Italian Studies

Here, you’ll learn by doing. With hands-on opportunities in one of the world’s most multicultural cities, you’ll gain the skills and experiences employers seek. And in addition to the big city energy of New York, you’ll have a tight-knit, supportive campus community, eager for you to thrive.

Fordham has strong ties to Italian American communities like Arthur Avenue, the Bronx’s Little Italy, which is steps away from institutions like the Enrico Fermi Cultural Center.

Beyond the fundamentals of Italian language and culture, you might dive into specific areas with courses like Italophone Migrant Literature from Africa and Beyond, which explores writers who have adopted the Italian language to document their experience of migration; The Art of Translation, where you’ll learn to translate between Italian and English with cultural savvy, and Comedy and Satire in Italian Cinema, an overview of how humor has been used to take on social injustice, prejudice, and abuses.

As an Italian language and literature major, you will take courses geared toward advanced proficiency with the Italian language, and familiarity with foundational and modern Italian texts, from books to film and television. These classes are taught in Italian.

As an Italian studies major, you will have a more flexible and individualized course of study that encompasses Italian history, culture, and language in a way that is more interdisciplinary and tailored to your specific interests. 

Both majors require 10 courses.

You’ll graduate with advanced proficiency in speaking and writing in Italian—as well as an extensive literary and cultural fluency—that will open doors to any role where Italian is spoken. You’ll also be uniquely prepared to pursue advanced study in areas such as foreign languages, international affairs, entertainment, fashion, and law.

Plus, you can connect with alumni through the Fordham Mentoring Program to receive one-on-one guidance and advice for your career.

At Fordham, you’ll use AI as a tool to enhance your learning. Our program will equip you with the skills to navigate the ever-changing landscape of AI in the workforce. As an Italian major, you might use AI for basic transcription or examine Italian data sets used to train AI models, preparing you for high growth roles in areas like linguistic data analysis. 

You’ll also be able to earn credentials and paid micro-internships through IBM SkillsBuild’s Getting Started with AI course. All Fordham students and graduates have access to AI training through RamConnect, the University’s alumni and experiential learning platform.

Above all, you’ll learn skills that can’t be replaced by AI, such as critical thinking, problem solving, and emotional intelligence.