The requirements for prior Italian knowledge vary by program. Contact your program coordinator, your advisor at OIE, and/or your advisor in Italian for details. However, most programs require two years of Italian or the equivalent before going abroad (equivalent to finishing ITAL 2005). It is also required for many programs that students have their common curriculum language requirement completed before studying abroad.
It is HIGHLY recommended that you plan on completing ITAL 2005 at a minimum before going abroad. Even for the few programs that may not require this level, entering with this background guarantees that you will be able to take full advantage of your immersive experience.