About Italian
The Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics offers a major and minor in Italian language and literature. Through the Winthrop-King Bequest, the program is also able to offer outstanding undergraduates the opportunity to study in Italy in the summer.
Students can also pursue an M.A. in Italian studies, which consists of an interdisciplinary program with a vast range of core courses in Italian correlated with graduate courses from related areas of interest.
The Italian undergraduate major provides students with a solid and dynamic language learning experience by fostering an engaging and fun learning environment. The language courses offered range from basic Italian to advanced conversation and composition. Courses taught in English and Italian cover all time periods and focus on a variety of topics relevant to today's life. Students will learn about Dante’s Divine Comedy, the Renaissance, Italian American heritage, Fascism, Italian food, Italian cinema, and the Made in Italy brand. Romance Philology courses helps students connect their language learning experience to the study of linguistics.
[EFFECTIVE FALL 2025]:*
(*for students enrolled in the major prior to fall 2025, please consult the Academic Program Guide and for questions contact our undergraduate advising team).
ITALIAN MAJOR (30 hours total)
Core Requirements (6 hours)
- LIN 2004 World Languages
- FOW 2100 Literature and the World
Italian Major Requirements (24 hours)
Required Courses (9 hours):
- ITA2240 Conversation
- ITA3420 Grammar and Composition I
- ITA3421 Grammar and Composition II
Elective Coursework (15 hours):
Students will complete 15 credit hours at the upper-division in electives. A minimum of 9 credit hours must be at the 4000-level. No more than 6 credit hours of translation courses taught in English will count towards the Italian major.
Minor in Italian
12 semester hours in courses numbered above 1999. Credit extended in meeting the foreign language requirement for graduation may not be used in satisfying the minor
FSU operates a year-round foreign study residence program in Florence, Italy. Information on the FSU Florence Study Center is available from the Office of International Programs.
The Department of Modern Language and Linguistics has also established two exchange programs:
- one with Universita' di Pavia-Collegio Ghislieri, Pavia, Italy,
- one with Universita' per Stranieri di Perugia.
These international exchanges are currently available to two graduate or undergraduate students in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics and The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy.
For the exchange programs you are welcome to contact the program adviser, professor Silvia Valisa at svalisa@fsu.edu.
To view current undergraduate Italian courses and descriptions, visit the College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin and scroll down to courses beginning with prefixes ITA, ITT and ITW.
The following courses are also available to undergraduates studying Italian:
- IDS 2661 Made in Italy: Cultural Capital and Global Exchanges
- IDS 3330 The Culture Is in the Cuisine: The Food of Italy
Gamma Kappa Alpha National Italian Honor Society
Prerequisites: you must be at least a junior with a minor or a major in Italian. You need a 3.5 GPA in Italian and a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Among its many activities promoting Italian studies on campus, the FSU chapter of GKA collaborates with our Italian Club to organize fundraisers, community outreach, parties and day trips. There is a $30 membership fee and induction into the society takes place in the spring. If you are interested, please fill in this application and send an email to the faculty adviser listed below.
The Gamma Kappa Alpha National Italian Honor Society is a society formed to acknowledge superior scholastic performance in the field of Italian language, literature and tradition, and is open to membership at institutions of higher learning in the United States and Canada.
The society encourages college students to acquire a greater interest in, and a deeper understanding of, Italian heritage, art and history. The organization recognizes outstanding undergraduate scholarship in the field of Italian by awarding annually the Gamma Kappa Alpha Award for Scholarship.
Prerequisites: you must be at least a junior or have a B.A. with a minor or a major in Italian. You need a 3.5 GPA in Italian and a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Faculty adviser: Elizabeth Coggeshall (ecoggeshall@fsu.edu)
La Societa' Italiana
The purpose of this organization is to bring people together under the common interest of Italy and Italian culture. The club will provide with its activities a place for people to bond with a common interest and to gain background knowledge in the customs of Italy through culture, film and activities. All are welcome.
Find us on Facebook: La Società Italiana di FSU
For the newest news and pics, check out our Instagram page.
La Società Italiana offers two bi-weekly opportunities on campus to meet other students of Italian and to practice the language:
Tavola Italiana, our regularly held Italian conversation table. All are welcome! Check our updates on Instagram to know more.
Andiamo al cinema: we also hold regular movie screenings for students (check with you TA or the officers below for the exact room/dates).
For more information, visit us on Facebook or Instagram, or contact our faculty adviser, professor Silvia Valisa (svalisa@fsu.edu).