ITALIAN STUDIES
In order to increase language proficiency and cultural literacy, the Italian Studies program of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures supports and encourages study abroad for all interested students.
Studying Italian abroad will help students advance their Italian major or minor, assist in building academic and professional networks in an international setting, and develop cultural literacy by traveling outside their comfort zone and expanding personal experiences.
Watch this highly insightful interview with our own VU Director of the Italian program, Dr. Luca Cottini, Roberto Andreoni, Director of IES Abroad - Milan, and Dr. Stefano Baldasarri, Director of ISI-Florence on the personal, cultural, economic, and diplomatic impact of studying abroad in Italy.
Italian majors should begin the study abroad advising process as early as possible to make study abroad fit into the four-year curriculum. Tell your academic advisor that you are interested in studying abroad at each registration appointment. Together, identify the best terms to go abroad, for summer or semester, based on the courses in your four-year plan.
Specific things to consider:
- To take full advantage of the academic and professional opportunities, consider taking into the advanced sequence of the Italian language. This will give a firm academic footing for courses/internships pursued in Italy.
- If you are double majoring, it is critical that you discuss studying abroad with your adviser to ensure the proper time to go overseas for both majors.
- Students can take no more than 2-3 major classes toward the Italian major.
Search the OEA Course Approval History database to select from more than 3,000 study abroad courses that have already been pre-approved for liberal education requirements and a growing list of technical courses.
The Course Approval History database is not all-inclusive and students can work with an OEA advisor to submit additional courses for review.
Don't forget - CLAS has a list of policies and limitations specifically focused on study abroad. Make sure you're aware of these as you plan your overseas experience.
Due to sequencing, students should work with their academic adviser to determine the best time to study abroad.
The Italian program encourages full-language immersion to learn and understand a language. Often, field research and internships can help supplement this experience and offer valuable academic, professional, and linguistic skills.
Study abroad opportunities are not limited to formal instruction. Consider taking advantage of the unique research, internship, and fieldwork opportunities available in Italy. Internships are often available in English and will count for 3 academic credits for majors in the Italian studies program, pending submission of a final 12-page paper in Italian documenting the experience. The OEA assists with this approval process.
*Villanova University - VSB Business and Culture in the Italian Context (Urbino)
Only available to second-semester VSB sophomores
*Villanova University - Communication, Society and Marketing in the Italian Context (Urbino) Available to all students
*Villanova Partnership: Eastern College Consortium (E.C.Co) - Bologna
Arcadia University - ISI Florence
Arcadia University - ISI Perugia, Umbra Institute
IES Abroad offer supported direct enrollment, and study center-based programs around the world
Looking for more?
If a program is not listed above, it does not limit your eligibility to study abroad. Perhaps you're looking for something different. Visit Passport Villanova to discover other programs. Keep in mind, if it doesn't appear on this page, above, it will need to be approved by the Villanova Italian program.
Course Approval Database
Students should consult with the OEA Course Approval Database to view a full list of pre-approved courses for most programs. The Course Approval Database may not contain updated/new courses and students may need to submit additional courses for review and approval. Programs and universities are continually updating course offerings so and the program’s website will list the most accurate course offerings for the planned term abroad.
Arcadia University - ISI Perugia, Umbra Institute *Must check with program to ensure ample upper-level Italian courses, which fluctuate from term to term.
IES Abroad offers supported direct enroll, and study center based programs around the world
Looking for more?
If a program is not listed above, it does not limit your eligibility to study abroad. Perhaps you're looking for something different. Visit Passport Villanova to discover other programs. Keep in mind, if it doesn't appear on this page, above, it will need to be approved by the Villanova Italian program.
Course Approval Database
Students should consult with the OEA Course Approval Database to view a full list of pre-approved courses for most programs. The Course Approval Database may not contain updated/new courses and students may need to submit additional courses for review and approval. Programs and universities are continually updating course offerings so and the program’s website will list the most accurate course offerings for the planned term abroad.
It is important to plan ahead as it is not uncommon for scholarship deadlines to occur much earlier than a Villanova or program application deadlines.
There are many study abroad scholarships available for students through Villanova University, our partner programs and other external sources, like the US Government. The OEA can help students with the scholarship search and application process. If a scholarship is found outside of the OEA scholarship page, students should have it reviewed by the OEA to determine if it is a viable option.
Browse the scholarship opportunities found on the OEA website.
Italian majors should speak with Dr. Luca Cottini about the Patriarch Scholarship. This scholarship applies to the programs listed on this MAP. The application is available once a student begins the Passport Villanova application process.