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Italian Studies

Trevi Fountain in Rome

Brandeis offers students the opportunity to focus on the cultural heritage of Italy from the inception of the Italian language to the present day. The study of Italy’s language and creative achievements enables a student to explore another culture in depth in preparation for study abroad and eventual graduate work or related opportunities in the workplace.

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Learning Goals for Italian Studies

Curriculum Overview

Italian studies offers an interdisciplinary major and a minor for those who wish to extend their study beyond language to areas of Italian literature, history, film, art history and music. The study of Italian within a variety of cultural contexts enables students to deepen their understanding of a national heritage beyond the boundaries of a single time frame, region, gender, genre or academic discipline.

Students in the program work closely with an adviser to develop an individualized plan of study that balances the exploration of a broad range of topics and sectors with a focus on a single discipline or cultural period.

The major requires nine courses:

The major in Italian studies consists of a minimum of nine semester courses, including the completion of one advanced language course, three literature courses, four courses from the related disciplines, and completion of the senior option. Students seeking honors will take a minimum of ten courses, configured as follows.

A. At least one advanced language course: ITAL 105a or ITAL 106a.

B. Three literature courses: ITAL 110a, ITAL 120b, ITAL 128a, ITAL 134b, IECS 140a, COML 102a, or COML 103b.

C. Any four of the following courses relating to Italian culture, or other courses approved by the student's adviser:

FA 45a (St. Peter's and the Vatican)
FA 51a (Art of the Early Renaissance in Italy)
FA 58b (High and Late Renaissance in Italy)
FA 60a (Baroque in Italy and Spain)
FA 197b (Methods and Approaches in the History of Art: Leonardo da Vinci)
HIST 123a (The Renaissance)
HIST 139b (Fascism East and West)
HIST 170a (Italian Films, Italian Histories)
ITAL 128a (Mapping Modern Italian Culture)
MUS 52a (Opera)
NEJS 151b (Ghettos, Gondolas, and Gelato: The Italian Jewish Experience)

D. Students must complete either ITAL 97a or b (Senior Essay) or ITAL 99d (Senior Thesis) in their senior year, or an equivalent course or courses in a cognate department that results in the writing of a senior essay or senior thesis on a subject relating to Italy.

E. Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad during their junior year for either one or two semesters. Equivalent or appropriate courses taken abroad may count toward the concentration. Students who are unable to engage in study abroad are encouraged to avail themselves of relevant courses offered by consortium institutions in the Boston area (principally, Wellesley College, Boston College, Boston University, Tufts University).

The minor requires five courses:

A minor in Italian studies consists of five semester courses:

A. An advanced language course: ITAL 105a or ITAL 106a.

B. A literature course: ITAL 110a, ITAL 120b, or IECS 140a.

C. Any two of the Italian-related culture courses listed in requirement C above, or two other courses approved by the student's adviser.

D. Any elective course from the listings in A, B, or C.

Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad during their junior year, for either one or two semesters. Equivalent or appropriate courses taken abroad may count toward the major.

Honors

Students seeking to qualify for honors in ITALIAN STUDIES are required to enroll in the 99-level course in their senior year. Normally a 3.5 average in courses taken for the major is required for permission to enroll in the ITAL 99-level course. Permission to enroll must be obtained from the Advising Head of the Program.

Enrollment in the 99 course does not guarantee that honors will be awarded. Departmental honors are awarded on the basis of cumulative excellence in all courses taken for the major, including the senior honors course (99). The degree of honors, if any, is voted at a meeting in spring upon review of a student's complete and final record.

Download the complete thesis requirement guide (pdf). 

Opportunities beyond the Classroom

In addition to studying abroad, students are encouraged to take advantage of resources within the  Boston Area Consortium (Boston College, Boston University, Tufts University and Wellesley College).

The Hiatt Career Center has a page devoted to Italian Studies, which has a host of information specific to majors. 

CET Intensive Language and Cultural Studies in Sicily, Italy with Professor Paola Servino
For students interested in an off-the beaten-path Italian experience, a summer in Catania, Sicily, is an exciting possibility for you.

Open to all Brandeis students, this eight-week program provides the opportunity for Italian language immersion to students ranging from no Italian background through four semesters of language experience. An academic traveling seminar in addition to language practica and a history and culture course take learning outside the classroom walls and into the streets of one of Sicily's most charming cities. 

Students who complete the program may receive numeric credit for three Brandeis courses as well as Italian elective credit.

Download the fact sheet (pdf) and learn more about this program and how it relates to Brandeis credit.

Ready to apply? Start the application process.