2018-19 General Catalog

Department of Literature
303 Humanities 1
(831) 459-4778

Faculty

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 Cynthia Polecritti of the History Department. There are several options for study in Italy through the UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP), 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.

Program Learning Outcomes

Following is a summary of the program learning outcomes for the Italian studies Bachelor of Arts (B.A.).

Students who complete the major should be able to demonstrate:

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. Critical analysis: ability to comment with critical insight on a range of topics in Italian history and contemporary culture.
4. Cultural competency: ability to demonstrate knowledge of historical and contemporary aspects of Italian culture with reference to study in several disciplines.
5. 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.
6. Knowledge building: ability to conduct research in both Italian and English on topics pertinent to Italian history and culture.

Declaring the Major or Minor

Declaring a major or minor in Italian studies is a three-step process:

1. Print a petition for the major or minor and fill it out to the best of your ability. Be sure to indicate your expected graduation term (EGT) on the petition. Your EGT is visible in your student advising summary or on your MyUCSC student portal.
2. Make an appointment with the Italian studies program director to discuss your plans and fill out a major or minor checklist.
3. Make an appointment with a Literature Department adviser in order to review and complete your declaration form. To schedule an advising appointment, call 831-459-4778 or stop in at the Literature Department office (Humanities 1, room 303) to sign up for an available time.

Transfer Students

Transfer students are recommended to complete two years of Italian before coming to UCSC. They will also find it helpful to complete courses satisfying campus general education requirements. California transfer students will find it helpful to complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) before coming to UCSC.

Transfer students take a language placement test when they come to UC Santa Cruz. If a student joining UCSC is determined (through the placement test) to have completed the equivalent of UCSC Italian 1, 2 and 3, they can complete the major in two years as shown in the planner below (Transfer Plan A). This requires completion of at least one year of Italian language in community college unless a transfer student is a heritage speaker or has studied Italian extensively at the high-school level. If a transfer student is determined to have completed the equivalent of Italian 6, they can follow Transfer Plan B, which is more flexible. Students entering UCSC in winter quarter should have completed the equivalent of UCSC Italian 1-4.

Students who have not completed Italian language study before coming to UC Santa Cruz should contact the staff adviser for the program after coming to UCSC to plan their program. For instance, a transfer student entering UCSC in the fall quarter can complete Italian 1, 2 and 3 and the five courses taught in English that are required for the major in their first year, followed by intensive Italian in the summer term (e.g., Mills College hosts the Middlebury intensive language program; some fellowship aid is possible), allowing them to take the five required courses taught in Italian during their second year. A transfer student entering UCSC in the winter quarter could take a two-quarter intensive Italian course in winter and spring that is the equivalent of Italian 1, 2, and 3.

Requirements of the Major

1. Lower-division Italian language sequence (Italian 1-6, or equivalent)
2. 10 five-credit courses (one may be lower-division), including the following:
   • Two Italian literature courses (completed at UCSC)
   • Italian 106 (completed at UCSC)
   • One course in Italian history (taken at UCSC)
   • One course in History of Art and Visual Culture (taken at UCSC).
3. LIT 185Z, a one-credit course taken in conjunction with an upper-division course in Italian literature, history, HAVC. This course combination will be approved by a faculty adviser in Italian Studies. As an alternative to LIT 185Z, a student may take an approved seminar course.

The five remaining courses are approved elective courses, two of which may feature Italy in a European or global context. Up to five elective courses may be approved from UCEAP’s yearlong study abroad in Italy. A course featuring the work of Dante is recommended.

A minimum of five courses must be taught substantially in Italian. These courses are indicated on each year’s curriculum after the name of the particular course and include Italian 100, Italian 106, and designated literature courses (these change yearly). With the permission of and guidelines set by the instructor, one history or literature course taught in English may be modified so that the individual student does substantial work in Italian readings.

2018-2019 course offerings will be available soon. You may also consult individual departmental websites to see what courses are available:

Literature Department

History Department

History of Art and Visual Culture (HAVC) Department

Languages and Applied Linguistics Department

Disciplinary Communication (DC) and Comprehensive Requirement

The Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement and the comprehensive requirement are the same in Italian studies. Majors are required to write 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 the history of art and visual culture. Please refer to the updated information.

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.

Minor Requirement

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.

Sample Planners for Frosh and Transfer Students

Please plan your individual program with the Italian studies director. Please note that the 10 courses beyond Italian 1-6 may be taken in any order, except for the comprehensive/DC requirement, which should be taken later in a student’s career. Thus, the planners below are intended as general guidelines and can be modified according to current course offerings and the interests of the individual student. Students who study in the Education Abroad Program should also consult with the director beforehand.

Frosh Major Planner

 *Upper-division courses substantially taught in Italian

Transfer Major Planner A (First-year Italian Completed, Fall Admission)

 *Upper-division courses substantially taught in Italian

Transfer Major Planner B (Two Years of Italian Completed)

*Upper-division courses substantially taught in Italian

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Revised: 07/15/18