Prospective Students
Undergraduate Studies in Italian
If you are interested in studying Italian at CSULB but have yet to apply to the university, you must first complete the university application at Cal State Apply. For more information about the application process (e.g., deadlines, eligibility requirements, tuition, etc.) please visit the Enrollment Services webpage. If admitted, incoming students should contact the undergraduate advisor for Italian, Dr. Enrico Vettore (Enrico.Vettore@csulb.edu), for more information about the Italian Studies program and its various certifications and degrees.
Students who are heritage speakers of Italian or have studied Italian in High School may be able to place out of some lower-division Italian classes. More information about the online placement exam can be found on the Department of Romance, German, Russian Languages and Literatures website. Heritage speakers of Spanish or students who studied Spanish in High School are eligible to enroll in our Italian for Spanish Speakers courses. These courses build upon students’ pre-existing linguistic knowledge base in Spanish (a Romance language) and utilize intercomprehension, a method that emphasizes the similarities among Romance languages to facilitate the learning of Italian.
Graduate Studies In Italian
Individuals who would like to apply to the Italian MA Program at CSULB must first complete the university application at Cal State Apply. Applicants should either have a BA in Italian (with a minimum GPA of 3.0) or at least 18 units of upper-division study in Italian. Applicants with extensive study or work experience in Italy who do not possess formal training in Italian Studies may be considered on a case-by-case basis for admission into the MA program. Candidates must also pass the CSULB Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE). If you have any additional questions about prerequisites, please contact the graduate advisor for Italian, Dr. Enrico Vettore (Enrico.Vettore@csulb.edu). For Spring 2025, the deadline for the university application is November 1, 2024. Please note that there is a different university application at Cal State Apply for international students. The deadline for international students is TBD. For more information about international applications, please visit the Center for International Education webpage.
In addition to the university application, applicants must also complete the departmental application. You will need the following materials to complete your departmental application:
- A short essay (3-10 pages) in Italian that has been graded in a previous course.
- A statement of purpose in English related to the applicant’s goals (not to exceed 2 pages single-spaced).
- Unofficial transcripts.
If accepted, please note that graduate students have several opportunities to apply for on-campus funding. For more details, please visit the Graduate Studies Resource Center webpage. More information about on-campus funding, scholarships, teaching assistantships, and the program in general will be provided at the graduate student orientation organized for each incoming cohort of students.
