Welcome to the Department of French and Italian at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where faculty and students explore the rich history of the literature, fine arts, philosophy, and social sciences that have shaped the intellectual and artistic traditions of the Western world, from the Middle Ages through the modern period. Through proficiency-based instruction that emphasizes written and oral communication, we offer a stimulating introduction to the cultures of France, Francophone countries, and Italy.

In collaboration with 8 affiliated faculty from other departments of the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts (Art History, Comparative Literature, English, Film Studies, Music and Sociology), our distinguished full-time faculty, comprised of 15 professors and 5 lecturers in Italian, is deeply committed to the research and teaching of the oral, written and visual cultures of France and Italy. Recognized both nationally and internationally, professors in our Department come together with their individual expertise to form three coherent areas of study: French and Francophone literature and culture, ranging from Medieval fiction, poetry and drama to contemporary literature, literary theory and intellectual history; French language and linguistics, including sociolinguistics and second-language acquisition; Italian language, literature and culture, from Dante to contemporary print and media culture.

As a result of these wide-ranging interests, we are able to provide students with extensive training in French language and culture, literary history, theory and criticism, and Italian language and cultural studies. Our faculty is dedicated to interdisciplinary work and has close affiliations with other departments and programs, such as Comparative Literature, Dramatic Arts, Film Studies, Medieval Studies, Renaissance Studies, and Women’s Studies.

Our Department offers undergraduate and graduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts in French and in Italian Studies, and to the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy in French. Doctoral students may also declare a special emphasis in Applied Linguistics, Medieval Studies and/or Women’s Studies. Our web pages will guide you to the requirements as well as to the goals and objectives of our various degrees.

With the goal of a global education in mind, our Department strongly encourages study abroad in Italy or in a French-speaking country with any UC-approved program or with the many UC-affiliated programs in Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lyon, Toulouse, Paris, Bologna, Milan, Padua, Rome, Siena, and Trento. Click here to learn more about the Education Abroad Program; France and Italy.

I invite you to navigate our website. You will gain a detailed picture of our Department as you learn more about course descriptions, undergraduate and graduate programs, and contact information. I look forward to welcoming you soon as undergraduate or graduate students and to introducing you to our dynamic team of faculty, graduate students, and able staff.

Catherine Nesci, Professor and Chair