LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND CURRICULA

The programme's main objectives are:

• helping students develop excellent language and communication skills, as well as a critical knowledge of the history and culture of modern civilisations, with the aim of improving communication between nations and cultures;
• enabling students to acquire both cross-disciplinary and domain-specific knowledge (in areas like public and private institutions, enterprises, cultural tourism, mediation, and language teaching), as well as to master a wide range of technical and operational tools.

Students can choose one of the following curricula:

1. LANGUAGES FOR INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION. The three-year study of English and a second foreign language (chosen from French, Spanish, German, Russian and Chinese)  goes hand in hand with the study of the corresponding civilisations and is backed up by courses in linguistics and philology, as well as history, geography, Italian studies, comparative literatures, and social and economic sciences. In addition, the degree programme offers courses aimed at applying linguistic and cultural competences in fields like resource planning and management and the preservation of cultural heritage. Finally, courses like language acquisition and teaching methodology and didactics of the Italian language provide knowledge that is crucial to teaching Italian to speakers of other languages. This curriculum prepares students both for entering the job market and continuing their studies at MA level.

2. LANGUAGES FOR BUSINESS COMMUNICATION. The three-year study of English and a second foreign language (chosen from French, Spanish, German, Russian, and Chinese) goes hand in hand with the acquisition of basic competences in modern cultures and literatures. In addition, the programme is characterised by economic and managerial disciplines and the study of the dynamics of globalization. This curriculum enhances skills and competences that allow graduates to either find a qualified job in small and medium-sized businesses or apply for a first level professional master’s programme.

Please note: The two curricula share the same courses during the first year. Therefore, students will only be asked to choose at the beginning of the second year.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Graduates in Languages for Intercultural and Business Communication can develop two main professional profiles:

1. language professional in social, cultural, and tourism-related services, as well as in international cooperation
2. language professional in business settings

1. Language professional in social, cultural, and tourism services, and in international cooperation

Graduates in Languages for Intercultural Communication will be able to:

• liaise between languages, both orally and in writing, mastering different text types and registers;
• mediate between people of different languages and cultures;
• plan and implement activities aimed at promoting the Italian artistic and cultural heritage and the Italian language;

Accordingly, the main job opportunities are:

• in cultural services and tourism-related settings as media experts, translators in the literary and arts fields, event managers, tourist guides, and travel and leisure managers;
• as language professionals in the socio-cultural settings where language and culture mediation is required, such as in multilingual contexts involving people with a migratory background, in socio-economic and cultural development activities conducted abroad by non-profit organisations, as well as at embassies, consulates and representative offices in European and extra-European countries;
• in the promotion of the Italian culture and language both in Italy and abroad as language professionals and instructors of Italian as a foreign language.

2. Language professional in business settings

Graduates in Languages for Business will be able to:

• liaise between languages, both orally and in writing, mastering different text types and registers;
• provide qualified linguistic and cultural support to businesses operating at international level;
• establish and manage commercial contacts at national and international level.

Accordingly, the main job opportunities are:

• as import/export managers, sales experts, internationalisation and foreign relations managers, and customer service operators in business and trade;
• as language professionals in private practices offering legal and administrative services to clients operating at national and international level;
• as language and culture brokering experts in the marketing department of large companies.