Learn about the language, literature and culture of Italian-speaking world regions: Italy, but also Argentina, Canada, Switzerland, the United States and more. The undergraduate program will develop your research and analytical skills, enhance your capacity for aesthetic appreciation, strengthen your powers of observation and self-expression, and prepare you for cross-cultural, global interaction.
The Italian undergraduate tracks cover a wide range of disciplines and historical periods while providing linguistic proficiency and cultural fluency. Students gain breadth and depth of knowledge in Italian Studies as they earn credits necessary for fulfilling a major, a joint major or a minor.
Beginning Fall 2021, 27 total credits are required as follows (including double and triple majors; for double degree combinations, see below):
21 credits (with a major in another BA track in a separate department; not for double degrees):
12 credits
A double degree combines a BA in Italian with, for example, a BS in Biology or a BFS in Music. Please see the Undergraduate Catalog for additional credit requirements.
Students should make an appointment with an RLL faculty advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies about questions on any aspect of the Italian undergraduate program referenced in this document or elsewhere.
The department requires completion of at least 50% of credits necessary for a major, a joint major, or a minor through RLL Italian coursework on a local UB campus. The remaining 50% may be fulfilled through other Italian courses at UB as well as or in combination with study abroad coursework, transfer courses, placement exams, or other pre-approved credit-earning opportunities (see below); RLL faculty advisement is recommended.
Acceptance into the major, joint major, or minor degree in Italian requires satisfactory completion of prerequisites through ITA 152 or equivalent work, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Acceptance also requires a minimum overall GPA of 2.0.
If prerequisites are not fulfilled through departmental coursework, or if UB credit has not been articulated for qualified non-UB prerequisite work, an RLL faculty advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies can advise and, when necessary, determine satisfaction as well as coursework levels suited to the students’ linguistic abilities.
Students who are heritage or first speakers of Italian must meet with an RLL faculty advisor before enrolling in any Italian courses to determine an appropriate level of study.
The following is a guide for completing prerequisites in the department, and shows how previous instruction may help fulfill them. RLL faculty advisors or the Director of Undergraduate Studies can assist with any questions.
No Prior Italian Instruction | Average Preparation (~ 2 years) | Intermediate Preparation (~ 4 years) | Advanced Preparation (~ 6+ years) |
ITA 101 (5 credits) | ITA 104 (5 credits) | ITA 151 (3 credits) | No courses required |
ITA 102 (5 credits) | ITA 151 (3 credits) | ITA 152 (3 credits) | |
ITA 151 (3 credits) | ITA 152 (3 credits) | ||
ITA 152 (3 credits) |
Once prerequisites are complete, acceptance into the major, joint major, or minor also requires applying to the program. Application is also possible during the semester of the last prerequisite, in which case the department office will hold all paperwork until final grades are posted for the semester. Applying requires submitting a brief application along with a current Academic Advisement Report (AAR) from HUB (under Advisement, My Advisement). The application can be found on and submitted via the department’s website (rll.buffalo.edu). Hard copies are also available through the department office where the completed application and AAR can be turned in between 8.30am and 5pm EST.
There are several ways for students to fulfill required credits for the major, joint major or minor:
Departmental Coursework (as detailed above)
AP or Similar Credit
Transfer Coursework
Other Opportunities
For all study abroad, transfer courses and/or AP or similar credit, the department’s residency requirement (see above) always applies.