Italian

At a Glance

I’m interested in this field of study. Can you tell me more about it?

Learning Italian is not merely a linguistic endeavor; it is a gateway to discovering and understanding the distinction of Italian culture. Through courses which span from the Middle Ages to the present, you’ll explore the diverse and multifaceted nature of Italian culture—encompassing cinema, literature, poetry, art, and history.

What are some courses appropriate for first-year students interested in exploring this field of study?

If you’re beginning your exploration of Italian, there are several pathways:

Language courses:
- If you are new to the Italian language, Introductory Italian 1 is the starting point in the language sequence.
- If you have previous experience with Italian, you will take a placement test and enroll according to departmental recommendations.
Culture courses (taught in English): In addition to language instruction, we encourage you to take introductory courses that offer insights into Italian culture and society. Examples include:
- ITAL 140 SC: History of Italian Cinema
- ITAL 187C SC: (Dis)Ability and Italy
- HIST 111 SC: Machiavelli
- HIST 113 SC: Venice and the Islamic East

These courses provide accessible entry points into the field and are open to all students, regardless of your prior knowledge of the language.

If I decide to major or minor in this field, are there certain courses that need to be taken in a specific sequence?

To major or minor in Italian or Italian Studies, begin your studies by completing the core language sequence:

Introductory Italian 1
Continued Introductory Italian 2 or Intensive Italian 22, which combines Intro Italian 1 and Continued Introductory Italian 2 into a single semester. Given the intensive nature of this course, Intensive Italian 22 is particularly appropriate if you have some previous knowledge of Italian, and/or are fluent in another Romance language.
Intermediate Italian 33
Advanced Italian 44, which is a prerequisite for all upper-division (+100 level) courses taught in Italian.

This structure ensures linguistic proficiency and prepares students for more advanced, content-rich coursework taught in Italian.

Can students who major or minor in this field complete a second major or minor (as a double major or a major/minor combination)? If so, what are some common pairings?

We strongly support and encourage interdisciplinary study. Many students successfully pursue Italian as part of a double major or as a major/minor combination. Popular pairings with Italian include art history, media studies, philosophy, history, studio art, religious studies, biology, economics, and classics. These combinations reflect the program’s flexibility and its relevance across the humanities, social sciences, and the natural sciences.

What other useful information should I know about this field of study?

A background in Italian and Italian studies opens doors to a wide range of professional and academic opportunities. Graduates have gone on to successful careers in education; translation and interpretation; international business and diplomacy; global media and communications; and intercultural studies.

Graduates also pursue advanced degrees in related fields, while others have relocated to Italy to work in education, food, wine, or fashion. We invite you to learn how Italian will prepare you to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and culturally complex world!

Scripps Catalog link to specific requirements for the major/minor:

You can find the specific requirements for the major at: https://catalog.scrippscollege.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=33&poid=4886  
Specific requirements for the minor: https://catalog.scrippscollege.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=33&poid=4885

One of the most important features of a liberal education is familiarity with the language of a culture other than one’s own. Such familiarity not only clarifies a student’s sense of cultural identity, but also enhances articulateness and enlarges the view of the scope of thought and language. A major in a foreign language prepares students to enter graduate school in literary studies or in interpretation and translation, or provides basic liberal arts training for professional study in law, business, foreign service, or medicine.

Students are strongly encouraged to fulfill the language requirement in an uninterrupted sequence. In all cases, however, the language requirement must be completed by the end of the first semester of the senior year.

Course Catalog

About the Curriculum

Study Abroad

Students of Italian are encouraged to take advantage of semester or year long programs in Italy. Frequently used programs which recent students have found excellent are: Brown (Bologna), Temple (Rome), Syracuse (Florence), and IES (Milan and Siena). Another valuable program is the Pitzer College Parma Program. Scripps students need to have taken two semesters of Italian to participate in study in Italy.

Italian Corridor

Scripps students may apply to live in the Italian Corridor with the Italian resident and a small group of students interested in practicing their Italian through daily use of the language.

Given the limited space availability, we are interested in students committed to building community within the language corridor and the greater language community through inclusive, group-based activities. Suggested activities include cooking/dinner, movie nights, listening to language-specific music together, discussing political topics related to the language-specific world or a reading club.

CORRIDOR APPLICATION: If you are interested in participating in the language corridor, please complete the application here: https://scrippscollege.formstack.com/forms/italian_language_corridor_application

If you have any questions, contact Rebecca Ballinger, Foreign Languages Program Coordinator, rballing@scrippscollege.edu.

Five Colleges Italian Club

Students are encouraged to participate in the club’s numerous activities which include dinners, parties, movies, and excursions to nearby cultural events.