Italian language and culture courses have been offered at Florida Atlantic University since the Fall of 1986. However, an actual Italian Studies Program has existed only since the first Italian faculty position in Italian was filled in the Fall of 1993. Approval by the Florida Board of Regents of an Italian track within the BA in Languages and Linguistics came in 1994. Since then the Italian program has grown at a healthy pace to over two hundred students, so that it can now offer a full range of courses in Italian language, culture, literature, cinema and linguistics. Demand for Italian, stimulated by the demographic and economic trends of the South Florida region, has justified the recent addition of summer courses.

The Italian Cultural Group of the Palm Beaches, better known as "Il Circolo", in particular, need to be commended for providing the initial funding to starr our program back in 1986. Between 1986 and 2003 'il Circolo" donated approximately $130,000 in support of the Italian program and has helped out in smaller ways since then. Several other Italian and Italian American organizations and individuals have stepped forward in the meantime, demonstrating their support of the Italian Studies Program.

Students are encouraged to conduct studies in Italy, since a genuine understanding of the multi-faceted Italian culture and its place in the new Europe can only be appreciated fully by traveling to that country. During the summer our program offers students that opportunity through its six-week Florence program. For those who wish to spend an entire semester there, the Florida State University's Study Center in Florence gladly welcomes FAU's students.

Students who major in Italian and perform according to our standards can count on any one of five scholarships and prizes.

The Program in Italian Studies has gained national recognition and attracted top scholars from Ivy league universities to deliver the prestigious Annual Connie De Marco Distinguished Lecture in Italian Studies. Other Italian program-oriented activities have included concerts, Italian film screenings, guest lectures, Italian poetry readings, etc. With the addition to our program in Fall 2000 of Professor Anthony Julian Tamburri, previous chair of the Department of Languages and Linguistics and since Associate Dean, we are ready to reach new heights. Myriam Swennen Ruthenberg now becomes Chair of the Department of Languages and Linguistics, while Emanuele Pettener coordinates the Italian language program.

We invite you to further explore our Web-page and familiarize yourselves with our dynamic program.