Students studying Italian at Villanova, in addition to satisfying the core language requirement at the intermediate level (1121 -1122), can also major or minor in the language. In the cordial environment ofthe Italian Division of the Romance Languages Department, students are encouraged and assisted in discovering different aspects of the Italian Language, Literature and Culture.

Majors and minors can earn some of their credits by studying in Italy either through the six-week summer program in Urbino/Florence or through semester-long program held at various academic centers located in Urbino, Perugia, Rome, Milan, and Florence. Students can earn six credits in the summer and up to fifteen credits in a semester-long program. Majors and minors, however, need to take at least 50% of their required courses at Villanova in order to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Italian from Villanova University. No A & S core requirements need be fulfilled by majors coming from Colleges other than Arts and Sciences.

Major in Italian

Requirements for Italian Majors:
Ten courses above the Intermediate level, including the following mandatory courses:

• Italian 1138 – Advanced Grammar or Italian 1140 – Writing & Stylistics in Italian
• Italian 2211 – Survey of Italian Literature I or Italian 2212 -  Survey of Italian Literature II 
• Italian 3990 - Research seminar

Please note: 

• The Italian Division of the Department will facilitate an ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Italian Proficiency certificate to all majors during  their senior year.  Contact person is Dr. Inna Rayevsky (inna.rayevsky@villanova.edu)
• Students may obtain up to six credits through Villanova University Summer program abroad in Urbino (Italy).
• Courses in English do not qualify.  The Department also offers courses in foreign literatures in English translation.  Such courses may be used to fulfill a Humanities elective; however, they may not be used toward credit requirements for a foreign language major or minor.
• All upper level courses will require a prerequisite of 1132.
• All courses taken abroad must transfer to the same numbers as those taken at Villanova.

Minor in Italian

The minor consists of four courses in Italian beginning with the advanced level (Italian 1131/1132). At least one of these courses must be level 300 or higher. The student’s program must be approved by the coordinator of the Italian program.

Contact the Coordinator of the program for more information about the minor degree program.

How to apply for an Italian Major or double major

Knowledge of a second language will help you in any career path you may choose!  If you'd like to major in Italian please come to the Department Main Office in SAC 303 and fill out a form to declare an Italian major or second major.  You can download the forms below.

Honors Program

To qualify for the Italian Honors Program, students are required to maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.0 and an average of 3.4 or higher in Italian. Prospective candidates  must apply with the program director. Candidates for the Honors Program must complete a set of readings and write a short thesis on one or more of those readings. An oral examination by a faculty honors committee finalizes the process.

Note: The Department also offers literature courses in English translation. Such courses may be used to fulfill a Humanities elective; however, they may not be used toward credit requirements for a foreign language major or minor. An upper level literature course in any language taught in the Department may satisfy the advanced literature core requirement. At the same time, it may also count for the minor in a language.  However, it may not count for both the advanced literature requirement and the major in a language.