Major Advising Page: Italian
The Italian Program at UW–Madison strongly recommends study abroad because full immersion in the Italian language and culture is one of the best ways to develop your proficiency while discovering first-hand Italy’s history, literature, art, architecture, and film. Combining your on-campus course offerings with a study abroad program in Italy will make the study of Italian a constantly evolving and enriching experience.
Studying Italian language and culture not only provides access to the rich intellectual and cultural heritage, but as the fourth most-studied foreign language in the world, it also opens exciting professional and business opportunities. Italy is the third-largest economy in the European Union. As a global competitor, an estimated 7,000 US companies do business in Italy, while more than 1,000 have offices in Italy (Cisco, Eli Lilly, Microsoft, Mars, Tetra Pak, PepsiCo, City Bank, FedEx, S.C. Johnson, Kraft, Unilever, McDonald’s, Kellog, and many more). In Wisconsin, there are roughly 30 Italian companies currently doing business.
As an Italian major, you can study abroad at any point in your college career, but there are some important factors to consider depending on where you are in your degree plan. The following is additional information to help in your planning and conversations with an Italian advisor.
Course considerations
When selecting your program and courses, pay attention to course content so you know what will count toward the Italian major or Italian certificate requirements. The UW Italian department decides Italian course equivalents based on content. For example, a physics course taught in Italian would receive physics credit, not Italian credit. The fact that a course is taught in Italian does not imply that it will receive credit from the Italian department.
To receive Italian credits, the content of the course may include the following subjects:
- Literature; culture; history; film; civilization; history of the Italian language, etc.
- The course also needs to be taught in Italian, and all coursework (assignments, readings, exams) needs to be done in Italian.
Language courses, such as those concentrating on perfecting the use of the Italian language through grammar, speaking, writing, reading, phonetics, etc., are determined according to the level of the course (elementary, intermediate, advanced).
The number of credits is determined according to the number of contact hours. Usually, 15 hours of in-class contact time corresponds to one UW–Madison credit.
Italian certificate students
Up to six study abroad credits can be applied towards your Italian certificate. However, since there is a wide variety of courses offered abroad, you must confer with the Italian Undergraduate Advisor before you leave in order to ensure that the courses you plan to take will apply to the certificate. For more information on the Italian certificate, consult the certificate website.
Map your experience as an
Italian major or certificate student
As an Italian major or certificate student, you can study abroad from first year to senior year. Some programs require intermediate Italian proficiency, while others do not require Italian language proficiency at all. You are encouraged to familiarize yourself with program requirements in order to plan for your ideal study abroad experience.
As soon as you have some program ideas, contact the Italian advisor. If you are also majoring in another discipline, you will ultimately want to find the fit that works well for all of your degree programs by consulting with your academic advisors.
Freshman year
Ideally, you will begin or continue with the language sequence during your first year, starting with the course appropriate to your placement. There are study abroad programs for freshmen, if interested.
Sophomore year
Depending on placement, you might already have the language level needed for most Italian study abroad programs by the end of your freshman year, and go abroad this year.
Junior year
Many Italian majors and certificate students study abroad at some point during their junior year.
Senior year
Study abroad is still an option during your final year, and it is possible to graduate abroad as an Italian major. In this case, check in advance with your academic advisor/s to make sure you have fulfilled all requirements for all your degree programs.
Ask questions
- What classes must I complete for my degree (breadth/depth, major requirements, etc.)?
- Do I need to be on UW–Madison’s campus for any courses in my major or certificate?
- How many electives do I have outside of my major or certificate?
- What classes can I take abroad?
- How and when do I select courses for my program?
- When will I know course equivalents for my program?
- What is the class structure like abroad?
- What skills do careers related to my major require, and how might participating in a particular program help me gain those skills?
- When would be the best time to participate in a program based on my career goals?
- How will participating in a study abroad, study away, or international internship make me stand out?
- Why do I want to study abroad?
- How long do I want to study abroad for—a few weeks, a semester, a year?
- How does studying abroad fit into my academic, personal, and/or professional goals?
- What career skills or proficiencies will I strive to acquire or enhance on my program?
Discover programs that are right for you
The UW Italian Department designates the following as Italian language study abroad programs that meet the department’s philosophy for Italian language learners. Each program will offer a different experience in terms of the courses offered, academic style, duration of study (academic year, semester, or summer), type of housing, student body population, and location. Each program offers Italian language instruction.
Durations and courses vary and may count toward electives or degree requirements. If you do not have specific requirements, there’s more flexibility in program type and location.
These opportunities are not an exhaustive list of all programs.
In this section
Semester and academic year programs
Italy, Bologna
Bologna Consortial Studies Program
This academic year or semester program is for advanced language students interested in taking courses taught in Italian at the prestigious University of Bologna, the oldest university in Europe. A range of courses is available across the entire university, including arts, business, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and Italian advanced language. You are integrated into Italian university life and live with other Italian and international students in a local apartment.
Italy, Florence
This spring semester program offers courses taught in English across arts, business, humanities, and social sciences at the CET Florence Center, a program designed solely for U.S. university students. This program is suited for students who are at the elementary and intermediate Italian language levels. You are required to take an Italian language course at the 101-204 level while in the program. A UW–Madison professor also accompanies the group teaching courses to enhance the experience in the program.
International Internships
International internships allow you to apply your academic skills to the real world and gain valuable professional experience abroad while earning UW–Madison course credit.
As you consider your academic and professional goals for studying abroad, explore the different internship options, including UW Signature internships, internship-focused programs, part-time internships, or applying for credit for an external internship.
Check with your academic advisor to see if earning credit for your internship abroad can fulfill a major or certificate requirement.
Hear from students in your major
Explore student blogs and reflections to see how your peers have connected international experiences to their studies. Discover real stories about the skills, challenges, and professional insights gained through our programs.
Photo credit: Julia Donaldson (Italy)
Want more information?
Dive deeper into how courses and credits work on our programs, or connect with an advisor to find the best fit for your goals.
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