The undergraduate certificate in Italian offers students the opportunity to develop their proficiency in Italian language and their knowledge of literature and culture in the Italian-speaking world. Advanced courses (300 and 400 level) will allow students to build on the foundation developed in 200-level courses by choosing from a range of courses in Italian literature, linguistics, cinema, culture, and professional communication. The certificate also strengthens the applications of students who intend to pursue careers or graduate study in areas where Italian is useful.
How to Get in
Degree seeking students can declare an Italian certificate at any time. For more information and/or to declare the Italian certificate, please see the department website.
Students declared in the Italian major may not be declared in the Italian certificate at the same time. Italian major students who want to switch to the Italian certificate, must cancel the Italian major.
Requirements
Students pursuing an Italian certificate must complete 15 credits beyond ITALIAN 204 or ITALIAN 205. Only one Literature in Translation (LITTRANS) course can count towards the Italian certificate.1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (complete two): | 6 | |
| Modern Italian Culture | ||
| Advanced Italian Language | ||
| Writing Workshop | ||
| Studies in Italian Literature and Culture I | ||
| Studies in Italian Literature and Culture II | ||
| Elective Courses | 9 | |
| Race, Ethnicity, and the Italian Americans | ||
| Modern Italian Culture | ||
| Advanced Italian Language | ||
| Writing Workshop | ||
| Studies in Italian Literature and Culture I | ||
| Studies in Italian Literature and Culture II | ||
| Structures of Italian | ||
| Rome: Lust for Glory (Taught in English) | ||
| Machiavelli and His World (Taught in English) | ||
| Italian American Cinema and TV | ||
| Topics in Italian: Study Abroad | ||
| Introduction to the Romance Languages (Taught in English) | ||
| Special Topics in Italian Literature | ||
| Special Topics in Italian Studies: Culture, Film, Language | ||
| Italian Film (Taught in English) | ||
| The 18th Century | ||
| The 18th Century | ||
| Italian Theatre | ||
| Features in Italian Literature | ||
| Features in Italian Literature | ||
| The Italian Novel | ||
| Dante's Divina Commedia | ||
| The 13th Century | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Food Cultures in Italian Literature 1 | ||
or LITTRANS 213 | Love and Sex in Italian Comedy | |
or LITTRANS 248 | National Identity in the Global World: The Italian Case | |
| Of Demons and Angels. Dante's Divine Comedy | ||
or LITTRANS 254 | In Translation: Lit of Modern Italy-Existentialism, Fascism, Resistance | |
| Black Death and Medieval Life Through Boccaccio's Decameron | ||
or LITTRANS 260 | Italy and the Invention of America: from Columbus to World War II | |
or LITTRANS 410 | In Translation: Special Topics in Italian Literature | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Residence and Quality of Work
- Minimum 2.000 GPA in all certificate courses.
- At least 9 credits of the ITALIAN certificate must be taken on campus. Study abroad programs sponsored by UW–Madison are considered in residence but are not on campus.
- Courses taken pass/fail are not eligible for the ITALIAN certificate.
Footnotes
- 1
Only one Literature in Translation course can count towards the Italian certificate.
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- (Interpretive communication) Demonstrate that they understand and can analyze of literary and nonliterary texts in Italian representing a variety of topics, time periods, and geographical regions.
- (Presentational communication) Express themselves effectively in spoken and written Italian to inform, persuade, and narrate for different audiences of listeners, viewers, or readers.
- (Interpersonal communication) Express themselves effectively in spoken and written Italian to share information, reactions, and opinions related to a variety of topics and texts.
- (Cultural knowledge) Recognize and explain cultural artifacts, practices, and perspectives of the Italian-speaking world.
- (Linguistic knowledge) Demonstrate a good degree of understanding of lexical, grammatical, syntactic, and stylistic features of the Italian language.
- (Cross-cultural awareness) Demonstrate awareness of difference and diversity by comparing and contrasting culturally situated beliefs, behaviors, and norms of the Italian-speaking world with their own.
- (Engagement with the Italian language and culture) Engage in a sustained fashion with the Italian language, its users, and cultural artifacts in and beyond the classroom, e.g., in their own community, virtual communities, and study abroad.
Advising and Careers
Declare or Cancel This Certificate
Please follow the process described on the French & Italian webpage.
For information about academic advising including language proficiency, language placement, and retrocredits, please visit our website or schedule an appointment with Mandi Schoville: frit.wisc.edu/academic-advising
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students