Modality
On Campus
Program URL
https://grad.georgetown.edu/italian-studies/#degree-requirements
The Master of Arts in Italian Studies offers students an in-depth knowledge of Italian culture, high proficiency in Italian language, opportunities for interdisciplinary study, overseas study and cultural immersion, and career options in academic or professional fields.
The four-semester 30-credit program takes into consideration students’ different academic and professional goals. It offers two specialization options that revolve around a common core curriculum and culminate with a thesis writing seminar and a Master’s thesis.
Academic Policies
The academic policies and procedures of the Italian Studies program outlined in the department handbook and the Graduate Bulletin.
The M.A in Italian Studies offers:
- A broad in-depth knowledge of Italian culture
- High proficiency in Italian language
- Opportunities for interdisciplinary study
- Overseas study and cultural immersion
- Career options in the academic or professional fields
The program intends to provide students with a broad knowledge of Italian culture from a literary, linguistic and historical perspective; to offer them a solid grasp of major trends in critical and cultural theories and train them to apply these approaches to specific expressions of Italian culture; to provide students with the methodology and research skills to develop interdisciplinary projects in their courses and in their Master’s theses; to help students obtain high proficiency in oral and written Italian language, both through core and elective courses on campus and through one semester’s matriculation at an Italian university; to help each student acquire or enhance expressive competencies in the domain of Italian culture that they intend to select for their M.A. specialization.
The program aims to achieve those goals by offering two different specialization tracks, focusing respectively on Italian literature and culture, language pedagogy/second-language acquisition. For each of these two curricular options, study in Italy takes place at specific universities able to offer the best preparation in the field.
The M.A. degree program includes a semester abroad at an Italian university, an optional summer not-for-credit internship in Italy, a required thesis-writing seminar (considered part of the core curriculum) and a Master’s thesis.
Students are required to spend a semester abroad at one of our partner universities in Italy such as Università per Stranieri di Siena.
An optional internship during the summer is also a component of the M.A. program. The Italian Department has already secured internship commitments from leading cultural organizations and financial and commercial firms.
Program Requirements
Students must complete 30 credits and a master’s thesis to earn the Master of Arts degree. The curriculum is as follows:
Plan of Study Grid
| Semester I |
|---|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
| | Credits | 9 |
| Semester II |
|---|
|
9 |
| | Credits | 9 |
| Semester III |
|---|
|
6 |
|
3 |
| | Credits | 9 |
| Semester IV |
|---|
|
3 |
|
|
| | Credits | 3 |
| | Total Credits | 30 |
Thesis Requirements
Students must complete a thesis proposal by September 30 of their second year in the program. They will meet regularly with their advisors, who will foster effective thesis writing techniques, recommend appropriate resources, and establish deadlines for the submission of the thesis.
The final manuscript must be submitted electronically to the Director of Graduate Studies and the Thesis Advisor by April 10. Additionally, students are required to present their work before a small group of faculty members and peers, focusing on methodology, the distinctive features of their work, and the results achieved.
