Italian Studies Curriculum

Italian Studies at USD offers a rich and diverse curriculum led by field experts, fulfilling multiple Core requirements and preparing you for the global job market. You can combine Italian Studies with a major or minor in another discipline, opening doors to careers in diverse fields such as business, politics, science and engineering, art and design, journalism, education and more. Our program fosters critical cultural awareness and global understanding, shaping the next generation of responsible global citizens.

Majors and minors can also enhance their studies through our short-term, USD faculty-led programs and various semester-long study abroad opportunities in Italy.

Major

Students in our program will achieve advanced-level Italian skills to effectively navigate diverse cultural contexts within the Italian-speaking world. They will also learn to interpret significant Italian literary works, cultural texts and artistic movements in their historical context, developing critical research and analytical skills through engagement with Italian culture and society. Students will further examine multilayered, diverse identities and the hybrid cultures produced by the Italian diaspora in various parts of the world.

Italian studies majors may integrate Italian with other fields of study by taking a limited number of upper-division courses taught in English in other departments. In addition, they can combine the major in Italian studies with a second major or a minor in another field.

Minor

The minor provides students an opportunity to study Italian language beyond the basic and intermediate levels, all while gaining a critical cultural understanding of the diversity of Italian culture and society. Within the minor, there are also two options of study:

• Option 1: This option is for students beginning on a lower-language level. Students will explore Italian comprehension and structure.
• Option 2: This option is for students with an established proficiency in the Italian language. Students will have the opportunity to explore the broader culture and literature of the Italian speaking world.

Review the minor tab below to learn more about your options within the Italian minor.

Explore Italian Studies Courses

Read descriptions of our Italian Studies classes on our Courses page! Not all courses offered below will be available every semester. Make sure to check course offerings on the registration portal for each upcoming semester.