About this program

The Italian Studies major is for students who are not necessarily interested in advanced language proficiency, but all the same are interested in a comprehensive understanding of Italian literature, history, society and culture to enhance their understanding of global diversity. The Italian Studies Major includes courses in Italian and English from the Department of French and Italian and a selection of courses from the departments, centers and schools of Architecture, Classics, English, History, History of Art, Medieval and Renaissance Studies and Music. The overlap of course requirements with Classics, English, History, History of Art facilitates double majoring and students are encouraged to consider shortcuts to double majors.

Why choose Italian Studies?

The Italian language is spoken by more than 60 million people residing all over the world. In this hemisphere there are more than 10 million descendants of immigrants from Italy living in countries from Canada to Argentina, with the United States second only to Italy itself in number of Italian-speaking residents. Italy is also the fourth-most populous EU member state, with the third largest economy in the Eurozone and the eighth largest economy in the world. It is also home to the most World Heritage Sites in the world (51), and is the birthplace to some of the most significant figures in Italian and world history, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Marco Polo.

What can you do with this degree? 

Since Italian studies students are encouraged to pursue a double major while at Ohio State, they graduate well-equipped to find work in a variety of industries. Generally speaking, students who pursue double majors earn more than and outperform their peers over the course of their careers. The development of intercultural competences prepares all graduates from the Italian Studies major for the job market, as they have developed the skills deemed essential for working in the twenty-first century.