Italian Studies, B.A.

 The program in Italian Studies offers an interdisciplinary major and minor and is offered by the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Cultures. The program comprises a rich curriculum in language, culture, history, philosophy and theology, literature, and film. An articulated sequence of courses in Italian leads from competence in novice-level Italian language skills to proficiency in the Italian language as well as its culture and literature.

Italian is the official language of Italy, San Marino, Switzerland, and Vatican City. It is also the official language of some parts of Croatia and Slovenia, where public usage of Italian is permitted and protected by minority protection laws. There are more than three million people that speak Italian in the world, with the US leading with about 700,000 native speakers.

Italy is an industrially and economically advanced nation that exports to the U.S. as well as other countries. Italians and the Italian language have made a distinctive contribution to art, architecture, cuisine, music, science, literature, film, and theater. The study of Italian enhances students’ enjoyment and appreciation of these cultural areas.

Knowledge of Italian language and culture opens opportunities for students across the globe. All students are strongly encouraged to study in Italy through one of the many short- or long-term JCU-sponsored programs such as JCU in Rome (a semester-long program in fall) or the spring break field trip in Italy (offered as part of an on-campus course). All John Carroll’s programs in Italy are sponsored by The Bishop Anthony M. Pilla Program in Italian American Studies.

All IT courses are taught in Italian. Requirements can be found on the Italian Studies major page and the Italian Studies minor page in this Bulletin.

Program Learning Goals

Students will:

1. Communicate skillfully and effectively in Italian:

   • engage in effective interpersonal communication

   • engage in effective interpretive listening

   • engage in effective interpretive reading

   • engage in effective presentational speaking

   • engage in effective presentational writing

2. Demonstrate foundational cultural and linguistic knowledge of the Italian-speaking world such as its art, literature, history, music, film, popular culture, tradition, and customs.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of how aspects of the history, politics, religion, or geography of Italy relate to its culture:

   • read and analyze cultural texts

4. Demonstrate emerging intercultural competence:

   • demonstrate an awareness of the interplay of personal identity and culture

   • interpret an event, cultural product, or issue from the perspective of a worldview outside their own.

Major Requirements

The major combines language study and a flexible, interdisciplinary set of remaining courses.

Students who begin the major at the 100 level:

Subtotal: 33

Note: three of the four 300-level Italian courses (9 credits) can be substituted with a course from the list of Related Courses. 

Students who begin the major at the 200 level:

Subtotal: 33

Note: four of  the six 300-level Italian courses (12 credits) may be substituted with a course from the list of Related Courses.

Students who begin the major at the 300-level:

Subtotal: 33

Note: two of the five 300/400-level Italian courses (6 credits) may be substituted with a course from the list of Related Courses. Three of the five required-related courses reflected in the requirements above may be substituted with courses from the list of Related Courses.

Required-Related Course List

Students take two courses (6 credits) total to fulfill this requirement.

Choose one from:

Choose one from:

Students who participate in the JCU in Rome program may substitute the above-mentioned two required courses with the following: HS 263, IC 163, IC 362, or TRS 321.

Related Course List

These courses are those outside Italian offerings but are closely related to Italian culture. Students should discuss their course plans with their advisor. 

Classics

History

International Cultures