Italian Studies
2017-18 General Catalog
Department of Literature
303 Humanities 1
(831) 459-4778
Program Description
Students interested in an interdisciplinary approach to Italian culture through the combined study of language, literature, history, art history, and other subjects may pursue a major or minor in Italian studies. The guidelines for the completion of the major may be obtained from Professor Deanna Shemek of the Literature Department or Professor Cynthia Polecritti of the History Department. There are several options for study in Italy through the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), either for a year (Bologna, Milan), for an intensive semester or quarter (Bologna, Florence, Milan, Rome), or for the summer (Florence, Rome). Students may also divide their time between Italy and Spain for one semester or one quarter. The Italian studies program is administered by the Literature Department.
Requirements of the Major
Each student must complete the lower-division language sequence (Italian 1–6, or equivalent). In addition, students are required to take 10 five-credit courses (one of which may be lower division), including a core unit of five courses which must be taken at UCSC: two Italian literature courses, Italian 106 (Italian Culture Through Film), one course in Italian history, and one course in Italian art history. A course featuring the work of Dante is recommended. A minimum of five courses must be taught substantially in Italian. Five may be approved elective courses, two of which may feature Italy in a European or global context. Up to five elective courses may be approved from UC EAP’s yearlong study abroad in Italy. All students in the major must satisfy the Italian Studies senior exit requirement by writing a senior essay focused on Italian literature, history, or visual culture. This essay may be produced within an approved seminar, or (with faculty permission) by enrolling in a one-credit Literature 185Z course taken in conjunction with another upper-division course in Italian literature, history, or history of art and visual culture. This combination must be approved by a faculty adviser in Italian Studies.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major’s upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement. Italian studies majors satisfy the DC Requirement through satisfactory completion of the senior essay, as described above. Please refer to the updated information.
Minor Requirements
Each student must complete the lower-division language sequence (Italian 1–6, or equivalent). Students must also complete five upper-division courses in Italian studies: two Italian literature courses, Italian 106 (Italian Culture Through Film), one course in Italian history, and one course in Italian art history. A course featuring the work of Dante is recommended. Three of the five upper-division courses must be completed at UCSC; three must be taught substantially in Italian. A maximum of two courses may be transferred from EAP.
Honors
Honors in the Italian studies major are awarded to graduating seniors who have earned a 3.70 to 3.89 grade point average in their upper-division Italian studies courses. Highest honors in the Italian studies major are awarded to graduating seniors who have earned a 3.90 or higher grade point average in their upper-division Italian Studies courses. Honors are not awarded in the minor.
Program Learning Outcomes
Following is a summary of the program learning outcomes for the Italian studies B.A.:
Students who complete the major should be able to demonstrate:
A. Oral and written communication: listening, speaking, and writing competency in Italian sufficient to engage in meaningful conversation at the Intermediate-high to Advanced-mid level, according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
B. Textual comprehension and analysis: ability to understand and appreciate Italian texts in a variety of registers and different areas of knowledge at the Advanced level as described by ACTFL.
C. Critical analysis: ability to comment with critical insight on a range of topics in Italian history and contemporary culture.
D. Cultural competency: ability to demonstrate knowledge of historical and contemporary aspects of Italian culture with reference to study in several disciplines.
E. Global engagement: ability to recognize and reflect in an informed way on cultural differences as well as shared values between Italian culture and their own native cultures.
F. Knowledge building: ability to conduct research in both Italian and English on topics pertinent to Italian history and culture.
2017-18 Tentative Italian Studies Curriculum
Fall 2017
ITAL 1, First-Year Italian (Centineo, Prencipe)
ITAL 4, Second-Year Italian (Prencipe)
HIS 161B, Topics in Roman History: Pompei (Hedrick)
HIS 183A, 19th-Century Italy (Polecritti)
ITAL 100, Advanced Italian Composition and Conversation (in Italian) (Prencipe)
LIT 61P, Introduction to Reading Poetry: Love Poems (Kumar)
Winter 2018
ITAL 1A, Accelerated Italian (Prencipe)
ITAL 2, First-Year Italian (Centineo)
ITAL 5, Second-Year Italian (Prencipe)
HAVC 137E, Renaissance Prints (Langdale)
HAVC 157B, Italian Renaissance: Art and Architecture (Langdale)
HIS 183B, Fascism and Resistance in Italy (Polecritti)
LIT 185B, Letteratura e cultura italiana: La Sicilia (in Italian) (Kumar)
Spring 2018
ITAL 1B, Accelerated Italian (Prencipe)
ITAL 3, First-Year Italian (Centineo)
ITAL 6, Second-Year Italian (Prencipe)
ITAL 106, Italian Culture Through Film (in Italian) (Centineo)
HIS 196Y, Saints and Holiness in the Medieval World (Polecritti)
LAAD 80, Italian Culture Through Cinema (Centineo)
LIT 149D, Topics in Modern Literature: Writing Nature: Mountain and Wave (Kumar)
LIT 155D, Italian Cinema and Literature (Kumar)
LIT 185M, Fascismo e resistenza (in Italian) (Shemek)
Please note: Courses in bold require completion of Italian 6 or equivalent proficiency.
Courses that may satisfy the Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement: HIS 196Y; a combination of LIT 191 and any one of the following courses: HAVC 137E, HIS 183A, HIS 183B, LIT 155D, LIT 185B, LIT 185M. Please see Professor Cynthia Polecritti to arrange credit for the DC requirement.
Revised: 09/01/17
