Graduate Programs in Italian
Introduction
Indiana University offers the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy in Italian literature and culture. With a distinguished faculty committed both to serious humanistic research and to innovative classroom teaching, Indiana University has become a focal point for Italian studies in this country and has provided advanced training for a number of superior students since the doctoral program was first established in 1961. To date, its graduates have been highly successful in obtaining positions in colleges, universities (among others: Toronto, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Duke, Notre Dame), cultural foundations, and businesses despite declining economic conditions in higher education.
Courses covering all periods of Italian literature and culture are offered on a regular basis, and faculty expertise covers all periods of Italian literature and culture from the Middle Ages to the present time, with a particular inclination for interdisciplinary approaches (comparative literature and Italian, literature and the other arts, cinema, translation, language instruction). Strong allied programs in West European Studies, Comparative Literature, Art History, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Literary Theory, Film Studies, and Women's Studies, as well as a distinguished School of Music, provide unequaled opportunities for the inquisitive graduate student.
Admission Requirements
Although considered desirable, an undergraduate major in Italian is not required for admission, and the program welcomes applicants with a strong preparation in other fields. An applicant must, however, have a good command of the Italian language and be well acquainted with Italian literature. (Applicants without the B.A. or its equivalent in Italian may be asked to make up deficiencies during the first year in the program.)
Action on admission is taken upon completion of the application. Most students enter the graduate program in the fall semester, but the admissions committee will consider requests for admission and financial assistance for the spring semester as well. The deadline for August admission for U.S. citizens is January 15th. For International students, the deadline is the previous December 1st. The deadline for January admission is September 1st.
In selecting students who will receive financial assistance, the admissions committee looks for strong academic records and recommendations, fluency in the language, good command of spoken English where relevant, and a promise of teaching and scholarly ability. Indiana University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution.
To apply to our program, click here.
The M.A.
Degree Requirements
- 30 credit hours of graduate work with at least 20 hours in Italian
- Reading proficiency in one of the following foreign languages: French, German, Spanish, Classical Greek or Latin.
- Written examinations on major authors and works from medieval to contemporary times.
- No thesis.
In particular cases (i.e., a terminal master's degree with focus on language instruction, for instance), the Faculty may accept a special (pedagogical) project in lieu of the written examination. Beginning September 2008, the duration of the written examination is 6 hours. For more information, please consult the Requirements for Italian Degrees.
The Ph.D.
Degree Requirements
- 35 credit hours of graduate course work beyond the M.A. for a total of 65 credit hours of course work, among which 12-15 credit hours must be in an approved outside minor area (as required by the respective department)
- 25 thesis hours (M875)
- Two of the following: French, German, Classical Greek, Latin, Spanish. One language must be French, German or Latin, according to the dissertation topic.
- Written PhD examinations (see below)
- Dissertation
Qualifying Examination
There are two written Ph.D. exams which cover the following major literary periods:
- Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque (from 1200 to 1600);
- Modern and Contemporary (from 1700 to the present, including cinema).
