The Italian program promotes an understanding of the role of the Italian literary and cultural tradition within today’s global society. By developing the knowledge and critical skills necessary to understand and engage with Italian culture in all its manifestations, Italian majors and minors acquire tools that are applicable to careers in virtually every area. While competency in a foreign language is always a highly desirable asset in our multicultural and multilingual society, proficiency in Italian is particularly beneficial and valuable in the fields of art, fashion, business, law, international affairs, music, the travel industry, translation studies, the foreign service and teaching. In addition to supplying the necessary background for advanced professional study and specialization in various disciplines, the Italian major introduces students to a rich literary, artistic and intellectual history at the roots of the modern world. Students are encouraged to explore career opportunities on the Career Services website.
Requirements
Program Requirements
Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses listed below. Thirty-two credit hours beyond the first year of the Italian language with a 2.00 (C) grade point average or better are required, as listed below. All required major courses must be passed with a C- or better and cannot be taken pass/fail.
Required Courses and Credits
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Italian Lower-Division Courses | ||
| ITAL 2110 | Intermediate Italian Reading, Grammar, and Composition 1 | 4 |
| ITAL 2120 | Intermediate Italian Reading, Grammar, and Composition 2 | 4 |
| ITAL 2130 | Readings in Italian | 3 |
| Italian 3000-Level Courses | ||
| ITAL 3015 | Advanced Composition 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Advanced Composition 2: Introduction to Literary Writing | ||
| Italian Conversation Through Art History | ||
| Italian Conversation Through Cinema | ||
| Select two of the following (prereq. ITAL 2130): | 6 | |
| Main Current of Italian Culture and Literature 3 | ||
| Main Current of Italian Culture and Literature 2 | ||
| Main Currents of Italian Culture and Literature 1 | ||
| Italian 4000-Level Courses | ||
| Students must take at least three 4000-level courses in the Italian department, of which one will be: | 9 | |
| Senior Seminar 1 | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 32 | |
| 1 | Before registering for ITAL 4990, students must meet with the Italian advisor. |
Honors Requirements
Honors candidates must meet all of the regular requirements for the major, plus the following:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FREN 3200 | Introduction to Literary Theory and Advanced Critical Analysis 1 | 3 |
| Two semesters of independent study or research | ||
| ITAL 4840 | Independent Study | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
| 1 | NOTE: FREN 3200 is taught in English and presupposes no knowledge of French. |
Graduating in Four Years
Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. Keeping in mind that the outline below is only one possible option, to maintain adequate progress in Italian, students should meet the following requirements:
- Declare the Italian major as early as possible, preferably while enrolled in ITAL 1020 or ITAL 2110.
- Complete 12 credit hours of requirements (including ITAL 2110 and ITAL 2120) by the end of the second (sophomore) year.
- Complete 12 of the remaining 24 credit hours by the end of the third (junior) year.
- Complete the remainder of the major requirements in the fourth (senior) year.
Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study
Through the required coursework for the major, students will fulfill all 12 credits of the Arts & Humanities area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement and possibly the Upper-division Written Communication component of the Gen Ed Skills Requirement.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours | |
| ITAL 1010 | Beginning Italian 1 (If needed, does not fulfill Italian major course requirements) | 4 |
| Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-division Written Communication) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/US Perspective) | 3 | |
| Elective/MAPS | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ITAL 1020 | Beginning Italian 2 (If needed, does not fulfill Italian major course requirements) | 4 |
| Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: QRMS) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) | 3 | |
| Elective/MAPS | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ITAL 2110 | Intermediate Italian Reading, Grammar, and Composition 1 | 4 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/Global Perspective) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences with Lab) | 4 | |
| Elective/MAPS | 3 | |
| Elective/MAPS | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ITAL 2120 | Intermediate Italian Reading, Grammar, and Composition 2 | 4 |
| ITAL 2130 | Readings in Italian | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ITAL 3015 | Advanced Composition 1 | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ITAL 3140 | Main Current of Italian Culture and Literature 3 or Main Current of Italian Culture and Literature 2 or Main Currents of Italian Culture and Literature 1 | 3 |
| ITAL Upper-Division elective (options include courses outside of ITAL with an Italian topic) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Upper-division Written Communication, if necessary) | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 3 | |
| ITAL 3025 | Advanced Composition 2: Introduction to Literary Writing or Italian Conversation Through Art History or Italian Conversation Through Cinema | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ITAL 3140 | Main Current of Italian Culture and Literature 3 or Main Current of Italian Culture and Literature 2 or Main Currents of Italian Culture and Literature 1 | 3 |
| ITAL Upper-Division elective (options include courses outside of ITAL with an Italian topic) | 3 | |
| ITAL 4000-level elective | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ITAL 4990 | Senior Seminar (4840 Independent Study if completing Honors) | 3 |
| ITAL 4000-level elective | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing an undergraduate degree in Italian studies, student will be able to:
- Communicate effectively in writing and speaking in the target language while developing proficiency in aural and written comprehension.
- Analyze and interpret a variety of texts and materials from an interdisciplinary perspective with attention to cultural, historical and social contexts.
- Demonstrate knowledge of Italian and Italophone literatures, cultures and thought by identifying, evaluating, and arguing from primary and, when appropriate, secondary sources.
- Engage with diverse perspectives with a view to building intercultural competence and critical-thinking skills.