The Italian Studies Major at Loyola University Chicago is an interdisciplinary program that offers students a learning experience in the field of the humanities with a focus on broader cultural, historical, and societal contexts beyond language studies. Since antiquity, Italy has been a crossroad of civilizations connecting the ancient, medieval, and modern world of Europe and the Mediterranean. It continues to be an international cultural destination and a central passage connecting the Global North and South. For these reasons, while the mission of teaching and promoting the language and literature of Italy is at the core of our Program, the Italian Studies major extends its scope to include multiple interdisciplinary perspectives (Classics, Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, Global Studies, History, Philosophy, Theology, Music, and Sociology), placing the country, its language, and its peoples in a Mediterranean, European, and global contexts.
The Italian Studies curriculum includes courses in the Italian language; Italian literature courses both in Italian and in translation; a 300-level internship course, with the possibility of completing it with international firms in Italy; and courses in other disciplines taught at Loyola. The Italian Studies major prepares students to work in a variety of fields that require an international background and solid intercultural skills.
Curriculum
Completion of the BA in Italian degree program requires ten courses totaling 30 credits. Requirements include a 3-credit hour introductory, interdisciplinary course, five courses of Italian Language, 9 credit-hours (3 courses) of electives to be chosen from a variety of Core courses, and a 3-hour Internship or service-learning course, which can be taken in Chicago or at the John Felice Rome Center.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| LITR 161 | Introduction to Italian Culture | 3 |
| ITAL 395 | Internship | 3 |
| |
| Total Hours | 30 |
Elective Options
Teacher Education Requirements
Eleven courses totaling 33 credits, excluding 101-104, including Stylistics, Culture and Civilization and either Linguistics 120 or 125. Students in Secondary Education must also take Linguistics 302—Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages.
Departmental Honors
Students graduating with Departmental Honors take one Honors Tutorial (Italian 399) in addition to the above requirements.
Double-Dipping Policy
This department observes the CAS Double-Dipping Policy regarding unique credits required for each declared major/minor.
College of Arts and Sciences Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences are required to take two Writing Intensive courses (6 credit hours) as well as complete a foreign language requirement at 102-level or higher (3 credit hours) or a language competency test. More information can be found here.
Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students are required to complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101. SCPS students are not required to take UNIV 101. Nursing students in the Accelerated BSN program are not required to take core or UNIV 101. You can find more information in the University Requirements area.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students majoring in Italian Studies will be able to:
- Produce communication in the Italian language at high-intermediate/low advanced level
- Identify major themes and patterns in the historical and cultural heritage of Italy by linking its classical past to contemporary times
- Demonstrate first-hand experience of Italian culture in both academic and nonacademic settings
- Apply an intercultural perspective to professional global affairs acquired through immersion learning experiences, including an internship
- Integrate the Jesuit principles of service, inclusion, and self-knowledge into practice
These outcomes will be evidenced in the students’ senior capstone project (ePortfolio).
