This option is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the peoples, history, language, literature and arts of Italy and the Italian diaspora from antiquity through the present. It consists of 36 credits, distributed as follows. Five courses are taken in Italian language and/or literature, beginning at the level of 560:131 and continuing with 560:132 and 560:321. The other two courses of the five can be taken either in Italian (560:322, 560:250, 560:305, 560:306) or in English, as per the list of electives in Italian. (Students planning on careers demanding a high level of Italian language proficiency are encouraged to take all five courses in Italian). All students must also take the two core seminars, 560:231 (within one semester of declaration of major) and 560:232:02, with one-credit CASE component (after returning from study abroad experience). Five additional courses forming a coherent set are to be chosen from the Italian Studies course list with the approval of the Italian Studies Director.

Students are encouraged to choose an option around which elective courses may be selected across disciplines (Art history, Classics, History, Italian, Music). Possible options include a period specialization, such as Ancient Italy, Early Modern Italy, Modern Italy or a theme, such as the classical tradition, imperial myths, humanism, cultural identity, the role of women. No more than three courses or 9 credits may be taken in any one discipline. All majors must take part in a study abroad experience. Participation in the Rutgers Study Abroad Year-long or Semester program in Florence , the Italian Department Summer program in Urbino, or an approved equivalent fulfills this requirement. Up to 9 credits of the 15 elective credits meeting the approval of the Italian Studies Director can be taken toward the major in the Rutgers Study Abroad Year-long or Semester Program in Florence or the Italian Department Summer Program in Urbino.