Benvenuti!
Studying Italian can be a gateway to a global experience! On this webpage, you'll find information about
- Which classes to take and how to plan your course schedule
- How to clear lower-level course prerequisites if you already know some Italian
- Who to contact for more information about the Italian program at De Anza
Global Market: The ability to speak Italian can be a benefit in many career fields. Italy is a world leader in the food industry, interior and graphic design, fashion, engineering and manufacturing. Thousands of U.S. companies do business with Italy and many have offices there.
Global Citizenship: Through our classes, you will explore the rich and diverse aspects of Italian language and culture while reflecting on important real-world issues related to politics, migration, nation, gender, race, identity, the environment and social justice.
Global Treasure: Italy is home to more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country. Having language skills in Italian and knowing the culture will enhance your travel experiences.
Already Know Some Italian?
You may be eligible to skip certain lower-level courses. This is called "clearing" a prerequisite.
Plan Your Progress
We offer three quarter-long courses that build practical communication skills – reading, writing, listening, and speaking – in the Italian language.
| Offered in Fall Quarter | Offered in Winter Quarter | Offered in Spring Quarter |
| ITAL 1: Elementary Italian (first quarter) | ITAL 2: Elementary Italian (second quarter) |
ITAL 1: Elementary Italian (first quarter) ITAL 3: Elementary Italian (third quarter) |
These courses fulfill General Education requirements, are transferable and meet a requirement for the A.A. degree in Global Studies.
- For detailed course descriptions, visit our Course Information webpage
- Check classes, times and instructors for each quarter by consulting the Class Schedule
Questions?
For questions about the Italian program at De Anza, please contact instructor Diana Ferrara.
Understanding Prerequisites
Each course in Italian is designed to prepare you for the next one: Most students should take ITAL 1 before ITAL 2, and ITAL 2 before ITAL 3. These are called prerequisites.
If you already speak some Italian, or studied Italian in high school or another college, you may be eligible to skip one or more classes in the sequence. This is called clearing a prerequisite. You must follow the clearance process so that we can accurately assess your ability – and support your success!
In general:
- One year of high school language instruction is equivalent to one quarter at De Anza. For example, if you took Italian 1 in high school, you may be eligible to start with Italian 2 at De Anza.
- If it's been more than a year since you completed your previous language course, or if you learned Italian outside a traditional classroom, you may be required to take an assessment to determine which class you should take at De Anza. (This assessment is not for certification or for satisfying GE requirements.)
- If you skip one or more levels at De Anza, you will not receive college credit on your transcript for the courses you skipped.
Visit the World Languages Prerequsite Clearance webpage for detailed instructions and a link to the required form for requesting a prerequisite clearance.