To study Italian is not only to acquire a language, but also to study a rich literature and many-sided culture which have played an important, and sometimes dominant, role in Western civilization. For Canadians, the Italian contribution bears a special significance: the vast influx of Italians has brought changes in our way of life and a living presence to reinforce traditional Italian influences, thus enriching the meaning of the term Canadian. Italian combines well with other modern languages and literatures, and other programs such as European Studies, Literary Studies, and Mediaeval and Renaissance Studies, but is by no means restricted to these.

• Department of Italian Studies

• Calendar Listing

Admission Information

• Apply to the Humanities admission category on the St. George campus
• Six Grade 12 U or M courses, including English are required
• High school Italian is not a prerequisite for studying Italian at U of T
  
• Separate language streams available for beginners, for students who have some knowledge of Italian or an Italian dialect and for students who have a senior high school credit (Grade 12 U or M course in Ontario) in Italian
• Students outside of Ontario should have the equivalent senior high school credits

Honours Bachelor of Arts Programs

• Italian (specialist, major and minor options)
• Italian Second Language Learning (major)
• Italian Culture and Communication Studies (minor)

First-Year Courses

• ITA 152Y1- Italian Language for Beginners For students who have completed OAC/4U Italian at the high school level (or equivalent).
• ITA 101Y1 – Elementary Italian Language For students who have some passive knowledge of Italian (or an Italian dialect) or some secondary school training in Italian.
• ITA 100Y1 - Language Practice (for students with no prior knowledge of Italian)
• ITA102Y1:  an introductory language course for students wishing to take Italian solely as a breadth requirement. This course cannot be used towards any Minor, Major or Specialist program in Italian.

Advice for First Year

Students who are interested in enrolling in a program in Italian Studies should take the appropriate level first-year language course. These courses are prerequisites for many required courses in the Italian Studies programs. Students with an adequate knowledge of Italian may substitute for the language courses in the first and second years another course or half-courses, subject to the permission of the Department. The Department reserves the right to place students in the language course appropriate to their level of language skill.

Careers

Knowledge of Italian is an asset if you wish to pursue a career in business, government, law, medicine or education. For example, the ability to speak Italian is particularly useful for doctors, lawyers, and other professionals who wish to establish themselves in the large Italian communities in Ontario.

Within the business world, the growing trade between Italy and Canada offers many opportunities for those fluent in Italian.

Italian is also good preparation for postgraduate studies in social work, law, medicine and education.

Direct career options include:

 Download this page as a pdf.