The Italian, B.S. - Secondary Education program prepares students interested in teaching the language at the high school level. Classes are grounded in authentic Italian materials that include cinema, literature, food, music, art, and history, among other areas, and are designed to develop and enhance students’ ability to speak, write, listen, and understand Italian.
The classes are devised to ensure that students achieve the highest levels of linguistic fluency and cultural competence. Students are encouraged to enhance their coursework by studying abroad. Concurrently, students will fulfill the courses required to earn a teaching certification through the College of Education; students will also complete one semester of student teaching.
This versatile program offers some coursework in English to advance students' understanding of Italian culture and traditions, such as ITA 220 - Italian Food Culture in Italy and America, ITA 250 - Italians in America, and ITA 270 - Italian Cities.
Typical Job Titles
- Italian Language Specialist
- Italian Language Teacher (K-12)
- Italian Immersion Program Instructor
- Italian Curriculum Developer
- Italian Language Assessment Specialist
- Italian Cultural Education Coordinator
- Italian Language Lab Coordinator
- Italian Language Tutor/Private Instructor
- Italian Textbook Author or Editor
- Italian Language Program Administrator
- Bilingual Education Specialist (Italian-English)
- Italian Heritage Language Program Coordinator
Scholarships
Several dedicated scholarships are available for students pursuing a B.A. or a B.S. in Italian, with additional scholarship possibilities for all students in World Languages.
- Paolo & Rosa Giordano Endowed Scholarship
- Dominick and Maria Barbiero Mastrianni Memorial Scholarship
- Italian American Historical Society Endowed Scholarship
- Michael Vena Endowed Scholarship
- Rita and Ubaldo Tamburri Endowed Scholarship for Italian Studies
Study Abroad in Italy
The Italian program offers an immersive four-week Summer Study Abroad experience in the picturesque town of Montepulciano, Italy. This program provides students with a unique opportunity to enhance their language skills, deepen their cultural understanding, and earn academic credits while living in the heart of Tuscany. Students engage in intensive language courses, explore Italian art and history, and experience daily life in a charming medieval town. This transformative journey combines classroom learning with cultural excursions, allowing students to fully embrace the Italian way of life.
Gamma Kappa Alpha Italian Honor Society
Membership in the SCSU chapter of Gamma Kappa Alpha, the National Italian Honor Society, encourages students to gain a deeper understanding of Italy's language and culture by recognizing academic excellence. Italianissimi, SCSU’s Italian club, offers a variety of extracurricular activities to engage with Italian culture, from film screenings and language tutoring to talks by internationally renowned scholars and trips to NYC, bocce matches, and scopa nights. Vi aspettiamo!
School / College
College of Arts & Sciences
Department
World Languages and Literatures
Contact
Dr. Elena Schmitt