Twin Cities campus

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Twin Cities Campus

Italian Studies B.A.

French & Italian
College of Liberal Arts
  • Program Type: Baccalaureate
  • Requirements for this program are current for Fall 2018
  • Required credits to graduate with this degree: 120
  • Required credits within the major: 30 to 50
  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts
The Italian studies undergraduate program examines Italian and Italian-American literature, culture, society, and history. Courses offered provide a historical perspective from the Middle Ages to the present. Students explore a variety of themes ranging from nation-building and national identity to emigration and travel, to gender relations and feminist discourses, to the study of different narrative forms and representations of Italian and Italian-American culture. Students are encouraged to take courses in other departments when these are related to Italian and Italian-American culture. For further information and updates, see the department website at http://cla.umn.edu/french-italian.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Admission Requirements
Students must complete Italian language study equivalent to four semesters (intermediate level) before beginning the major.
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the Office of Admissions website.
Required prerequisites
Prerequisite Courses
Students must complete the following courses or place out through EPT or LPE examinations.
Take 0 - 20 course(s) from the following:
· ITAL 1001 - Beginning Italian I (5.0 cr)
· ITAL 1002 - Beginning Italian II (5.0 cr)
· ITAL 1003 - Intermediate Italian I (5.0 cr)
· ITAL 1004 - Intermediate Italian II (5.0 cr)
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the liberal education requirements. Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete 4 semester(s) of Italian. with a grade of C-, or better, or demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) as defined by the department or college. CLA BA degrees require 18 upper-division (3xxx-level or higher) credits outside the major designator. These credits must be taken in designators different from the major designator and cannot include courses that are cross-listed with the major designator. The major designator for the Italian Studies BA is ITAL. At least 15 upper-division credits in the major must be taken at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus. This includes learning abroad courses taken for resident credit. Students may earn a BA or a minor in Italian, but not both. All incoming CLA freshmen must complete the First-Year Experience course sequence.
Core Course
Take exactly 1 course(s) totaling exactly 4 credit(s) from the following:
· ITAL 3015 - Reading, Conversation, and Composition (4.0 cr)
Electives
Any ITAL 3xxx, 5xxx or its cross-list that is not counting towards a different major requirement may count as Electives. With the approval of the Italian studies undergraduate advisor, courses taken through other departments (e.g., art history, English, history, music) may count toward the Italian Studies BA when they pertain to Italian studies topics.
Take 8 or more course(s) totaling 24 or more credit(s) from the following:
· CNES 3104 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
· ENGL 3040 - Studies in Film (3.0 cr)
· HIST 3053 - Ancient Civilization: Rome [HIS] (3.0 cr)
· HIST 3621 - Creating the Modern World in Medieval Europe: The Renaissance, 1200-1600 (3.0 cr)
· ITAL 3550 - Topics in 19th Century Italy (3.0 cr)
· ITAL 3640 - Topics in Italian Studies (3.0 cr)
· ITAL 3837 - Imagining Italy: Italian and Italian-American Culture, History, and Society through Film [AH, GP] (4.0 cr)
· ITAL 3850 - Topics in Italian Cinema (3.0 cr)
· ITAL 4307 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
· ITAL 4993 - Directed Study (1.0-4.0 cr)
· ITAL 5401 {Inactive} (4.0 cr)
· ITAL 5609 {Inactive} (4.0 cr)
· ITAL 5640 - Topics in Italian Studies (3.0 cr)
· ITAL 5970 - Directed Readings (1.0-4.0 cr)
· MUS 5620 - Topics in Opera History (3.0 cr)
· ARTH 3335 - Baroque Rome: Art and Politics in the Papal Capital [HIS] (3.0 cr)
or ARTH 5335 - Baroque Rome: Art and Politics in the Papal Capital (3.0 cr)
or HIST 3706 - Baroque Rome: Art and Politics in the Papal Capital [HIS] (3.0 cr)
· ARTH 3315 - The Age of Curiosity: Art, Science & Technology in Europe, 1400-1800 [AH, TS] (3.0 cr)
or HIST 3708 -  The Age of Curiosity: Art, Science & Technology in Europe, 1400-1800 [AH, TS] (3.0 cr)
· CNES 3108 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
or RELS 3541 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
· ITAL 3201 - Reading Italian Texts: Poetics, Rhetoric, Theory (3.0 cr)
or ITAL 5201 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
· ITAL 3203 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
or ITAL 5203 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
· ITAL 5305 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
· ITAL 3502 - Making of Modern Italy: From the Enlightenment to the Present. (3.0 cr)
or ITAL 5502 - Making of Modern Italy: From the Enlightenment to the Present (3.0 cr)
Capstone
The capstone involves research and writing in Italian on an approved issue or theme. Projects can include scholarly papers or creative artistic pieces such as musical composition, photography, poetry, fiction, etc. All projects include a research/analytical component. Students must register for an approved elective with concurrent registration in ITAL 3459W. All projects must be developed under the supervision of the faculty teaching the approved elective course.
Students who double major within CLA and choose to complete the capstone requirement in their other major may waive the Italian Studies capstone, but are still responsible for taking the 30 upper-division credits required for the Italian Studies BA. They are also still responsible for taking at least one upper-division writing intensive course within the major.
Take exactly 1 course(s) totaling exactly 2 credit(s) from the following:
· ITAL 3459W - Senior Project [WI] (2.0 cr)
Upper Division Writing Intensive within the major
Students are required to take one upper division writing intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
· ITAL 3459W - Senior Project [WI] (2.0 cr)
 
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· College of Liberal Arts

View future requirement(s):
· Fall 2022
· Spring 2021
· Fall 2020

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· Italian Studies

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· Italian Studies B.A.
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ITAL 1001 - Beginning Italian I
Credits: 5.0 [max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies: Flor 1001/Ital 1001/Ital 4001
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Ciao! Join us in learning Italian, the language of Dante, DaVinci, and la dolce vita! This melodic language spoken throughout the world in fields including music, fashion, cuisine, and fast automobiles will enrich you as a citizen of the world and allow you access to some of the most amazing art and culture on the planet! Beginning Italian, Italian 1001, is a proficiency-based course designed for students with little or no knowledge of the Italian language focusing on developing your intercultural, reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills. Preparatory activities designed to encourage students to analyze grammatical points in question need to be completed before class so class time can be primarily devoted to meaningful interactions in Italian. To further increase your confidence in communicating in Italian, you will also participate in several one-to-one online exchange with native speakers of Italian throughout the semester. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to enroll in Italian 1002. Expect an average of 1.5 hours of outside preparation for each class session hour.
ITAL 1002 - Beginning Italian II
Credits: 5.0 [max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies: Flor 1002/Ital 1002/Ital 4002
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Bentornati! Ready to embark on a new journey to further develop your knowledge of our beautiful romance language, Italian? If you passed Italian 1001 or you have obtained DLI?s consent, this course is for you! You will further develop your skills in Italian as you examine topics such as haute couture or alta moda and the phenomenon of Made in Italy, as well as music, from opera to hip hop. You will also learn about holidays, cultural celebration, and differences and similarities between the scholastic and healthcare systems in Italy and the US. Throughout the semester your learning will be continually enhanced by regular conversations with your Tandem partner in Italy. Preparatory activities designed to encourage students to analyze grammatical points in question need to be completed before class so class time can be primarily devoted to meaningful interactions in Italian. Italian 1002 is a five-credit course, so you should plan to spend an additional 10-15 hours a week on coursework outside the classroom. Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to enroll in Italian 1003. prereq: 1001 or instr consent
ITAL 1003 - Intermediate Italian I
Credits: 5.0 [max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies: Flor 1003/Ital 1003/Ital 4003
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
BENVENUTI AL 3º SEMESTRE D'ITALIANO! Throughout the semester in Italian 1003, you will be able to consider your own point of view while learning about various Italian perspectives as we examine topics ranging from housing and historical and contemporary urban design to responsible tourism, linguistic variety, and social problems. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to use Italian to communicate in everyday situations to share personal information about yourself, express your opinions, wishes and desires, make suggestions and give advice, as well as appropriately use active vocabulary. You will continue to acquire basic cross-cultural pragmatic information to help you manage conversations in a culturally appropriate manner, and once again, you will expand your cultural knowledge by talking face to face with your Italian Tandem partner several times over the semester. As with other Italian language course, preparatory activities designed to encourage you to analyze grammatical points in question need to be completed before class so class time can be primarily devoted to meaningful interactions in Italian. Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to enroll in Italian 1004.
ITAL 1004 - Intermediate Italian II
Credits: 5.0 [max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies: Flor 1004/Ital 1004/Ital 4004
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Benvenuti! We invite you to join us in learning the language spoken by one of the most beloved countries and leading destinations for learning abroad in the world! Italy, the cradle of the Renaissance and home to some of the most beautiful art and architecture on earth, boasts the world's seventh largest economy, a renowned creative design and fashion industry, as well as a rich and diverse history and heritage. In this course, you will engage directly with Italian culture and society through a variety of learning portals, including authentic short films and literature, in-class debates and presentations, and an array of assessment methods. Throughout the semester, vital current issues such the impact of technology, justice and politics, and changing inter-generational and interpersonal dynamics will be discussed within a comparative lens, inviting you to reflect on how your own experiences contrast with a sample of those within the Italian culture (Italy). The fourth semester of Italian is designed using a proficiency-based approach to help you develop the ability to communicate effectively in Italian in everyday situations that have real world relevance. Listening, reading, speaking, and writing are integrated into all activities and assessments. By means of self-study preparatory activities designed to encourage students to analyze grammatical points in question before class, so class time can be devoted to meaningful, dynamic interactions with classmates and your teacher in Italian. To further increase your confidence in communicating in Italian, you will also be able to participate in several one-to-one online exchanges with native speakers of Italian throughout the semester. You may end up with a lifelong friend in Italy! Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to demonstrate proficiency by successful completion of the Italian Language Proficiency Exam (LPE) and/or enroll in Italian 3015. prereq: ITAL 1003
ITAL 3015 - Reading, Conversation, and Composition
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
How can a society manage an aging population? What steps can be taken to promote integration and overcome differences? Is technology helping or hindering our interpersonal relationship? Is history doomed to repeat itself? You are about to embark into a rewarding journey to further deepen your Italian experience while developing your critical thinking skills. This class will increase your appreciation of Italian culture through engagement with articles, short films, and literary extracts (of authors such as Nobel's prize Dario Fo, Salgari, and Natalia Ginzburg) on contemporary cultural topics ranging from social problems to the use and misuse of technology to the impact of historical events on people?s everyday lives. This intensive, intermediate course is designed for students who have passed Italian 1004 and have mastered basic Italian grammar.
ENGL 3040 - Studies in Film
Credits: 3.0 [max 9.0]
Course Equivalencies: EngL 3040/EngL 3040H
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Topics regarding film in variety of interpretive contexts, from range/historic development of American, English, Anglophone film.
HIST 3053 - Ancient Civilization: Rome (HIS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring & Summer
A broad survey of the culture and history of Rome from its origins to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire in the third and fourth centuries A.D.
HIST 3621 - Creating the Modern World in Medieval Europe: The Renaissance, 1200-1600
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
Political/cultural history of city-states of northern/central Italy, 1200-1550. Emphasizes Florence/Venice. Readings include Dante, Machiavelli. prereq: Intro course in European history before 1500 recommended
ITAL 3550 - Topics in 19th Century Italy
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Fall Odd Year
Literature/culture of Italy in 19th century. Content varies depending on instructor. Literary, critical, cultural, historical, or social issues. Specific author, genre, or topic of interest. Readings. Specific content posted in department/listed in Course Guide. prereq: 3015 or instr consent
ITAL 3640 - Topics in Italian Studies
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Topics of interest in studies of Italian or Italian American culture of 20th century. Literary, critical, cultural, historical, or social issues, a specific author, a genre, or other topic. Content varies by instructor, see Course Guide. prereq: 3015 or instr consent
ITAL 3837 - Imagining Italy: Italian and Italian-American Culture, History, and Society through Film (AH, GP)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Ital 1837/Ital 3837
Typically offered: Every Fall
Weekly guest lectures and critical readings expand from different disciplinary perspectives upon issues raised by films. Urban life, religion, nationalism, opera, violence, leisure, food, fascism, terrorism, family, emigration/immigration, ethnicity, Mediterranean culture.
ITAL 3850 - Topics in Italian Cinema
Credits: 3.0 [max 9.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Examine theme, problem, style, period, or filmmaker in Italian cinema history. Attention devoted to locating Italian visual culture within context of wider transnational political/artistic networks. Content varies depending on year/instructor. prereq: 3015 or instr consent
ITAL 4993 - Directed Study
Credits: 1.0 -4.0 [max 16.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Meets unique requirements decided on by faculty member and student. Individual contracts list contact hours, number of credits, written and other work required. prereq: instr consent
ITAL 5640 - Topics in Italian Studies
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Topics of interest in studies of Italian and/or Italian American culture of the 20th century. Topics and readings may include literary, critical, cultural, historical, and/or social issues, a specific author, a genre, or other topics . Content varies by instructor. Specific content posted in the department and in the Course Guide. prereq: Ital 3015
ITAL 5970 - Directed Readings
Credits: 1.0 -4.0 [max 16.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Meets unique requirements decided on by faculty member and student. Individual contracts list contact hours, number of credits, written and other work required. prereq: instr consent
MUS 5620 - Topics in Opera History
Credits: 3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Study of specific operas. Development of opera in context of other artistic, social, cultural, political events, movements, changes. Periods/countries vary each semester.
ARTH 3335 - Baroque Rome: Art and Politics in the Papal Capital (HIS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ArtH 3335/Rels 3162/Hist 3706/
Typically offered: Fall Odd Year
This course explores the center of Baroque culture?Rome?as a city of spectacle and pageantry. The urban development of the city, as well as major works in painting, sculpture, and architecture, are considered within their political and religious context, with special emphasis on the ecclesiastical and private patrons who transformed the Eternal City into one of the world?s great capitals.
ARTH 5335 - Baroque Rome: Art and Politics in the Papal Capital
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ArtH 3335/Rels 3162/Hist 3706/
Typically offered: Fall Odd Year
This course explores the center of Baroque culture --Rome-- as a city of spectacle and pageantry. The urban development of the city, as well as major works in painting, sculpture, and architecture, are considered within their political and religious context, with special emphasis on the ecclesiastical and private patrons who transformed the Eternal City into one of the world's great capitals.
HIST 3706 - Baroque Rome: Art and Politics in the Papal Capital (HIS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ArtH 3335/Rels 3162/Hist 3706/
Typically offered: Fall Odd Year
This course explores the center of Baroque culture, Rome, as a city of spectacle and pageantry. The urban development of the city, as well as major works in painting, sculpture, and architecture, are considered within their political and religious context, with special emphasis on the ecclesiastical and private patrons who transformed the Eternal City into one of the world's great capitals.
ARTH 3315 - The Age of Curiosity: Art, Science & Technology in Europe, 1400-1800 (AH, TS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ARTH 3315/HIST 3708/ARTH 5315/
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Diverse ways in which making of art and scientific knowledge intersected in early modern Europe. Connections between scientific curiosity and visual arts in major artists (e.g., da Vinci, Durer, Vermeer, Rembrandt). Artfulness of scientific imagery/diagrams, geographical maps, cabinets of curiosities, and new visual technologies, such as the telescope and microscope.
HIST 3708 - The Age of Curiosity: Art, Science & Technology in Europe, 1400-1800 (AH, TS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ARTH 3315/HIST 3708/ARTH 5315/
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Diverse ways in which making of art and scientific knowledge intersected in early modern Europe. Connections between scientific curiosity and visual arts in major artists (e.g., da Vinci, Durer, Vermeer, Rembrandt). Artfulness of scientific imagery/diagrams, geographical maps, cabinets of curiosities, and new visual technologies, such as the telescope and microscope.
ITAL 3201 - Reading Italian Texts: Poetics, Rhetoric, Theory
Credits: 3.0 [max 9.0]
Course Equivalencies: Ital 3201/5201
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
A basic course in understanding the rhetorical and poetic aspects of language and literature; interpretive methods and theoretical concepts. prereq: 3015
ITAL 3502 - Making of Modern Italy: From the Enlightenment to the Present.
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Course Equivalencies: Ital 3502/5502
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Italian literary, cultural, and symbolic practices from the Enlightenment to the present. prereq: 3015
ITAL 5502 - Making of Modern Italy: From the Enlightenment to the Present
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Course Equivalencies: Ital 3502/5502
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Italian literary, cultural, and symbolic practices, from Enlightenment to present. prereq: grad student or instr consent
ITAL 3459W - Senior Project (WI)
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Research/writing on issue/theme in Italian studies. Projects range from scholarly paper to artistic/creative writing or musical composition, photography, poetry, or fiction. Research/analytical component. prereq: completion of pre-requisite for major (3015) and eight electives for the sum of 30 credits
ITAL 3459W - Senior Project (WI)
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Research/writing on issue/theme in Italian studies. Projects range from scholarly paper to artistic/creative writing or musical composition, photography, poetry, or fiction. Research/analytical component. prereq: completion of pre-requisite for major (3015) and eight electives for the sum of 30 credits