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New York University's Department of Italian Studies stands among the nation's premier programs for Italian education. It provides both Master of Arts and PhD degree programs in Italian Studies, delivered by a distinguished faculty specializing in crucial aspects of Italian literature and cultural history. The department particularly excels in medieval and Renaissance studies, 20th-century literature and film, postmodern Italy, digital humanities, and cultural theory. Alongside regular faculty, the program features courses led by renowned visiting professors from Italy and the U.S. Through the Tiro a Segno fellowship in Italian-American culture, the department invites prominent scholars to explore the impact of Italian immigrants and Italian Americans on U.S. society.
The program draws exceptional full-time graduate students globally while fostering skilled educators. Students gain teaching experience in Italian language and literature courses, typically during their second and third years. Part-time students pursuing master's degrees are also welcome, with encouragement to take interdisciplinary courses in history, film studies, comparative literature, and fine arts.
NYU provides Italian graduate students with exceptional opportunities, including research at Florence's Villa La Pietra and collaborations with the Università di Firenze. Students also benefit from Casa Italiana, New York's vibrant Italian cultural hub hosting lectures, film screenings, concerts, and exhibitions. The department organizes two major conference series: an annual graduate conference and a biennial joint conference with Florence's Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane (SUM), fostering academic exchange between Italian and American scholars in history and literature.