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Italian
211 Burrowes Building
814-865-4252
Visit Us, E-mail: sp-it-port@psu.edu
Italian is the voice of one of the major formative cultural traditions of the Western world. The study of Italy and its language offers a rich opportunity to experience cross-cultural personal enrichment in such areas as: literature, opera and music, film, art history, the modern heritage of Roman thought and civilization, fashion, politics, tourism, Mediterranean cuisine, and much more. The Italian program is small and prides itself on its capacity to provide individual attention and mentoring to each of its majors and minors.
The minor in Italian is available to students in other academic majors.
RELATED EXPERIENCES
Education abroad is an excellent way to become familiar with the Italian culture and to learn to speak Italian fluently. Penn State offers or is affiliated with education abroad programs in Todi, Rome, and Milan. For more information on these programs, contact the Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese at 814-865-4252, or the Office of International Programs, 222 Boucke Building, 814-865-7681.
Additionally, an extracurricular Italian club called the Circolo Italiano offers a variety of activities at the University Park campus, including bocce matches, an Italian film series, an annual Carnevale celebration, cultural trips, and pasta and pizza parties. Italian majors, minors, or anyone else interested in learning more about the Italian culture is welcome. For more information, call professors Alan Perry (865-8786) or Sherry Roush (865-1133).
CAREER DIRECTIONS
Rigorous training in Italian can prepare students for rewarding and unique careers in any of the above areas. In addition, the federal government employs liberal arts graduates with foreign-language skills in organizations including the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Information Agency, and the Department of Labor. Other opportunities exist in business, travel, ministry, banking, and education; however, students who intend to teach in the public schools should contact the College of Education for specific teacher certification requirements. The Italian major also helps prepare students for graduate work directed to the Ph.D. degree required for teaching and research in colleges and universities. Students with degrees in the humanities are particularly successful applicants to professional schools, such as for law and medicine.