Italian Studies Minor
Coordinator: Associate Professor Essary
The Italian Studies minor engages students in developing linguistic proficiency, intercultural competence, and critical thinking skills. It consists of courses from a variety of disciplines—in Italian and in English—that focus on what fascinates us about the experiences and cultures of people in Italy and outside of Italy as a part of the Italian Diaspora: language, cuisine, art, literature, history, film, media, business, fashion, and more. Its courses are designed to develop expertise about Italy, its language, peoples and cultures; as well as to kindle passion, curiosity, and concern for other cultures more broadly. The program is built upon traditional and innovative teaching and learning approaches: from close reading and analysis of literature, works of art, and film; to hands-on culinary classes and language learning through cutting-edge video games. The Italian Studies program engages students to learn to work with others through a variety of mediums in courses and internships on campus, around the US, and abroad in Florence and Sorrento. Thus, the program helps students to become informed global citizens and active producers, not just consumers, of knowledge.
Minor Requirements
Required course: 4 sh
Students may meet this requirement via language assessment test. Testing guidelines are set by the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
Twelve semester hours of Italian (ITL) courses at the 100, 200, 300 or 400 level: 12 sh
Twelve semester hours selected from the following: 12 sh
| ACT 320 | ACTING IV: SPECIAL TOPICS | 2-4 sh |
| ARH 210 | ART HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD | 4 sh |
| ARH 211 | ART HISTORY OF THE MEDIEVAL AND PREMODERN WORLD | 4 sh |
| COR 302 | ITALIAN CINEMA | 4 sh |
| COR 357 | ROME | 4 sh |
| COR 463 | DANTE'S INFERNO | 4 sh |
| COR 380 | ITALY: [Course topic varies each semester] | 4 sh |
| GBL 241 | ITALIAN COMEDY | 4 sh |
| GBL 249 | ITALY’S HERITAGE: PAST IS PRESENT | 4 sh |
| GBL 265 | ITALY: FINE ARTS | 4 sh |
| GBL 285 | RENAISSANCE ITALY: VIDEO GAMES VERSUS REALITY | 4 sh |
| HST 327 | HISTORY OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC AND EMPIRE | 4 sh |
| IDS 214 | THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE | 4 sh |
| CLA 243 | CULTURE OF ANCIENT ROME | 2 sh |
| ITL 321 | ITALIAN CONVERSATION | 4 sh |
| LAT 121 | ELEMENTARY LATIN I - LEARNING ABOUT THE ANCIENT ROMAN WORLD | 4 sh |
| LAT 122 | ELEMENTARY LATIN II - LIFE IN THE ANCIENT ROMAN WORLD | 4 sh |
| LAT 221 | INTERMEDIATE LATIN I | 4 sh |
| LAT 222 | INTERMEDIATE LATIN II | 4 sh |
Electives not listed above may be approved on a case-by-case basis after consultation with the program coordinator. ARH 210, ARH 211, and ACT 320 require consultation with the instructor and the program coordinator no later than the second week of the semester in which the course is being taken.
Study abroad and internships are enabled and encouraged. Up to 4 hours of internship credit and up to 12 hours of study abroad courses that emphasize Italian Studies subject matter, may count for the minor, as approved by the program coordinator.
Program Outcomes
Increase students’ linguistic proficiency.
Enhance students’ intercultural competence.
Foster students’ critical thinking capabilities.
Total Credit Hours: 24-28