For Students who entered Columbia in or before the 2023-2024 academic year-Concentration in Italian

Concentrations are available to students who entered Columbia in or before Fall 2023. The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, and the role of the concentration in those requirements, can be found in the Academic Requirements section of the Bulletin dated the academic year when the student matriculated at Columbia and the Bulletin dated the academic year when the student was a sophomore and declared programs of study. Concentrations are not available to students who entered Columbia in or after Fall 2024.

The Concentration in Italian requires a minimum of 24 points (8 courses). 

The 24 required points (8 courses) do not include the necessary prerequisites, i.e., Intermediate II or a demonstrated equivalent level of knowledge of the Italian language. 

For students who have no prior knowledge of Italian, the required sequence to cover the prerequisite is Elementary Italian I & II (UN1101-UN1102) and Intermediate Italian I & II (UN2101-UN2102), or Intensive Elementary Italian (ITAL UN1121) and Intensive Intermediate Italian (ITAL UN2121), or a combination between a regular sequence and an intensive course. Therefore, for a student who must take all coursework at Columbia (i.e., who does not enter Columbia with advanced placement) the overall number of courses required to pursue an Italian Concentration is 12 (40 points, 16 of which count also toward the Language requirement). However, the overall number of courses required to pursue an Italian Major becomes either 10 if the student chooses the Intensive Elementary & Intermediate Italian option (36 points, 12 of which count also toward the Language requirement), or 11 if the student chooses a combination between a regular sequence and an intensive course (38 points, 14 of which count also toward the Language requirement).

However, students with prior knowledge of Italian may be exempted from the prerequisites in one of three ways: a) by presenting a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Italian Exam; b) by presenting a score of 780 or above on the SAT Subject Test in Italian; c) by obtaining a satisfactory score on the department’s placement examination. Therefore, for them the overall number of courses required to pursue an Italian Concentration is 6 (24 points).

Italian concentrators are required to take two sequences: a) a sequence of Advanced Italian Language courses and b) a sequence of courses in Italian Literature or Cultural Studies:

1. Advanced Italian Language (this sequence should be taken in progressive order)

• Advanced Italian (ITAL UN3335). Advanced reading, writing, speaking with emphasis on authentic cultural materials. Topic and semester themes vary. Taught in Italian.

• Italian Language through Content. Course offerings under this category include courses such as: Italian through Cinema (ITAL UN3337); Italiana. Introduction to Italian Culture, the High, the Low, and the In-between (ITAL UN3338); Learning Italian in Class and Online: A Telecollaboration with Italy (ITAL UN3339); Art Itineraries: Italian through Art (ITAL UN3341); Business Italian and the Made in Italy Excellence: Learning Italian for trade and industry (ITAL UN3342); Advanced Italian: Comparative Stylistics & Translation (ITAL UN3343); Italy: Emigration-Immigration (ITAL UN3232); and Grand Tour in Italy (ITAL UN3645). These are all courses of Advanced Italian Language through a specific subject and with emphasis on cultural content. Taught in Italian.

and

2. Italian Literature or Cultural Studies

Introduction to Italian Literature I and II (ITAL UN3333-4) provides an overview of major authors and works in the Italian literary tradition from the Middle Ages to the present. Taught in Italian. (This sequence does not need to be taken in progressive order).

or

Italian Cultural Studies I and II (ITAL GU4502-3). An interdisciplinary investigation into Italian culture and society from national unification in 1860 to the present. Taught in English. (This sequence does not need to be taken in progressive order).

With the permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Italian concentrators select four additional courses from the department’s 3000- or 4000-level offerings or from other Humanities and Social Science departments with a focus on Italian culture, society and history from the Middle Ages to the present (at least 50% of the material of courses offered outside of the Italian Department should focus on Italian topics). Students who have taken courses in Italian Literature, Italian History, and/or Italian Culture while abroad should consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to determine if the courses may be applicable to the Concentration.