Italian Language, Literature and Culture, BA

Contact:

Stefano Giannini
Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
340 H.B. Crouse
315-443-2136.

Faculty

Stefano Giannini

The major in Italian language, literature, and culture, which leads to a B.A. degree, provides students with a mastery of the language and a broad knowledge of Italian literature and culture. Lower-division courses teach the skills needed to read, write, and speak Italian. After the second year, students are trained to develop an oral and written command of the language. Literature and film studies cover areas of studies from Dante and the Renaissance to modern and contemporary periods.

All students with more than one year of high school Italian are required to take a placement examination (accessible on line via the “my slice” page), given immediately before registration each semester. The requirement applies to all students regardless of class standing or previous study.

Prospective majors should consult the Italian program coordinator as early as possible. Early consultation is particularly important for students with little or no preparation in Italian so they may be sure to satisfy prerequisites and requirements within four years.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Express themselves in the target language on a number of subjects of practical and intellectual relevance. They can engage in conversations on complex ideas (i.e.: discussion and analysis of a literary text) and are able to provide a supported argument, including emerging evidence  in support of their points of view

2. Comprehend complex texts previously presented and discussed in class (i.e.: novels, short stories, essays, newspapers articles), and understand their main ideas and supporting details. They are able to derive meaning from context and linguistic features

3. Comprehend a broad range of subjects of practical and intellectual relevance based on the specific vocabulary studied

4. Write summaries, descriptions and critical interpretations of complex texts (i.e.: on canonical literary works of the Middle Ages and of the Modernity) using different tenses and expressing their points of view

5. Describe Italian culture giving examples from literature, art, history, geography, religion, politics, film and music. Students recognize differences in cultural behavior between their own culture and Italian

Study Abroad

Students studying Italian are strongly encouraged to spend a semester or a year abroad. Syracuse University’s program in Florence, Italy, enables students to take fully accredited classes in Italian language and literature, fine arts, history, political science, and a number of electives outside arts and sciences. For students fluent in Italian, placements are available at the Centro per Stranieri at the University of Florence. For further information, contact the Italian program coordinator or Syracuse University Abroad, 106 Walnut Place.

Major Requirements

A major in Italian consists of ITA 202 plus 24 credits in upper-division courses. Eighteen of the credits in upper-division courses are from courses taught in Italian; 6 of the credits may be in upper-division courses taught in Italian, in English, or in English with readings in Italian as approved by the program advisor. LIT courses at the 200 level taught in English by Italian language faculty may be substituted for upper-division courses taught in English to satisfy the major requirements.

Note:

*As approved by the program advisor.