Dominican University

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Italian

Courses | Employment

Majors/Minors

Major Requirements:

  • Thirty-two semester hours in advance of Italian 111, including Italian 255 and 256 and also two of the following courses: Italian 365, 366, 367 or 368.
  • No more than four courses at the 200 level may be counted towards the major.
  • Students must register for course intensification in order to count Italian 260, 275 or 295 towards the major.
  • Graduating seniors must complete an oral interview patterned on the ACTFL guidelines and/or complete a written assessment exercise during their last semester of classes.
  • Seniors should consult with the discipline director. If students have had such an interview to complete requirements for the School of Education, the results of this test must be filed with the discipline director.
  • A minimum of one half the courses in the major field must be completed at Dominican.

Minor Requirements  

  • Twenty-four semester hours in advance of Italian 111.
  • A minimum of one half the courses in the minor field must be completed at Dominican.

Courses

Basic Language Courses

101. ELEMENTARY ITALIAN I (4)
This course introduces students to the Italian language by listening, speaking, reading and writing Italian in a cultural context. Students will develop a basic proficiency in all language skills through a study of  Italian grammar and vocabulary.

102. ELEMENTARY ITALIAN II (4)
This course continues to develop the four language skills.
Prerequisite: Italian 101 or equivalent

111. INTERMEDIATE ITALIAN (4)
This course completes the grammar cycle. It reinforces and builds upon basic skills in Italian through development of the four language skills. Compositions and dialogues in conjunction with daily written and oral exercises reinforce the grammatical concepts.
Prerequisite: Italian 102 or equivalent

Advanced Language Courses

211. COMMUNICATING IN ITALIAN (4)
This course continues the development of reading and writing skills with an emphasis on written and spoken communication. Visual, oral and written materials form the point of departure for work that enhances students’ communication skills.
Prerequisite: Italian 111 or equivalent

300. ADVANCED GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION (3)
Development of writing skills with emphasis on the complexities of structure and idioms, composition techniques and translation techniques.
Prerequisite: Italian 211 or equivalent

301. ADVANCED DISCUSSION (3)
Development of increased fluency in spoken language in a variety of forms—conversations, reports and relevant contemporary materials contained in magazines and newspaper articles.
Prerequisite: Italian 211 or equivalent

315. ADVANCED ITALIAN (3)
Advanced level Italian offered to participants in the Summer in Florence program.
Prerequisite: Italian 211 or equivalent

Civilization and Culture Courses
255. ITALIAN CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE (3)
An introduction to the history and culture of Italy from the Medieval through the Renaissance periods by examining the geography, art forms, literature, customs, traditions, economy, politics and lifestyles of the time.
Prerequisite: Italian 211 or equivalent

256. ITALIAN CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE II (3)
An introduction to the history and culture of Italy from the Baroque period to the present by examining the geography, art forms, literature, customs, traditions, economy, politics and lifestyles of the time.
Prerequisite: Italian 211 or equivalent

260. ITALIAN-AMERICAN CULTURE (3)
An exploration through film and literature of the position of Italian-Americans in the United States during the 20th and 21st centuries.
This course will satisfy the literature core area requirement.
Listed also as Modern Foreign Language 260.

295. ITALIAN CINEMA (3)
The development and evolution of Italian cinema after World War II to the present. A survey of Italian film directors such as Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica and Giuseppe Tornatore. (This course is conducted in English.)

320. HISTORY OF THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE (3)
This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the evolution of the Italian language. Course material covers the Questione della Lingua, linguistics and dialects.
Prerequisite: Italian 300

Professional Courses

345. BUSINESS ITALIAN (3)
An introduction to written and oral Italian as it applies to the business profession. Provides exposure to current Italian commercial structures, business practices, and terminology and cultivates business-related communication skills.
Prerequisite: Italian 255 or 256 or 300 or 301

Literature Courses

275. DANTE’S INFERNO (3)
This course provides an understanding of Dante’s Inferno through an examination of the text, and critical works as well as an exploration of visual commentary of the text. A study of manuscript art of the Inferno presents the historical context in which the work was circulated in its earlier years. (This course is conducted in English.)
This course will satisfy the literature core area requirement.
Listed also as Modern Foreign Language 275.

360. THE ITALIAN SHORT STORY (3)
A study of the novella from the Middle Ages to the present.
Prerequisite: Italian 255 or 256 or 300 or 301
This course will satisfy the literature core area requirement.

365. LITERATURE OF THE ITALIAN MIDDLE AGES (3)
The course covers the literary production of the Italian Middle Ages. Works include the poetry of the Duecento and an introduction to masterpieces by Dante Alighieri and Giovanni Boccaccio.
Prerequisite:  Italian 255 or 256 or 300 or 301
    This course will satisfy the literature core area requirement.

366. LITERATURE OF THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE (3)
The course covers the literary production of the Renaissance. Works include those of Francesco Petrarca, Niccolo Machiavelli and Ludovico Ariosto among others.
Prerequisite:  Italian 255 or 256 or 300 or 301
    This course will satisfy the literature core area requirement.

367. LITERATURE OF THE ITALIAN ROMANTIC PERIOD (3)
The course begins with the pre-romantic works of  Ugo Foscolo and focuses on the literary production of Alessandro Manzoni and Giacomo Leopardi. Includes a discussion of the Italian Romantic movement within the context of European Romanticism.
Prerequisite: Italian 255 or 256 or 300 or 301
This course will satisfy the literature core area requirement.

368. LITERATURE OF MODERN ITALY (3)
An introduction to Italian literature from the 20th century to the present through a study of representative selections of prose and poetry.
Prerequisite: Italian 255 or 256 or 300 or 301
This course will satisfy the literature core area requirement.

427-430. SPECIAL TOPICS (3-4)
Reading, discussion and reports on selected literary works or movements. Content varies.
Prerequisite: Italian 255 or 256 or 300 or 301
This course will satisfy the literature core area requirement.

Other Courses

299. APPLIED FOREIGN LANGUAGE COMPONENT (1)
A project in Italian directly related to another non-Italian course in which the student is currently enrolled.
Prerequisites: Italian 111 or equivalent; approval of the Italian discipline head and the instructor of the related course.
Course may be taken for credit more than once.

399. DIRECTED STUDY (1-4)
Directed study open only to students who have already taken all Italian courses offered in a given semester.
Students will work closely with the instructor.
Prerequisite: Junior standing and consent of instructor

450. INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-4)
Independent study is for students who have already taken all Italian courses offered in a given semester.
Prerequisite: Senior standing and consent of instructor

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH OR CREATIVE INVESTIGATION (1-3)
Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced, Senior Thesis Independent Research or Creative Investigation is a course in which students collaborate with faculty mentors on an ongoing faculty research project or conduct an independent project under the guidance of a faculty member.  This directed undergraduate research or creative investigation culminates in a conference presentation, journal article or other creative/scholarly project.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor

Employment


Learn Italian and learn not only about the language, culture and literature, but also essential skills necessary in today’s global society: understanding a culture different from your own, appreciating the role Italy played in the great changes in art, literature, science and music, and thinking critically about cultural stereotypes.

Employment:
  • Linguist
  • Historian
  • Tour guide
  • Technical writer
  • Translator
  • Travel specialist
  • Consultant positions in international business
  • Anthropology
  • Diplomacy
  • Education
  • Research
  • Proofreader
Employers:
  • Corporations
  • Financial institutions
  • Foreign Service
  • Colleges and universities
  • Cultural institutions
  • Travel businesses
  • Publishers
  • Government
  • Not-for-profits