: the minor in Italian Studies, emphasizing Italian language, literature, history, cultural studies, film, and folklore, and the minor in Transnational Italian Studies, focusing on Italy’s many dimensions of political thought, labor theory, migration, refugee, and race studies, fine arts, food, and poetry, in global contexts.  For information regarding how to declare a minor, please contact the undergraduate student services adviser.

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Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

  1. All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for graded credit, other than courses listed which are offered on a Pass/No Pass basis only. Other exceptions to this requirement are noted as applicable.
  2. No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs, with the exception of minors offered outside of the College of Letters & Science.
  3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in both upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Lower Division Requirements

ITALIAN 1Elementary Italian (or equivalent)5
ITALIAN W1Elementary Italian (Hybrid)5
ITALIAN 1RIntensive Italian for Romance Languages Speakers (Equivalent to Italian 1 and 2 combined)5
ITALIAN 2Elementary Italian (or equivalent)5
ITALIAN W2Elementary Italian (Hybrid)5
ITALIAN 3Intermediate Italian (or equivalent)4
ITALIAN 4Intermediate Italian (or equivalent)4

Upper Division Requirements1

ITALIAN 101Advanced Writing Workshop4
ITALIAN 102Italian through the Arts4
ITALIAN 105History of Italian Culture4
In addition, 20 units/five upper division courses selected from offerings in Italian Studies or interdisciplinary offerings in related departments are required to complete upper division requirements. Up to two courses may be taken in English. 2
1

Students may apply a maximum of 12 units earned through education abroad programs toward upper division requirements.

2

Up to 8 units of coursework with primary readings and discussion in English may be counted toward the total major unit requirement. Such courses may be taken in other departments (e.g. history of art, history, music) with advance permission of the undergraduate adviser.

Minor Requirements

Students who have a strong interest in an area of study outside their major often decide to complete a minor program. These programs have set requirements.

The Department of Italian Studies offers two minor tracks: a minor in Italian Studies , and a minor in Transnational Italian Studies.

General Guidelines

  1. All minors must be declared before the first day of classes in your Expected Graduation Term (EGT). For summer graduates, minors must be declared prior to the first day of Summer Session A. 

  2. All upper-division courses must be taken for a letter grade. 

  3. A minimum of three of the upper-division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.

  4. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required in the upper-division courses to fulfill the minor requirements.

  5. Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth requirement, for Letters & Science students.

  6. No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.

  7. All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which the student plans to graduate. If students cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time, they should see a College of Letters & Science adviser.

  8. All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling. (For further information regarding the unit ceiling, please see the College Requirements tab.)

Italian Studies Minor

Requirements

Lower Division
ITALIAN 1Elementary Italian (or equivalent)5
ITALIAN 2Elementary Italian (or equivalent)5
ITALIAN 3Intermediate Italian (or equivalent)4
ITALIAN 4Intermediate Italian (or equivalent)4
Upper Division
ITALIAN 101Advanced Writing Workshop4
ITALIAN 105History of Italian Culture4
In addition, 12 units/3 courses in Italian literature, cultural studies, or film are required to complete upper division requirements. At least 8 units/2 courses must have the language of instruction in Italian. Students may apply a maximum of 8 units/2 courses earned through education abroad programs toward upper division requirements. 2
ITALIAN 102Italian through the Arts4
ITALIAN 110Literature and Culture of the 13th and 14th Centuries4
ITALIAN 112Sixteenth-Century Literature and Culture4
ITALIAN 114Eighteenth-Century Literature and Culture4
ITALIAN 115Nineteenth-Century Literature and Culture4
ITALIAN 117Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Literature4
ITALIAN 120Topics in Italian Studies4
ITALIAN 125ACDeaths and Afterlives of Columbus3
ITALIAN 130ADante's Inferno (in English)4
ITALIAN 140Boccaccio's Decameron4
ITALIAN 150ACAfter Work: Italian Theories, US Texts3
ITALIAN 160Studies in the History, Society, and Politics of the Italian Peninsula4
ITALIAN 160SStudies in the History, Society, and Politics of the Italian Peninsula (in English)4
ITALIAN 170The Italian Cinema: History, Genres, Authors4
1

Students may apply a maximum of 8 units / 2 courses earned through education abroad programs toward upper division requirements.

2

Up to 4 units of coursework with primary readings and discussion in English may be counted toward the total major unit requirement. Such courses may be taken in other departments (e.g. history of art, history, music) with advance permission of the undergraduate adviser.

Transnational Italian Studies Minor

The Minor in Transnational Italian Studies focuses on Italy’s many dimensions of political thought, labor theory, migration, refugee, and race studies, the fine arts, opera, food, and poetry, in global contexts. It consists of five upper-division courses in the Department of Italian Studies. Courses or seminars taught by Italian Studies faculty in other departments are also acceptable, with the approval of the Undergraduate Faculty Advisor.

Requirements

Lower Division Prerequisites (8-14 Units)
One year of Italian language (5-10 Units):
Elementary Italian
and Elementary Italian
OR
Intensive Italian for Romance Languages Speakers [5]
Dante (in English) [3]
Italian Culture (in English)
Upper Division Requirements (20 Units)
5 upper-division courses in Italian Studies, including those taught by Italian Studies faculty in other departments. Most are repeatable for credit when the topic changes. Up to 2 can be taken outside the Department. Students may apply a maximum of 2 courses/8 units earned through education abroad programs toward upper division requirements.
Italian through the Arts [4] (Prerequisite: Italian 4)
History of Italian Culture [4] (Taught in Italian. Prerequisite: Italian 101)
Literature and Culture of the 13th and 14th Centuries [4]
Sixteenth-Century Literature and Culture [4]
Eighteenth-Century Literature and Culture [4]
Nineteenth-Century Literature and Culture [4]
Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Literature [4]
Topics in Italian Studies [4]
Deaths and Afterlives of Columbus [3]
Dante's Inferno (in English) [4]
Boccaccio's Decameron [4]
After Work: Italian Theories, US Texts [3]
Studies in the History, Society, and Politics of the Italian Peninsula [4]
Studies in the History, Society, and Politics of the Italian Peninsula (in English) [4]
Special Topics in Italian Literature [4]
The Italian Cinema: History, Genres, Authors [4]

Courses or seminars taught by Italian Studies faculty in other departments are also acceptable, with the approval of the Undergraduate Faculty Advisor.

College Requirements

Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.

For a detailed lists of L&S requirements, please see Overview tab to the right in this guide or visit the L&S Degree Requirements webpage. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages. 

University of California Requirements

Entry Level Writing

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley and must be taken for a letter grade. 

American History and American Institutions

The American History and American Institutions requirements are based on the principle that all U.S. residents who have graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

Berkeley Campus Requirement

American Cultures

All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this campus requirement course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses are plentiful and offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.

College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements

Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer/data science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course taken for a letter grade.

Foreign Language

The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work taken for a letter grade.

Reading and Composition

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College of Letters and Science requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses in sequential order by the end of their fourth semester for a letter grade.

College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements

Breadth Requirements

The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.

Unit Requirements

  • 120 total units

  • Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units

  • Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department
Residence Requirements

For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes at Cal for four years, or two years for transfer students. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you graduate early, go abroad for a semester or year, or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an L&S College adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.

Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.

Senior Residence Requirement

After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your B.A. degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.

You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.

Modified Senior Residence Requirement

Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.

Upper Division Residence Requirement

You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.

Student Learning Goals

Learning Goals for the Major

  1. Develop proficiency, approximating to that of an educated native speaker, in speaking, reading, writing, and comprehending Italian.
  2. Be broadly familiar with the historical development of Italian culture from the Middle Ages to the present day.
  3. Acquire detailed familiarity, through intensive and focused study, with a chronologically and generically disparate selection of cultural phenomena connected with Italy and the history of their critical and social reception.
  4. Develop advanced skills in the critical analysis of literary texts and other cultural materials (e.g. films, paintings, musical compositions, historical documents, critical theories, social practices).
  5. Have awareness and experience of a variety of approaches to the study of Italian culture, as practiced in both the humanities and the social sciences and of the ways in which these may intersect to generate interdisciplinary study.
  6. Learn to conduct research (i.e., to gather and evaluate evidence relating to a hypothesis and construct an argument using it).
  7. Learn to assess the validity of evidence-based argumentation conducted by others.
  8. Be aware of, and scrupulously practice, ethics-based protocols of citation etc., in academic research and writing.
  9. Write clearly, accurately, and persuasively in both Italian and English.
  10. Where practically possible, encounter contemporary Italian culture directly through study or travel in Italy. In this respect, study abroad might well constitute a capstone experience.
  11. Develop a sense of the study of Italian culture not merely as an end in itself but as an integral part of a potentially unbounded set of processes and relationships through the exploration of which thinking human beings engage with the world they inhabit.

Major Map

Major maps are experience maps that help undergraduates plan their Berkeley journey based on intended major or field of interest. Featuring student opportunities and resources from your college and department as well as across campus, each map includes curated suggestions for planning your studies, engaging outside the classroom, and pursuing your career goals in a timeline format.

Use the major map below to explore potential paths and design your own unique undergraduate experience:

View the Italian Studies Major Map.

Courses

Italian Studies

Contact Information

Department of Italian Studies

6303 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 510-642-2979

issa@berkeley.edu

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

Diego Pirillo

dpirillo@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Student Services Advisor

Amanda Minafo

6303 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 510-642-4661

issaug@berkeley.edu

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