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About FRIT

Welcome to the website of the Department of French & Italian at the University of Pittsburgh. Our Department offers a full complement of classes on language, literature, film, philosophy, and culture from elementary language courses in French and Italian to advanced graduate seminars in French and Italian. We challenge ourselves as teachers to introduce students to authentic cultural material from the moment they first step into our classrooms. And we pride ourselves on continuing to learn from our students as they mature into professionals who compete successfully for jobs in a variety of fields. Read the "Message From the Chair".

Mission Statement

The Department of French and Italian produces research in French and Italian Studies with wide trans‐disciplinary impact. Our endeavors inform the creation and transmission of knowledge about the French‐ and Italian‐speaking worlds.

We translate this knowledge and emergent trends in the field into innovative undergraduate and graduate education that has at its core French and Italian linguistic and cultural fluency. We engage students from the Dietrich School and the University at large to participate fully in the wider world and to address current and historical questions through a global perspective.

We provide students with a comprehensive education in the linguistic, literary, cinematic, philosophical, and cultural traditions of France, the francophone world, Italy and the Italian diaspora, with the goal of promoting greater self-awareness and encouraging responsible participation in the global 21st century.

The Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences

The Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences constitutes the liberal arts core of the University of Pittsburgh, one of the major public research universities in the United States. We provide instruction in natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences for all students studying at the Pittsburgh campus, including more than 10,000 students registered as Dietrich School undergraduates. In addition, the Dietrich School educates 15 percent—more than 1,500—of the University’s graduate and graduate professional students, making it the largest graduate program in Pittsburgh. In the summer of 2006, the University’s College of General Studies joined the (then) School of Arts and Sciences, expanding the community of learners to include nontraditional students.

Our nationally and internationally recognized faculty members excel at translating their research and scholarly expertise into top-quality graduate programs and a superb, highly selective liberal arts undergraduate program that integrates traditional disciplines with interdisciplinary and international perspectives and takes advantage of the breadth of the University and its urban environment.

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Diversity

The Department of French and Italian and is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace, teaching, and research activities.

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Our Partners

The Department of French and Italian is a resource for educational and cultural groups in the Pittsburgh community and beyond.

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Endowments and Funds

Explore the endowments and funds that support students of French and Italian at the University of Pittsburgh.

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Governance

Learn more about FRIT's Bylaws, departmental committees, and initiatives.

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Contact Us

Find contact information, map directions, and social media resources for the Department of French and Italian.