The degree course is divided in curricula which significantly differ from each other with respect to geographic areas: the euro-American and the Mediterranean and eastern area.
With respect to the west, the course also provides the curriculum "Erasmus Mundus Glitema" (German Literature in the European Middle Ages), thanks to an international agreement between the Universities of Porto, Bremen and Palermo, entitling to the double degree.
The course aims at training graduates with specific knowledge and competences with respect to the literatures of the above mentioned continents. Graduates acquire advanced knowledge of the language, literature and culture of a Euro-American civilisation and of another civilisation of the Mediterranean and Eastern area.
Graduates may carry out high responsibility activities in institutions for international cultural and economic cooperation; in Italian cultural institutions, both in Italy and abroad; they may also carry out their activity as language workers and expert translators in the industry and in the advanced service sector.
Graduates will also acquire advanced knowledge of the language, literature and culture of one of the mentioned civilisation, as well as sound humanist groundings, and specific competences in literary written translation, together with the capability of using the computer and telematic tools which are needed to work as professional translators. For this purpose, stages and internship periods will be organised in cooperation with public and private agencies. Graduates may carry out their activity as experts not only in the publishing and literary area, but also in international cooperation institutions and in the Italian cultural Institutes abroad.
According to bilateral agreements with the University of Misurata (Lybia) a double degree is going to be established. Students who choose an educational programme centred on German language and literature, and possessing the necessary requirements may participate, after passing the relevant selection, to the International Degree Course "GLITEMA