Italian (ITAL)

ITAL 1410. Beginning Italian I.

This course is designed for beginners and introduces fundamental Italian pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. It builds basic communicative ability through pronunciation practice, essential vocabulary, and foundational grammar presented in culturally contextualized materials. Students develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to communicate about everyday topics and participate in simple real world interactions. Coursework integrates language structures and meaning through guided practice, interpersonal activities, and short readings from Italian speaking communities.

ITAL 1420. Beginning Italian II.

This course is a continuation of beginning Italian and builds on competencies developed in the first semester. Students expand vocabulary, grammar, and communicative ability for everyday topics in present, past, and introductory future contexts. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills are strengthened through interactive tasks and culturally contextualized materials from Italian speaking communities. The course emphasizes interpretive and interpersonal communication and introduces cultural information through selected texts and media. Prerequisites: ITAL 1410 with a grade of "D" or better.

ITAL 2310. Intermediate Italian I.

This course is a third semester Italian course that develops and reviews all language skills within an Italian language framework. Students strengthen linguistic competence through work with verb aspect, mood, compound tenses, and the passive voice. Communication and interactional skills are supported by activities involving pragmatics and cultural perspectives, while metalinguistic competence is reinforced through analysis of oral and written texts. Students use Italian in varied interactive settings to deepen their understanding of Italian speaking cultures. Prerequisite: ITAL 1420 with a grade of "D" or better.

ITAL 2320. Intermediate Italian II.

This course is a fourth semester Italian course that reinforces and expands students’ vocabulary, grammar, and communicative abilities in varied contexts. Students work with authentic texts to strengthen reading and writing skills, including interpretation, thematic identification, and contextual vocabulary strategies. Speaking and listening abilities develop through structured interpersonal and presentational tasks. The course completes the four semester language sequence requirement and prepares students for advanced study in Italian. Prerequisite: ITAL 2310 with a grade of "D" or better.

ITAL 3308. Advanced Grammar and Composition.

This course advances proficiency in Italian through work in grammar, style, and composition. Students examine selected texts and produce guided and independent writing (such as summaries, responses, analyses, and short essays) with attention to register and audience. Coursework addresses revision practices, vocabulary development, and organization of ideas through drafting, peer and instructor feedback, and editing strategies. The course may be repeated once with different content, allowing students to engage with a broader range of materials. Prerequisite: ITAL 2320 with a grade of "D" or better.

ITAL 3309. Italian Film and Media Studies.

This course surveys Italian film and media from the past century through theoretical, methodological, and critical perspectives. Students examine representative films and contemporary screen media while developing skills in the close analysis of narrative, cinematography, editing, sound, genre, and cultural context. The course considers how Italian media engage with global screen cultures, and students articulate their interpretations in Italian through discussion and writing-intensive assignments. Screenings are accompanied by workshops and guest lectures with visiting professionals addressing film and media–related topics. Prerequisite: ITAL 2320 with a grade of "D" or better. Corequisite: ITAL 3308 with a grade of "D" or better.

ITAL 4304. Italian Literature and Culture.

This course offers an in depth exploration of Italian literature and culture from antiquity to the present. Students work with a range of Italian language texts to examine major themes, genres, and movements while advancing their language proficiency in meaningful contexts. Through discussions, presentations, and writing tasks, students strengthen analytical and interpretive abilities, expand specialized vocabulary, and develop effective communication in Italian. Course topics vary by offering and may include classical legacies, Renaissance developments, or modern and contemporary perspectives. The course may be repeated with different emphasis. Prerequisite: ITAL 3308 with a grade of "D" or better.

ITAL 4370. Italian Civilization.

This course provides an overview of Italian cultural institutions, regional diversity, and major developments that have shaped modern Italy. Students examine essays, films, and selected literary texts to analyze topics such as regional identities, migration, unification, twentieth century political transitions, and contemporary social contexts. Through writing and presentations, students practice communicating cultural analysis in Italian while strengthening interpretive and analytical skills. Course themes may vary by offering, and the course may be repeated with different content. Prerequisite: ITAL 3308 with a grade of "D" or better or instructor approval.

ITAL 4390. Studies in Italian Language and Culture.

This course is an individual study course in Italian under the direct supervision of a professor. It is generally available to graduating seniors who have completed several advanced courses or graduate students with special needs. Also, students enrolled in an education abroad program offered by the Department of World Languages & Literatures may take the course to fulfill up to two upper division elective courses in their degree plan. Students may not exceed six hours of credit in Independent Study. The course is repeatable for credit with different emphasis. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.