ITAL - Italian Studies Major

Italian Studies Major Requirements

Plan A majors in Italian are required to have 12 courses in Italian language, literature, and civilization.

Plan B majors whose primary concentration is Italian are required to have seven courses.

Plan B majors whose secondary concentration is Italian are required to have five courses.

Plan A Majors:

Core courses: The following is a list of required courses for the major:

• ˆ Five language courses: ITAL 101, 102, 201, 202, and 228.

• ˆ Two 200-level interdisciplinary courses on Italian culture and civilization that are taught in English. These courses may be applied toward the major if a substantial portion of the assignments is completed in Italian.

• ˆ Two courses from the literature offerings: ITAL 314, 335, and 375.

• ˆ Two courses, one of which is at the 300 level, from other departments on an Italian-related subject. Students must consult with their faculty adviser as to which courses they can count toward the major.

• Senior seminar, ITAL 401. Special Topics.

In consultation with the faculty adviser in Italian, students matriculating at Trinity College who have background in Italian language will enroll at a more advanced level than first-year Italian (101 and 102). Students must take three interdisciplinary courses on Italian culture and civilization and three literature survey courses to complete the required 12 courses.

Capstone/senior project: The capstone/senior project is completed in ITAL 401.

All majors are required to pass an Italian language proficiency examination. This requirement is waived for students gaining a B or better in one of the Italian 300-level courses.

The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by: ITAL 314. Contemporary Italian Literature (in Italian), ITAL 335. Dante (also LACS 335), or ITAL 401. Senior Seminar: Topics in Italian Studies (in Italian).

Plan B majors:

If Italian is the primary language, students are required to take seven courses, including ITAL 228, a 300-level literary survey, and ITAL 401. Special Topics.

If Italian is the secondary language, students are required to take five courses. ITAL 228 is required. For students with prior background in Italian, at least one 300-level survey course is required.

All majors are required to pass an Italian language proficiency examination. This requirement is waived for students gaining a B or better in one of the Italian 300-level courses.

The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by: ITAL 314. Contemporary Italian Literature (in Italian), ITAL 335. Dante (also LACS 335), or ITAL 401. Senior Seminar: Topics in Italian Studies (in Italian).

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

AP credit: Students with AP credit in Italian may count AP credit toward general degree requirements, but not for the Italian major or the Italian minor. AP credit serves as an indicator for placing students in the appropriate level courses.

Study away: Students majoring in Italian are encouraged to attend one of the programs at the Trinity College Rome Campus; they can apply courses taken at the Rome Campus toward the Italian major subject to approval of the faculty adviser. Please see the Rome Campus program and course descriptions in the global programs section.

Language and Culture Studies Requirements

Plan A major: Under this plan, students major in a single foreign language (French, German studies, Hispanic studies, Italian studies, or Russian). Please see listings and descriptions of respective majors. Credit acquired through the Language Across the Curriculum program may be applied to the cognate requirements. Students are also required to complete a project synthesizing coursework taken for the major. Except under exceptional circumstances, this project will be undertaken in the language section’s 401. Senior Seminar; it must be done at Trinity College. See full descriptions under individual language headings.

Plan B major: Under this plan, students may combine any two of the languages taught in the department of language and culture studies and the classical studies department. A minimum of seven courses in a primary language and five in a secondary language is required, as well as two courses in a cognate field or fields. A paper integrating the three fields of study—primary language field, secondary language field, and some aspect of the cognate field(s)—must be completed in one of the primary language upper-level courses. Except under exceptional circumstances this project will be undertaken in the primary language section’s 401 Senior Seminar, which must be done at Trinity College. See full descriptions under individual language headings.

Course work completed for the major under Plans A or B, or the minor, must receive C- or better, and students must demonstrate oral and written proficiency in the appropriate language(s). First-year students planning to take a language course (other than 101) must take the placement test, administered during first-year orientation.

Upper-level courses are conducted in the foreign language unless otherwise indicated.

Permission to major under Plan A or B or to opt for the language and culture studies minor must be obtained from the department chair.

Any student wishing to enroll for credit in a lower-level language sequence after having been granted credit for a course in the same language at a higher level must first obtain the written permission of the department chair.

All language skill courses may require extra lab or drill sessions at the discretion of the instructor.

Core courses: Please see listings and descriptions of respective majors.

Capstone/senior project: Students are also required to complete a project synthesizing coursework taken for the major. Except under exceptional circumstances, this project will be undertaken in the language section’s 401. Senior Seminar; it must be done at Trinity College. See full descriptions under individual language headings.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Study away: Majors and other students are urged to spend at least one semester abroad, or to enroll in a summer study-away program or a recognized summer language institute in North America. Special attention is called to the Trinity College programs in Berlin, Rome, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Vienna. The departmental contacts for these programs are, respectively, Professors Evelein, Del Puppo, Shen, Izumi, and Evelein. Brochures describing each of these programs in detail are available both through the department and the Office of Study Away.

Honors: Departmental honors are awarded to seniors who have maintained an A- average in all courses to be counted toward their major (including cognate courses). A minimum grade of A- is furthermore required in the senior exercise (401).

Language Across the Curriculum: In addition to majoring in a language through Plan A or Plan B, or choosing a minor, there is also the opportunity to apply language skills to a wide array of courses across the entire college curriculum through the Language Across the Curriculum Program.

This option is generally open to all students who have completed the intermediate level (fourth semester, or equivalent) in any foreign language currently taught at Trinity and who are enrolled in any course outside the department in which the instructor, in collaboration with a member of the language and culture studies faculty, approves a supplementary reading list in the foreign language. For example, those studying European history, the economy of Latin America, or Freud could do supplementary readings in French, Spanish, or German; those studying art history or modern theater might do further readings in Italian or Russian respectively. There are many other possibilities. Upon satisfactory completion of the assigned work, students will be awarded an extra half credit in the course in question. For further information, see any member of the department.

Courses designated with the LACS department prefix are conducted in English.