Italian Studies Minor
Benvenuti!
Benvenuti!Welcome to the Italian program at Cal Poly! The Italian program at Cal Poly offers one Italian Studies Minor and four different language courses. Our instructor, Teresiana Matarrese is a native Italian speaker with years of teaching experience at the university level.
Course Offerings
Students with little or no previous experience with the Italian language should start with our entry-level course, Italian 101. If you do have some knowledge of Italian already, contact Teresiana Matarrese to discuss which level course will be appropriate for you.
Language Courses
- Beginner level: ITALIAN 101 (Fall), ITALIAN 102 (Winter), ITALIAN 103 (Spring)
- Intermediate level: ITALIAN 201 (Fall)
Culture Classes in English
- WLC 310 – Culture of Italy (it varies, Fall and Winter)
The Italian Studies Minor
The Italian Studies minor offers an interdisciplinary course of study that gives students the opportunity to pursue a proficiency in the Italian language while taking courses that concentrate on Italian topics and themes. The Italian minor makes an excellent complement to many majors fields, including, Art and Design, History, Philosophy, English, Political Science, Architecture, Wine and Viticulture, Agriculture, Communications and Business. If you are interested in the Italian Studies Minor, contact Teresiana Matarrese.
More information on the Italian Studies Minor is available on the Cal Poly Catalog website.
Find Cal Poly Italian Studies on Instagram
@italian.calpoly!
A Few of the Many Reasons to Pursue an Italian Studies Minor
- Highly interactive language classes
Our classes are grounded in the Learn by Doing principle and the most effective recent approaches to Second Language Acquisition. - A wide range of extra-curricular activities
Field trips to art exhibitions, dinners at local Italian restaurants (with comments on gastronomy and culture by chefs!), Italian opera concerts; classic and contemporary Italian movie nights; the lunch-time Italian conversation table and much more… - The Steck Italian Minor Fund
The Italian program at Cal Poly has recently received a generous gift to provide financial support for student scholarships, awards and activities in the Italian program. - Interdisciplinary course offerings
You can take classes in the fields of history, art history, world languages and cultures, political science. - Italian is an asset
No matter your major, Italian is an asset for students pursuing careers in virtually any field. The Italian studies minor is an ideal and efficient complement for majors as Communications, History and English. Students in these Major complete the Italian Studies Minor with little or no extra courses required.
Progetto Finale - Inforgrafic
Download the "Progetto Finale Inforgrafic". The info graphic was a final project in Italian 103.
Our Culture of Italy class visited local Italian restaurant Buona Tavola
for a hands-on experience of Italian Food and tradition in Nov. 2018.
Our Culture of Italy class went to the Opera to watch Aida in Oct. 2018.
Italian Culture Association
The Italian Cultural Association is a student organization officially recognized by Cal Poly University. It was established in 2018 by a group of very motivated students who are passionate about Italian language and culture. The main objectives of the club are to support the Italian Studies Program, to facilitate social and cultural exchange, and to enrich the education of students specializing in Italian by extending their experience beyond the constraints of the classroom. Learn more.Meet Our Minors
What is your name? Gabriella Adriana Barattolo
What is your major? Communication Studies
What is your favorite word in Italian? Amore
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? I did not choose to take my studies abroad, but I have traveled to Europe every two years to see all of my family in Italy and the United Kingdom. This summer, after graduation, I am embarking on a six week adventure to Europe, exploring Italy, France, Spain, Greece, and the United Kingdom.
Why did you decide to study Italian? I wanted to study Italian because I am half Italian and it is part of my identity. My dad was born in Italy and is the first generation to move to the United States. I love everything about Italian culture: the people, language, fashion, culinary arts, and way of life. Studying Italian has been so amazing because I have learned more about myself and my heritage and also about the culture as a whole. Completing this minor has been such a rewarding experience and I am very thankful that we have the opportunity to study this language and culture here at Cal Poly!
What is your name? Billy Blaha
What is your major? Architecture
What is your favorite word in Italian? “meravigliosa”
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? I am currently spending the school year studying abroad in Florence, Italy.
Why did you decide to study Italian? I am studying Italian to be able to immerse myself more into the culture while I am in Italy.
What is your name? Carina Casissa
What is your major? English
What is your favorite word in Italian? Allora
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? I studied abroad in Viterbo, Italy in fall 2017.
Why did you decide to study Italian? I decided to study Italian because I found the language to be beautiful and unique in it's own way. I wanted to embrace this new language and to eventually become fluent in Italian. In addition, I was interested in the culture and history because my family is Italian and I had never explored that part of my family heritage before.
What is your name? Erika Colucci
What is your major? Wine and Viticulture
What is your favorite word in Italian? Meravigliosa, it’s so pretty and describes Italy.
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? I have yet to study abroad, but I will be going in the fall to Florence through a program called CEA.
Why did you decide to study Italian? I decided to study Italian because I was born in Italy and love my home country very much. Both of my parents encourage a love for our culture so I thought the best way to do so was through academics."
What is your name? Taylor Conner
What is your major? Communication Studies
What is your favorite word in Italian? Il frigorifero
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? I did not study abroad, but am planning on going to Italy after graduation with my family!
Why did you decide to study Italian? I fell in love with the country and it's culture when I visited in High School. Also, being a COMS major we are required to take language courses, so I challenged myself to learn a 3rd language! Taking Italian at Cal Poly is something that I will forever cherish and remember.
What is your name? Conner Crowley
What is your major? English
What is your favorite word in Italian? Allora
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? Florence
Why did you decide to study Italian? I studied Italian because it's a beautiful language and I hoped to visit Italy. And now I have!
What is your name? Ariel Gallagher
What is your major? Political Science
What is your favorite word in Italian? Scurtecato
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? No, but I've been able to explore Italy and Italian culture through family that lives there.
Why did you decide to study Italian? I grew up listening to Italian but was never able to speak it. I've always wanted to learn it so I could feel closer to my heritage and be able to converse with my family fluently. I also think learning a second language is such an immersive way to learn about a different culture and understand what makes us different.
What is your name? Robin Johnston
What is your major? Architectura
What is your favorite word in Italian? I gufi
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? Firenze
Why did you decide to study Italian? l'italiano è la lingua più bella.
What is your name? Jeremy Manarang
What is your major? Studio Architettura
What is your favorite word in Italian? Boh
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? Yes! I've studied in Florence, Italy!
Why did you decide to study Italian? I decided to study Italian because of the food and culture!
What is your name? Eli Mayerson
What is your major? Architecture
What is your favorite word in Italian? Pomeriggio
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? I spent the entire 2016-17 academic year studying in Firenze, Italia.
Why did you decide to study Italian? I knew that I wanted to study in Firenze early on, attempting to learn basic Italian on my own using apps, and then continuing my studies in the classroom once living in Italy.
What is your name? Matthew Pringle
What is your major? English
What is your favorite word in Italian? Chi se ne frega (Not a word, but a phrase)
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? I will be studying abroad in Viterbo in fall 2018 (if my paperwork gets processed on time).
Why did you decide to study Italian? I wanted to learn the language and about the culture because my family is Italian and I wanted to know about the place where I plan on studying abroad. Also, Teresiana was just such a great teacher that I couldn't quit once I started.
What is your name? Amanda Stahler
What is your major? Architecture
What is your favorite word in Italian? Da Potare Via
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? I studied architecture abroad in Florence, Italy for a year.
Why did you decide to study Italian? Beyond the art, architecture, and food in Italy being amazing, I had always wanted to go to Italy because my family is Italian. I wanted to be able to speak to my family in Italian and visit Torino and Palermo where my grandparents are from.
What is your name? Michele Triantafillidis
What is your major? Architecture major with minors in construction management and Italian studies
What is your favorite word in Italian? "Allora" and "Ci vediamo."
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? Yes, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy during the 2016-17 academic year with CSU IP- Florence. I was there from August 2016 to June 2017.
Why did you decide to study Italian? Growing up in an Italian and Greek household, I have always wanted to retrace my roots and understand my background better. When my sister and I were younger we took the initiative to try and learn Italian. Countless nights we sat on the floor in her bedroom repeating back the Italian words from the tape that our Nonni bought us. In 2002, we had the opportunity to travel to Italy and Greece and even though I was only six years old, I fell in love. The Italian architecture captured my attention and though I didn’t realize it at the time, it would be the catalyst that would make me pursue my passion for architecture. I remember looking up at Il Duomo and the Statue of David, but not understanding Brunelleschi or Michelangelo‘s feats. I decided to study Italian to be able to retrace my roots and be able to speak with my family members in Italian. While studying abroad, I visited my relatives in Lucca and knowing Italian made the conversations so much more meaningful with my family and with people throughout Italy.
What is your name? Alexa Vitale
What is your major? Communication Studies
What is your favorite word in Italian? Allora
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? Yes! I studied abroad in Florence, Italy last fall. It was amazing!
Why did you decide to study Italian? I decided to study Italian because of my family background and fascination with the country. I think it is the most beautiful place in the world and I love to feel like I am part of the culture! Buona giornata!
What is your name? Hunter Wood
What is your major? Biochemistry
What is your favorite word in Italian? Cucciolo
Have you done a study abroad? If so, where? I studied abroad in fall 2017 in Florence.
Why did you decide to study Italian? I decided to study Italian at first because I have Italian heritage, but I continued to study Italian because I was fascinated by the charm of its words and eloquence of its sounds.