In response to student demand, the University has added majors in Italian Studies and Community Health.
Community Health will award its first degrees this year, while the first Italian Studies degree was awarded last year to Nicole Baum (LA '02).
Previously, the Italian department only offered a minor. After several students began taking more courses than were required for the minor, the department decided to offer a major. These students were "approaching the level of involvement that [the department] asks for in a major," Italian and French Professor Vincent Pollina said.
The new major requires twelve courses, seven more than required for a minor. Patricia Di Silvio, the Italian language coordinator, said the Italian Studies major is interdisciplinary, and includes courses taught in English about Italian literature and culture, as well as Italian language courses. Students can also study Latin language and literature and Roman culture.
The Italian minor has previously appealed to students with a background in Italian language courses, Italian heritage, or who have studied in Italy. Most of the students who study Italian culture study abroad in Italy, which Di Silvio notes is a "popular option for its culture, music, fashion, food, and art."
Pollina said there are a large number of career opportunities available to Italian majors. Students can pursue careers in international trade or diplomacy or attend medical school. Talented students are encouraged to enroll in graduate programs so they can teach high school- or college-level Italian.
For Community Health, the new major will be an upgrade from a "certificate program," which required eight courses and director Edith Balbach called "outmoded language." The certificates will still be available to graduating seniors.
But students who choose the new major will have to choose another one as well - Balbach called it a "second major."
Community Health is an interdisciplinary program, and involves studies of medicine, sociology, ethics, political science, public health, biology and other areas "as they affect our understanding of communities' strategies to promote health and cope with disease," according to the program's website.
Only 20 to 25 percent of graduates who hold a certificate in community health pursue careers in clinical medicine. The majority of students enroll in graduate programs in public health or work for private companies, non-profit organizations, or pursue community-based research in public health issues for the government.
