Program profile
The Modern Languages program of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures / Département de langues, littératures et cultures offers a variety of programs with a concentration in Italian Language and Culture. Students with or without prior knowledge of the Italian language will be placed at the appropriate level upon assessment of their proficiency by a program advisor.
Language is studied both experientially (through classroom practice of sounds, intonation patterns, posture and gestures and situations typical of the target language) and theoretically (learning how to study language through, for example, grammatical analysis). Our Multi-Media Language Learning Lab and departmental mini-lab provide enhancement and support. Understanding of Italian culture is acquired through courses on Italian history, modern Italian life and classical and contemporary literature and cinema.
Our programs include a core component of courses in comparative literature, general and applied linguistics and cultural studies to help contextualize Italian language and culture.
Program offerings
- Honours Modern Languages with Year Abroad - A four-year program with concentration on Italian language and culture, including one year at an Italian university
- Honours Modern Languages and Second-Language Education* - A four-year program with concentration on Italian language and culture including our Certificate in Second Language Education
- Honours Modern Languages with Two Languages Option - A four-year program with concentration on Italian language and culture and either German or Spanish language and culture
- Combined Honours Modern Languages - A four-year program with concentration on Italian language and culture combined with any other major offered by the university
- Minor in Modern Languages - a set of six courses in Italian language or six courses in Literature and Linguistics taken in conjunction with any other university Major program
*Students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for the Certificate in Second Language Education upon application at graduation. For further information see the Second Language Education Certificate.
Career paths
Those students combing their Italian concentration with the Second Language Education Certificate may teach Italian as a second language to English speakers or English to non-English speakers, either in Canada or abroad. Program graduates also may pursue a degree at a Faculty of Education or graduate studies in Italian, linguistics or humanities Master’s or PhD programs. Other career choices include employment in international business, tourism, translation services and government, especially in foreign affairs.
Faculty
The faculty members in Italian Language and Culture have earned their degrees from leading universities in Italy and North America. Our individual expertise and skills serve us to assist you in the acquisition of Italian language proficiency and in appreciation of the rich spectrum of cultural knowledge that supports language acquisition.
Admission requirements
Ontario Secondary School graduates require six Grade 12 U or U/C courses, including Grade 12 U English. Students wishing to major in Modern Languages may begin their study of Italian Language and Culture at the University of Windsor. Prior Secondary School Italian courses are not required. Those with prior knowledge of Italian are eligible for advanced placement following a written placement test.
Funding and exchange opportunities
Our department offers substantial scholarships for outstanding students, as well as international exchange opportunities with partner universities. While the possibility of an exchange is available in many programs, our unique Honours in Modern Languages degree incorporates a year abroad as a unique feature of the program. Additional funding opportunities for the year abroad are available. For information regarding entrance scholarships available for students in Modern Languages programs please see the Outstanding Scholars.
Core Italian language and culture courses (first two years)
- 07-120. Introduction to Language and Linguistics
- 07-220. Language, Linguistics and Society
- 07-137. Introduction to German, Italian and Spanish Literature
- 21-102. Intensive Italian for Beginners
- 21-202. Intensive Intermediate Italian
- 21-300. Advanced Italian I
- 21-301. Advanced Italian II
- 21-248. Italian Cinema
- 21-260. Italian Culture and Civilization I
- 21-261. Italian Culture and Civilization II
Each program has different requirements for their 3rd and 4th years. Please see the online undergraduate calendar for detailed program requirements, additional courses available and course descriptions. Students in our programs are each assigned an Academic Advisor to direct them in selecting the appropriate courses for each year of the program.
Contact information
Italian Language and Culture
Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures
University of Windsor
Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4
Telephone: 519-253-3000 ext. 2888/2873
Fax: 519-971-3648
Email: llc@uwindsor.ca