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Studies & Degrees in Italian Language and Literature (in Universities)

Italian language and literature is the university study of Italian: the language itself, to an advanced level, together with the literature, cinema, history and society of Italy from the Middle Ages to today. At English-speaking universities the subject is usually called Italian or Italian Studies; in Spain the official degree is Estudios Italianos; older programmes use the name Italian philology.

Many students start with little or no Italian. The first courses concentrate on the language, and literature and culture courses taught in Italian follow. Northwestern University, for example, lists recent courses in medieval and modern Italian literature, Italian cinema in a global perspective, critical theory, art history and fashion studies. Students learn to read and analyse texts closely, to write and argue in a second language, and to place authors such as Dante in their historical context.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree in the United States. Italian is a major inside a four-year bachelor's degree, often combined with a second major. At Duke University the major requires 10 courses, of which at least 6 must be taught in Italian, and it has two tracks: Italian Studies, and Italian and European Studies.
  • Bachelor's degree (grado) in Spain. Official bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits. The Grado en Estudios Italianos of the Universidad de Salamanca lasts 4 academic years, is taught in Spanish and Italian, and starts its language courses at CEFR level A1. Applicants from other countries must show CEFR level B2 in Spanish.
  • Degrees in Italy. Italian universities teach the subject as a three-year first degree (laurea triennale) followed by a laurea magistrale. The Università per Stranieri di Siena, which works specifically with foreign students, offers a first degree called Lingua e cultura italiana.
  • Master's degree and PhD. Graduate study leads to research and university teaching. Stanford University, for example, offers a terminal MA and a PhD in its Department of French and Italian.
  • Language certificates. A degree is not the only proof of level. The CILS certificate of the Università per Stranieri di Siena is an officially recognised qualification with six levels, from A1 to C2 of the Common European Framework, and no previous qualification is needed to sit the exam. The Università per Stranieri di Perugia, active in certification since 1987, issues the CELI certificates. The Università per Stranieri di Siena is a founding member of the CLIQ association of Italian certification bodies, which signed an agreement with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 6 February 2013.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 118 active schools for Italian language and literature. Most are in the United States (59), followed by the United Kingdom (14), Italy (10), Spain (5), Ireland (4), Canada (3) and Switzerland (3). Outside Italy the degree is taught partly in the local language and partly in Italian; in Italy the teaching language is Italian.

A period in Italy is a normal part of the degree. Stanford University takes part in an overseas studies programme in Florence, open to students who complete the required language preparation, and Florida Atlantic University runs a six-week study abroad programme in Venice. Students who want to raise their level before or during the degree can take a course at a private language school in Italy. The Istituto Galilei, in Florence since 1985, teaches individual and small-group courses and prepares for the CILS exam; it states that it is recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research. The Istituto Linguistico Mediterraneo (ILM) has taught on the Tuscan coast, in Pisa and Viareggio, since 1981 and lists CILS and CELI among its certificates.

Careers

The degree does not lead to one single profession. The Universidad de Salamanca names these as the usual destinations of its graduates: teaching Italian in secondary schools and official language schools (in Spain after a master's degree in teacher training), work as a language assistant in Italian schools and universities, university teaching and research, cultural institutes and libraries, and technical work in publishing, import and export companies, tourism and cultural management. Northwestern University reports that its recent graduates work in journalism, medicine, business, school education, entertainment and research.

Translation and interpreting are a common goal. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, interpreters and translators typically need at least a bachelor's degree, and employment in the occupation in the United States is projected to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Italian before starting the degree?

Usually not. The Grado en Estudios Italianos at the Universidad de Salamanca, for example, starts its language courses at level A1. Check the entry requirements of each university, because some expect school-level Italian.

How long does a degree in Italian take?

An official bachelor's degree in Spain has 240 ECTS credits and takes 4 academic years. In the United States Italian is a major within a four-year bachelor's degree, and in Italy the first degree is a three-year laurea.

Which certificate proves my level of Italian?

Two university certificates are CILS, from the Università per Stranieri di Siena, and CELI, from the Università per Stranieri di Perugia. CILS has six levels, from A1 to C2.

Is a stay in Italy required?

It depends on the university. Many departments organise their own programmes, such as the six-week programme of Florida Atlantic University in Venice, and count the courses taken in Italy towards the degree.