About this major

The discipline of Italian Studies is one of the best resourced in Australia offering programs from absolute language beginners to PhD. At Undergraduate level, it offers a wide range of language and culture units of study. The language units cater for students at different entry points and, through innovative teaching methods, aim to develop high levels of linguistic skills. The culture units aim to develop in-depth understanding of some of the most representative Italian authors, thinkers, and literary and intellectual movements from the Middle Ages to the present, within their historical and socio-cultural context; and of contemporary Italy from a socio-linguistic, historical and cultural perspective.

If you wish to major in Italian Studies you are expected to engage with both language acquisition and cultural studies, in order to gain a deep understanding of the close connection between language and culture. All our units of study aim to develop your analytical and critical skills, so as to enable you to pursue your interest in all aspects of Italian language, literature and culture, and equip you with the necessary skills for Honours and postgraduate studies. We also strongly encourage you to spend a semester in Italy as part of your undergraduate studies, and to this effect we have developed agreements with several Italian Universities.

Students will follow the appropriate pathway specified in the unit of study tables, based on their individual language level. Students completing any of the pathways for a major will be awarded a major in Italian Studies.

Appropriate language units are determined either by language level and grade therein achieved in Higher School Certificate (as listed in the pathways linked above) or International Baccalaureate, and/or by one-on-one interviews prior to commencement. If you are unsure of your language level or which pathway is appropriate for you, please contact us for advice.

The Italian Studies (Intermediate) pathway is suitable for HSC Beginners or Italian IB Ab Initio who receive a mark higher than 70 or HSC Continuers who receive less than 80.

For more information on the program structure and content including unit of study information, please refer to the Arts and Social Sciences Handbook.