Italian Studies

About the major

The Department 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.

Entry requirements

Beginner pathway
If you have no or little experience of the language you should enrol in ITLN1611-Italian 1

Intermediate pathway
If you have completed the HSC Italian Beginners course or IB Ab Initio, you should enrol in ITLN2611-Italian 3.

Advanced pathway
If you have completed the HSC Italian Continuers course, you should enrol in ITLN2631-Italian 5.

Appropriate language units are determined either by language level and grade therein achieved in Higher School Certificate (as above) or International Baccalaureate, and/or by one-on-one interviews prior to commencement.

Requirements for completion (see below for example major pathways)

Introductory Stream only

A major in Italian Studies requires 48 credit points from the Introductory Unit of Study table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level language units
(ii) 12 credit points of 2000-level language units
(iii) 6 credit points of 2000-level culture units
(iv) 12 credit points of 3000-level language units
(v) 6 credit points of 3000-level Interdisciplinary Project units

A minor in Italian Studies requires 36 credit points from the Introductory Unit of Study table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level language units
(ii) 12 credit points of 2000-level language units
(iii) 6 credit points of 2000-level culture units
(iv) 6 credit points of 3000-level language units

Intermediate Stream only

A major in Italian Studies requires 48 credit points from the Intermediate Unit of Study table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 2000-level language units of study
(ii) 18 credit points of 3000-level language units of study
(iii) 12 credit points of 2000-level and/or 3000-level culture units of study
(iv) 6 credit points of 3000-level Interdisciplinary Project units

A minor in Italian Studies requires 36 credit points from the Intermediate Unit of Study table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 2000-level language units
(ii) 18 credit points of 3000-level language units
(iii) 6 credit points of 2000-level or 3000-level culture units

Advanced Stream only

A major in Italian Studies requires 48 credit points from the Advanced Unit of Study table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 2000-level language units of study
(ii) 12 credit points of 3000-level language units of study
(iii) 18 credit points of 2000-level and/or 3000-level culture units of study
(iv) 6 credit points of 3000-level Interdisciplinary Project units

A minor in Italian Studies requires 36 credit points from the Advanced Unit of Study table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 2000-level language units
(ii) 12 credit points of 3000-level language units
(iii) 12 credit points of 2000-level and/or 3000-level culture units

Example major pathways

The Introductory pathway
2 language units at level 1000; 2 language units + 1 culture unit at level 2000; 2 language units at 3000 level + 1 Interdisciplinary Project unit at 3000 level.

Year 1: ITLN1611 + ITLN1612
Year 2: ITLN2611 + ITLN2612 + 1 cultural unit at level 2000
Year 3: ITLN3611 + ITLN3612 + 1 Interdisciplinary Project unit at 3000 level.

The Intermediate pathway
0 units at level 1000; 2 language units at level 2000; 3 language units at level 3000 + 2 culture units at level 2000 and/or 3000 + 1 Interdisciplinary Project unit at level 3000.

Year 1: ITLN2611 + ITLN2612
Year 2: ITLN3611 + ITLN3612 + 1 culture unit at level 2000 (or 3000)
Year 3: ITLN3688 + 1 culture unit at level 3000 + 1 Interdisciplinary Project unit at level 3000.

The Advanced pathway
0 units at level 1000; 2 language units at level 2000; 2 language unit at level 3000 + 3 culture units at level 2000 and/or 3000 + 1 Interdisciplinary Project unit at level 3000.

Year 1: ITLN2631 + ITLN2632
Year 2: ITLN3631 + 1 culture unit at level 2000 (or 3000) + 1 culture unit at level 3000
Year 3: ITLN3688 + 1 culture unit at level 3000 + 1 Interdisciplinary Project unit at 3000 level.

First year

Depending on the level of entry (introductory, intermediate or advanced), first-year units in Italian Studies will introduce or further develop students’ speaking, writing, listening and reading skills in Italian language. All first-year language units use a wide variety of authentic materials that foster both linguistic competence and cultural understanding in different environments. All units prepare students for in-depth study of Italian language and culture in second year and beyond.

Second year

Students in all pathways undertake both language and cultural units in second year. Building on the foundational knowledge acquired in first year, second-year language units further develop and consolidate speaking, writing, reading and listening skills. Culture units offer students the opportunity to develop research skills through a diverse range of topics including Italian literature, intellectual history, film, media and sociolinguistics. Student learning is increasingly autonomous, and students are encouraged to plan an exchange semester at an Italian-speaking university through participation in the Department’s exchange program.

Third year

Third-year students undertake advanced language units and project-driven culture units, in which they are given the opportunity to engage critically with historical cultural and social issues in Italian societies. Students are encouraged to examine complex problems in Italy creatively and effectively, developing their research skills to a high level. Students who major in Italian will thus be well placed to progress to honours and postgraduate study.

Honours

If you commenced your degree prior to 2018, admission to honours requires a major in Italian Studies with an average of 70% or above.

If you commenced your degree in 2018, admission to honours is via the Bachelor of Advanced Studies and requires the completion of a major in Italian Studies with an average of 70% or above. You will need to ensure you have completed all other requirements of the Bachelor of Arts, including Open Learning Environment (OLE) units and a second major, prior to commencing honours.

The honours program consists of seminars on research methodologies and on specific areas of Italian Studies, and a thesis on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with the department.

Advanced coursework

The requirements for advanced coursework in Italian Studies are described in the degree resolutions for the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies.

24 credit points of advanced study will be included in the table for 2020.

Contact and further information

A comprehensive overview of the Italian Studies program is available on the website: sydney.edu.au/arts/italian.

Chair of Department and undergraduate coordinator:

Phone: +61 2 9351 6894
Location: Room 721, Brennan MacCallum Building (A18)

Honours and Postgraduate coordinator:
Semester 1:
Semester 2:

Exchange coordinator:
Semester 1:
Semester 2: