The Department welcomes interested transfer students into its courses, and encourages them to choose Italian Studies as a major or minor. Many of our most successful students, including past winners of the annual departmental citation for outstanding achievement by a graduating senior, have begun their Berkeley careers as transfer students.
Starting Fall 2027, students who select this major on their UC Berkeley application are automatically declared and do not need to take any other action to join the major. Any remaining declaration requirement courses that are not completed prior to transfer must be completed to graduate. Please refer to the website here for more information on Direct Admission.
The Department recommends that transfer students arrive at UC Berkeley having completed Intermediate Italian, and prepared for Italian 101: Advanced Writing Workshop. We ask all students to register for a language placement assessment to confirm which levels of language coursework have been completed, and what to enroll in next. Individual students' experiences and coursework vary, and other language pathways may be available. With any questions, contact the Undergraduate Adviser about general major/minor requirements, and Dr. Giuliana Perco for language placement.
If you are directly admitted to Italian Studies but do not have all major preparation courses completed prior to matriculation, plan to take those remaining courses during your first semester on the Berkeley campus, or as soon as possible based on placement exam results. You will be given instructions during Golden Bear Advising on how to connect with your major advisor to create a program plan that will guide you to completing all of your remaining major requirements within the unit ceiling.
Besides Italian language, all other requirements for the Italian Studies major can be completed within 4 semesters/2 years at UC Berkeley. If you are a transfer student considering a major in Italian Studies, contact the Undergraduate Adviser as soon as possible after you arrive at Berkeley. The College of Letters and Science has strict deadlines for declaration of a major by incoming transfer students, and the Department stands ready to help you comply with College regulations. For information on requirements for the major, click here.
If you plan to minor in Italian Studies, contact the Undergraduate Adviser to make plans, answer questions, and set a timeline for declaration. Click here for information on requirements for the minor.
Transfer student resources:
- Visit Berkeley Admissionsto learn more about requirements.
- Use ASSIST.org to find classes that transfer to Berkeley and UC Transfer Admissions Planner (TAP), a free online tool, to plan ahead.
- Check out the Transfer Alliance Project while attending a California Community College.
- Visit the Transfer Student Centerfor programs and services to support successful transitions and community building.
- Look into Summer Bridge and the Transfer Transition Program (TPP), a program offered for rising junior transfers at Berkeley.
- In your first semester at UC Berkeley, consider enrolling in a Transition Course - L&S 198: Transitioning to Cal: An Introduction to the Research University or Humanities 100: Transfer Foundations.
- See guides for transfer students for students majoring in the Arts & Humanities, and for students in the College of Letters & Science.