:: ITALIAN CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ::

Students choose to study Italian for various reasons. Some do so because of its practical value. In our increasingly cosmopolitan and internationally oriented society, Italian is an invaluable asset for many professions and careers. Others study Italian because of its cultural and aesthetic value, or because they wish to read the works of great writers, like Dante, in the original. Some wish to increase their vocabulary and strengthen their powers of verbal expression. Others study Italian because learning a foreign language is an integral part of a liberal arts education. Regardless of why one studies Italian, learning the language involves approaching a new world and inevitably leads to a widening of intellectual experience.

The student who pursues Italian as a major or minor possesses a marketable skill which, by itself or coupled with another skill, can open the door to many opportunities. American companies with branches in Italy are in need of executive and managerial staff with knowledge of Italian, for both their home and foreign offices. The growth in international business, law, banking, and other financial activities has been accompanied by an increasing need in all areas for foreign language as an adjunct skill. Thomas Burdick and Charlene Mitchell, in their study The Winning Edge, emphasize nine strategies for the 90s, including as the most important "having a global perspective." As they say, "We are leaving behind the outmoded concept of an American economy.' Our nation is simply one part of a world economic community. Future executives will need to have skills and experience, as well as a mind-set, that will enable them to lead their companies in global competition. The adaptable executive will consider working for the international division of his or her company, or even working abroad for a time. People with international expertise will have a valuable edge over the competition."

Students who decide to major in Italian (or any other field of theHumanities) are encouraged to enhance their future job possibilities by taking a double major or an appropriate minor, such as a thematic business minor for those interested in the world of international commerce. The College of Arts and Sciences offers thematic minors in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Management Information Systems, Economics, Marketing, and other areas. As one example of the benefits of coupling language training with business, the Thunderbird School of International Business in Phoenix currently has at least 32 of their graduates employed in Italy and they place their people with all the major U.S. corporations, as well as with the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and other U.S. Government offices.

Language training is useful, of course, in preparation for other careers. Language students have as much a chance at entry into Law Schools, for example, as political science majors--and Italian and political science or history are also easily merged in a major-minor program. The Foreign Service, which represents the diplomatic, consular, commercial, and overseas cultural and information missions of the United States, requires professional competency in at least one foreign language. Placement in the Foreign Service is in one of three areas: the Department of State (involving work in administration, consular, economic or political affairs), the United States Information Agency (dealing in overseas information and cultural programs), and the Department of Commerce (handling commercial enterprises on the part of the government, business representatives, and private individuals concerned with trade). A caution: Of the 25,000 people who take the examination, only 20% pass and of those who are placed, 80% have masters degrees.

Knowledge of Italian is also a practical and valuable asset for those pursuing careers in the arts (from music to painting to architecture), in library science, journalism, radio, television, and film, as well as for those involved in tourism and international transportation. Publishing firms, especially those that market their books abroad or deal in foreign language texts, also employ editors, editorial assistants, or secretarial staff with training in Italian.

Some majors enroll in a graduate program with the intention of becoming college or university teachers. A Ph.D. is necessary for such a career. In a few states Italian is taught at the high school level--for which a B.A. with teacher training is sufficient. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. are examples of cities where Italian is taught at the high school level. If you continue your studies beyond the B.A., a Master's degree provides teacher certification in many states, allowing one to teach Italian at the community and junior college level.

Other graduates, with exceptional abilities, pursue careers in translating and interpreting. Government, publishers, and industry all have need of such services.