The study of literature and culture in Italian requires a joy for learning the language. Although prior knowledge of the language is not required for enrollment, you will need to take a language entrance test. Alternatively, you can present one of the following: CELI/CILS/ele.it certificate (level B1 or A2) or an Italian school leaving certificate.

You should also be interested in the culture and history of Italy and find joy in dealing with Italian-language literature and other media types. If you enjoy interpersonal communication, teamwork, and giving presentations, you already have the basics you need for this program.

You will study this subject as part of a two-subject bachelor’s degree program. The degree program always consists of an academic major and minor, which can be combined according to your interests or professional goals.

If you choose the subject as a minor, you will generally complete only a portion of the modules and classes taught to students of the major subject. As a result, you will focus on a selection from the content listed below.

Your degree program covers the following content: 

• Language practice:
  Basic and advanced modules on grammar, phonetics, translation, text production, and oral communication
• Literature studies:
  History of literature, eras and genres from the Middle Ages until the Modern Age, themed seminars and lectures on authors
• Linguistics:
  thematic seminars and lectures on structures and usage patterns of the Italian language
• Cultural Studies:
  thematic seminars and lectures on cultural issues

You can choose your own individual specialization through the range of different courses available to you.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for half a year or a whole year? Do you want to get to know another language and culture? Would you like to get a different perspective on your particular degree program? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various partnerships with foreign universities.

For information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. An overview of cooperating universities that would suit your degree program can be found on our Student Exchange Platform.

The Italian Studies degree program includes at least one compulsory semester abroad in Italy. The fifth semester is advised if you start your studies in the winter semester and the fourth semester if you start your studies in the summer.

Internships

This program of study includes a compulsory internship with a minimum duration of three weeks. Ideally, you would complete this internship during the second half of your degree course.

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

In addition to language proficiency and specialist knowledge of the culture, literature, and history of Italian-speaking countries, you will have acquired many other skills during your degree course. These include intercultural competencies, research and writing skills, experience in communicating knowledge and scientific findings, as well as media skills. These skills in the area of humanities or cultural studies make you an interesting candidate for jobs in a wide range of sectors:

• Teaching languages in private, corporate, or public educational institutions
• Translation (e.g., literary translation into German, technical translation into Italian)
• Research (e.g., university, research institutions, projects)
• Public service and administration (e.g., specialist consultant, administrative work, coordination and administration of international study programs)
• Media and public relations, editorial work (e.g., publishing, editing, scientific communication)
• Education and culture (e.g., theaters, museums, private and public educational institutions, libraries, archives, documentation)
• International relations (e.g., tourism, trade relations, development cooperation, diplomacy, international organizations)
• International communication (corporations, organizations, etc.)
• Business (e.g., business advisory services, consulting, marketing, purchasing/materials management, human resources, corporate training)
• Politics (e.g., ministries, foundations, associations and clubs)

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.