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Major and Minor Requirements

REQUIREMENTS

Plan A majors in Italian are required to have 12 courses in Italian language, literature, and civilization.

Plan B majors whose primary concentration is Italian are required to have seven courses.

Plan B majors whose secondary concentration is Italian are required to have five courses.

Plan A Majors:

Core courses: The following is a list of required courses for the major:

  • Five language courses: ITAL 101, 102, 201, 202, and 228.
  • Two 200-level interdisciplinary courses on Italian culture and civilization that are taught in English. These courses may be applied toward the major if a substantial portion of the assignments is completed in Italian.
  • Two courses from the literature offerings: ITAL 314, 335, and 375.
  • Two courses, one of which is at the 300 level, from other departments on an Italian-related subject. Students must consult with their faculty adviser as to which courses they can count toward the major.
  • Senior seminar, ITAL 401. Special Topics.

In consultation with the faculty adviser in Italian, students matriculating at Trinity College who have background in Italian language will enroll at a more advanced level than first-year Italian (101 and 102). Students must take three interdisciplinary courses on Italian culture and civilization and three literature survey courses to complete the required 12 courses.

Capstone/senior project: The capstone/senior project is completed in ITAL 401.

All majors are required to pass an Italian language proficiency examination. This requirement is waived for students gaining a B or better in one of the Italian 300-level courses.

The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by: ITAL 314. Contemporary Italian Literature (in Italian), ITAL 335. Dante (also LACS 335), or ITAL 401. Senior Seminar: Topics in Italian Studies (in Italian).

Plan B majors:

If Italian is the primary language, students are required to take seven courses, including ITAL 228, a 300-level literary survey, and ITAL 401. Special Topics.

If Italian is the secondary language, students are required to take five courses. ITAL 228 is required. For students with prior background in Italian, at least one 300-level survey course is required.

All majors are required to pass an Italian language proficiency examination. This requirement is waived for students gaining a B or better in one of the Italian 300-level courses.

The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by: ITAL 314. Contemporary Italian Literature (in Italian), ITAL 335. Dante (also LACS 335), or ITAL 401. Senior Seminar: Topics in Italian Studies (in Italian).

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

AP credit: Students with AP credit in Italian may count AP credit toward general degree requirements, but not for the Italian major or the Italian minor. AP credit serves as an indicator for placing students in the appropriate level courses.

Study away: Students majoring in Italian are encouraged to attend one of the programs at the Trinity College Rome Campus; they can apply courses taken at the Rome Campus toward the Italian major subject to approval of the faculty adviser. Please see the Rome Campus program and course descriptions in the global programs section.

Honors: Students qualifying for honors in the Italian major must attain a cumulative average of A- or better in all courses counting toward the major, including ITAL 401.

The minor in Italian—for students who wish to minor in Italian, this is a sequence of six courses designed primarily to develop linguistic skills and an appreciation of Italian culture and civilization. These courses include, but are not limited to, the language acquisition courses (ITAL 101, 102, 201, 202), ITAL 228. Italian Language and Society, and literary survey courses. In consultation with the minor adviser, Dario Del Puppo, students may also count culture and civilization courses taught in English if they do a significant amount of the course work in Italian. In addition to the six courses, students must complete a .5 credit of Language Across the Curriculum.

To declare a minor in Italian, contact Professor Dario Del Puppo. Students interested in cross-disciplinary approaches to the study of Italian culture are referred to the Italian studies interdisciplinary minor.

Interdisciplinary Italian Studies Minor

The minor in Italian studies introduces students to the complexities of an area that has been traditionally significant for Western civilization and that retains a unique historical, literary, and artistic patrimony. The minor consists of six courses in three categories of inquiry that can be taken at the Hartford campus or at the Rome campus. The categories are: fine arts; history and politics; Italian language, literature, cinema, and culture. At least one course, but no more than three courses, may be taken in any one category. All courses must be approved in advance by the minor coordinator: Students must earn a minimum of C for all courses counted toward the minor.

Course requirements:

  • At least one, and no more than three, courses in the following disciplines:
    • Fine arts
    • History and politics
    • Language, literature, cinema, and culture
  • Courses in the Italian language must be beyond the introductory level (101-102) to count toward the minor.
  • Students are encouraged to study away at the Rome campus, where they will be able to take courses toward the minor.
  • If students choose to attend a study away program in Italy (other than the Rome Campus) they may count two courses toward the Italian studies minor, with the approval of the minor adviser.

Majors in Italian studies may not take this minor.