Italian Studies Major
Program Director: Giuseppe Falvo, Ph.D.
Italian is the language of modern, contemporary Italy, through which its culture has become known to the world, including the beauty and ramifications of its art, music, poetry, fashion, food, and architecture. Italian has also emerged as the language of an industrialized nation playing an active role within the European Union. It is the intent of the Italian program (ITAL) to bring its students to a level of linguistic and cultural understanding that allows them to participate actively in on-going events and conversations connected to the cultural and professional worlds of this dynamic country. The Italian program offers a range of courses well suited for students who are preparing themselves for graduate study, research, professional development in the varied fields of the humanities and sciences, and those seeking a teaching career in education.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to communicate effectively in writing in Italian;
- Students will be able to express knowledge of Italian culture and society orally at the intermediate level according to the ACTFL Standard scale;
- Students will be able to summarize, understand and interpret written texts in a variety of genres and topics.
Placement in Courses
For information about the Foreign Language Placement Assessment, go to: http://arhu.umd.edu/undergraduate/flpa/.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Italian language through intermediate level (ITAL203 or equivalent)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| College Requirements | ||
| Major Core Requirements | ||
| ITAL204 | Advanced Intermediate Italian | 3 |
| ITAL207 | Speaking and Writing in Italian | 3 |
| ITAL252 | Stories of Italy | 3 |
| or ITAL261 | Cuisine, Culture, and Society in Italy Yesterday and Today | |
| ITAL301 | Italian Composition | 3 |
| ITAL311 | Advanced Oral Expression: Current Events | 3 |
| ITAL401 | Advanced Composition and Style | 3 |
| ITAL361 | Survey of Italian Society and Culture: From Fascism to the Seventies | 3 |
| ITAL362 | Survey of Italian Society and Culture: From the 1980s to thePresent Day | 3 |
| Select three courses at the ITAL4xx level each with associated ITAL478 course 1 | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
N.B. For each course at the 4xx level, Italian majors must register for a 1-credit colloquium (ITAL478)
Students must earn a grade of "C-" or higher in each course applied toward a major or minor in the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Additionally, an overall GPA of 2.0 in a major or minor is required for graduation.
Click here for roadmaps for four-year plans in the College of Arts and Humanities.
Additional information on developing a four-year academic plan can be found on the following pages:
- http://4yearplans.umd.edu
- the Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy section of this catalog
Study Abroad
For information on study abroad programs see the program advisor and/or the Education Abroad website http://globalmaryland.umd.edu/offices/education-abroad/.