skip to content

Bulletin Archive

This archived information is dated to the 2009-10 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Master of Arts in Italian

The terminal M.A. in Italian provides a combination of language, literature, civilization, and general courses designed to prepare secondary school, junior college, or college teachers.

Reading knowledge of a second Romance language is required. French is recommended.

Candidates must complete a minimum of 45 units of graduate work, all courses being taken for a letter grade, with a GPA of 3.3 (B+). To fulfill the requirements in one year, students should enroll for an average of 15 units per quarter. The basic course program is nine graduate courses, one of which may be taken outside the department but must be in a related field. The option of substituting a master's thesis for two literature courses is available.

Requirements for the completion of the M.A. include a comprehensive literature and language oral examination, which is normally given before the end of Spring Quarter. Before taking the exam, a candidate for the degree must submit to the Italian faculty a sample graduate seminar paper representative of the quality of his or her graduate work. On the basis of this paper, the results of the comprehensive examination, and the student's overall progress, members of the department vote for or against awarding of the M.A. degree.

Applications for admission must be received by the last Friday of March in the prior academic year. It is preferred that applicants have an undergraduate degree in Italian or in a related field. Candidates for this degree are not eligible for financial aid or teaching assistantships.

© Stanford University - Office of the Registrar. Archive of the Stanford Bulletin 2009-10. Terms of Use | Copyright Complaints