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MAJOR IN ITALIAN STUDIES

The Italian Studies Major has its basis in a diversified curriculum in the liberal arts and has the objectives of developing oral and written proficiency in the Italian language and of familiarizing students with the history, literature, art, culture, and civilization of Italy. For completion of the major, a total of ten courses (30 credits) is required that include the following:

• A minimum of five courses in the target language beginning at ITA 103 or higher. These should include an advanced grammar and culture course in Italian, and an Italian literature course in Italian.

• Students may complete requirements for the major with a maximum of five courses in related areas such as anthropology, art history, comparative literature, geography, history, linguistics, literature, or political science that deal specifically with Italy or Italian-American identity.

These courses must be approved in advance by the Department Chair. Eligible courses may include:

ART 223 Renaissance Art and Architecture
ART 324 Michelangelo: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, and Poetry
HIS 202 Ancient Rome, 509 B.C-565 A.D. S

Students are strongly encouraged to undertake a semester-long program of study in Italy with the majority of courses conducted in Italian. Students are also encouraged to enroll in upper-division courses in Italian offered through the Worcester Consortium.

MINOR IN ITALIAN STUDIES:

The Italian Studies Minor is intended to offer students a greater knowledge of the language and an understanding of the Italian way of life as seen in the social structure, political institutions, economy, arts, and culture of Italy. A country with a rich artistic and literary history, contemporary Italy plays a prominent role in world affairs as a member of the European Union. Knowledge of Italian language and culture is an asset to students interested in all areas of the Humanities as well as International Business and Foreign Affairs. A student may complete a Minor in Italian Studies with six one-semester courses (18 credits) which include the following:

• Italian language at the level of Italian 103 or higher. Up to two additional language courses may be included.

• Italian literature in the original (i.e., ITA 140 Introduction to Literature: Italian Language) or in translation.

• The remaining courses may be taken in other disciplines where the content deals substantively with Italian culture. These courses include but are not limited to:

ART 223 Renaissance Art
ART 323 Italian Renaissance Painting
ART 324 Michelangelo: Painting and Sculpture
CLT 295 Special Topics: Italian Cinema
HIS 202 Ancient Rome
POL 338 Nationalism and Fascism
POL 359 Medieval Political Philosophy
A fifth semester Italian language course. Depending on the interests of the individual student and the applicability of the course focus in a given term, other courses may be included (ART 122, ART 224, HIS 204, HIS 205, HIS 206, HIS 212).

Students will be required to demonstrate that they will deal substantively with Italian studies in assignments which may include additional reading materials, special projects and research, or a final paper. These courses must be approved by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures and the faculty member teaching one of these courses. Independent studies, consortium, and study abroad courses may be included. The minor must be planned with the departmental advisor.

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