The Department of Italian was started at UTM when Erindale College first opened its doors in 1967. Its story is one of steady and substantial growth in terms of numbers as well as breadth and depth. At the beginning there were 8 students; the present enrollment is about 500. In 1967, the program consisted of a single course for beginners; at present it includes more than 25 full-course equivalents that cover all periods of Italian literature, the major aspects of the Italian language, and significant expressions of Italian culture such as its cinema and lively contemporary civilization. Major and specialist programs have been offered since the early 1970s.

In addition to providing a comprehensive panorama of the established canon, the Italian program at UTM, in keeping with the fundamental mandate of the young institution to be innovative, from time to time has offered - and continues to offer - courses that deviate from the traditional patterns or emphasize subjects that can best be illustrated in small groups with the help of recent technological innovations. Perhaps the most innovative attempts have been made in methodology since the department has always promoted approaches which, in language instruction especially, give pride of place to direct student participation and call for the guided and structured use of a wide array of technical aids, from simple maps and drawings to videos, interactive multimedia and films, without, of course, abandoning the sound elements of traditional philology. We offer access to a fully equipped computer/language laboratory and to our own in-house Italian software

Over the years, the department has been involved in many endeavours, designed to foster a better understanding and appreciation of Italian. It has held film nights and concerts, organized Italian weeks in collaboration with the very active student club, hosted the Italian High School Contest on three occasions (1976, 1979, 1985, 2005) and produced in the last two years of the 70s and every year since 1986 a play by a variety of Italian playwrights including Goldoni, Pirandello and De Filippo. The response to the productions, from the students and the community, has been so positive that the practice has become a veritable tradition and four credit courses have been created as a result.

Among the academic pursuits deserve particular mention three international symposia on the following topics: 1) Nineteenth-Century Italian Novel, 2) Aretino and the Renaissance, and 3) Cross-Cultural Relations and Exile. The events, organized by the UTM faculty, brought on campus scholars from Europe and North America. Their insights and fresh readings, communicated viva voce to a large audience, have appeared in print (1988 for the novel, 1995 for Aretino, and forthcoming for "Cross-Cultural Relations and Exile".

Another was the Diversity Week, a month-long celebration organized by the FGI Department. Series of lectures, exhibitions, film showing, poetry reading, musical gala and student information day were the highlights. It was culminated with an awards night which recognized outstanding students of the Department.

Many scholarships have been founded to recognize excellence in the Italian program.

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