French & Italian Advising Guide

Introduction

The Italian section of the Department of French and Italian offers a variety of courses in Italian language, literature and culture. The study of the Italian language is preparatory for the upper-level courses in literature and culture. Dickinson offers a major in Italian Studies and a minor in Italian. The following guide is meant for First Year Students, Italian Studies Majors, Italian Minors and International Business Majors (taking Italian). However, if you have any questions whatsoever, do not hesitate to contact your advisor or a professor of Italian.

Placement information for students interested in taking Italian

Courses appropriate for First Year prospective majors:

Students who wish to begin studying Italian should select ITAL 101: Elementary Italian.

Advanced Placement scores:
A student who has received a grade of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Test will be granted credit for college work and will receive placement in the appropriate Italian course as determined by their scores on the online placement test.

On-line placement testThe Italian placement test is available online through the Dickinson Gateway. The test will determine the student’s level of proficiency in Italian and the student will be informed of the appropriate course to select. To register, students must contact Prof. Tullio Pagano (paganot@dickinson.edu). If you wish to use the placement test ONLY to waive your language requirement, you will have to take the test on campus under supervision. Students who cannot take the exam during the summer will be able to take it on campus during the Orientation period. Students who cannot take the test online by July 1 will need to contact Professor Pagano before Wednesday, August 22, 2012. For more information, view Placement Exams.

Courses appropriate for prospective majors

Students who wish to begin studying Italian should select ITAL 101, Elementary Italian.

Courses that meet distribution requirements

Language requirement: Completion of the intermediate level, ITAL 116

Division IB: ITAL 301, The Discourse of Love

ITAL 305, Ideas of Italy

ITAL 306, Real and Imagined Journeys

Writing Intensive: ITAL 231, Reading and Writing Contemporary Italian Culture

Co-curricular activities

The Italian Studies Program sponsors a series of campus activities to help students enhance their knowledge of Italian language and culture. Students can apply to live at the Romance Language House where an Italian student from the University of Bologna resides with other Italian majors. Students are encouraged to participate in the weekly Tavola Italiana (Italian Table), where they dine in Italian alongside Italian faculty and language assistants. The Circolo Italiano (Italian Club) organizes a variety of social and cultural events during the academic year. Also offered is an Italian Film Series that features classic and contemporary Italian movies. For more information, refer to Extracurricular page.

Major in Italian Studies

In Italian Studies, the language and culture of Italy are inseparably intertwined. All majors pursue core courses in language, literature, and culture that establish written and oral fluency. To develop competence in one main area of Italian culture, students then pursue their interests in one of the four (4) areas of emphasis: Humanities, History, European and Mediterranean Studies or Film and Media Studies.

1. Language in Context (5 courses):

a. ITAL 231: Reading and Writing Contemporary Italian Culture

b. ITAL 232: Reading and Performing Italian Texts or 270: Italian Language in Context (offered in Bologna, fall semester)

c. ITAL 301: The Discourse of Love

d. ITAL 305: Ideas of Italy or ITAL 306: Real and Imaginary Journeys

e. ITAL 400: Senior Seminar

2. Core Requirements (3 courses):

a. Culture (1 course)

b. History (1 course)

c. Visual Arts and Representations (1 course)

3. Area of Emphasis (2 courses in one elective emphasis)

a. Humanities

b. History

c. European and Mediterranean Studies

d. Film and Media Studies

Minor in Italian

The Italian minor consists of 5 courses beyond ITAL 116:

1) 231
2) 232
3) 301
4) 305 or 306
5) 320-level Topics course (321, 322, 323 or 324)

Note: French and Italian Studies are one department but have been filed individually and alphabetically for ease of access.

Flowchart for Placement Information
Flowchart for Those Retaking Placement Exam