This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://coursecatalog.bucknell.edu.

Italian Studies (ITAL)

The Italian Studies program offers a major and a minor in Italian Studies. In addition to focusing on developing students’ fluency in Italian, students gain a broad understanding of Italy’s culture and its intellectual and artistic past. It is our goal to teach our students the linguistic skills and cultural knowledge necessary to successfully function in an Italian environment. Our students will also become familiar with Italy’s history, artifacts and intellectual contributions of the past and present to understand Italy’s unique culture.

Residence abroad is the best way to gain proficiency in the language and knowledge of the culture. A semester or year abroad in Italy is strongly recommended and a variety of opportunities is available. Students wishing to study in Italy are encouraged to contact the director of the Italian Studies program as early as possible to discuss the various options.

Italian Studies Major

The Italian Studies major targets the acquisition of the linguistic and cultural skills necessary to communicate at an advanced-low level in Italian. The major is intended to offer students access to the Italian culture, which has been vital to the development of our global society, and to assist them in developing a new perspective on our rapidly changing world. Italian Studies majors will also develop skills in writing, speaking and information literacy throughout their studies.

The major in Italian Studies requires seven courses (equivalent to seven full-credit courses) starting with ITAL 104 Intermediate Italian II: Italian Civilization or above. It combines language proficiency, cultural knowledge and a Culminating Experience. The specific requirements for each of these components are listed below.

Language Proficiency

Students majoring in Italian Studies will gain at least an advanced-low level of language proficiency in Italian (according to the ACTFL guidelines). The major in Italian Studies requires the completion of ITAL 205 Discovering Italy. This course concentrates on the development of skills in writing, speaking and information literacy.

Cultural Knowledge

Students majoring in Italian Studies will gain familiarity with significant cultural aspects and artifacts of Italy. The major requires at least four courses related to Italy taught in Italian or English. It is strongly recommended that at least one of these content courses be taught in Italian. These courses are offered either by the Italian Studies program, by other programs or departments at Bucknell, or by an accepted study abroad program in Italy.

Culture courses at the 200 and 300 level offered by the Italian Studies program (in addition to ITAL 205 Discovering Italy) include:

ITAL 201Intermediate Italian Conversation I 1.5
ITAL 202Intermediate Italian Conversation II 1.5
ITAL 206Exploring Italian Studies1
ITAL 207Eureka! Italy and the Sciences1
ITAL 210Italian Pop Culture (in English)1
ITAL 240Love and Politics (in English) (taught in English)1
ITAL 250Introduction to Italian Cinema (in English) (taught either in Italian or English)1
ITAL 295Topics in Italian Studies (taught either in Italian or English)1
ITAL 380IL Mezzogiorno: Culture of Southern Italy1
ITAL 385Corsets and Curses1
ITAL 395Advanced Topics in Italian Studies1
ITAL 390Independent Study 2.5-1

Courses related to Italy offered by other programs or departments at Bucknell include:

ARTH 271Leonardo da Vinci and Renaissance Art1
ARTH 370Italian Renaissance Paintings (Kress)1
CLAS 132Roman Civilization1
CLAS 236The Age of Augustus1
CLAS 243Archaeology of Rome1
HIST 246Medieval Heresies and Heretics1
LATN 101Introductory Latin 21
LATN 102Introductory Latin 21
LATN 200Intermediate Latin 21

Culminating Experience

The major in Italian Studies includes a Culminating Experience. The Culminating Experience draws together the skills, knowledge and experiences a student gained during their studies of Italian language and culture. This Culminating Experience component of the major may be fulfilled during the student’s senior year in two ways:

  • Any 300-level course offered by the Italian Studies program (that has not been counted toward the cultural knowledge component). All writing requirements of the course must be completed in Italian.
  • An Independent Study resulting in a thesis or comparable product.

Study Abroad

Study abroad at a full immersion program is the best way to gain proficiency in the language and knowledge of the culture. Students may count up to three credits toward the major (up to four if the student chooses to study abroad for a year) from a full immersion study abroad program approved by Bucknell’s Italian Studies program. Students studying at a non-immersion study abroad program in Italy may count up to two of the courses taken there toward their major after consultation with and approval of the Italian Studies program. The courses taken abroad may be counted toward the language proficiency requirement as well as toward the cultural knowledge component of the major. ITAL 205 Discovering Italy must be taken at Bucknell.

Italian Studies Minor

The minor in Italian Studies consists of a minimum of five course credits. All courses offered by the Italian Studies program count toward the minor. ITAL 205 Discovering Italy or ITAL 206 Exploring Italian Studies or ITAL 207 Eureka! Italy and the Sciences is required for the minor. All additional courses counting toward the major may be counted toward the minor as well.

  • Those students studying in Italy for a semester or year may count up to two of the courses taken there toward their minor after consultation with and approval of the Italian Studies program.

ITALIAN STUDIES: Learning Outcomes

These numbers represent the university learning goals to which the Italian Studies Program learning outcomes are connected.

  1. Communication learning outcome: speak, read, write, understand and communicate in Italian at an advanced-low level according to ACTFL guidelines. (3, 7, 9)
  2. Culture learning outcome: show level-appropriate cultural competency in Italian civilization, and perform accurate research in Italian literature and culture. (1, 3, 8)
  3. Comparison learning outcome: use concepts and tools of inquiry to compare Italian language, social experiences and cultural products with those of one’s own culture. (1, 3)
  4. Connections learning outcome: relate knowledge of another discipline to the course of the Italian Studies Major, fostering a connection between areas of study. (2)
  5. Community learning outcome: use linguistic and cultural knowledge of Italy within and beyond the classroom setting, enabling an engagement in professional and communal life. (5, 9)

Numbers in parentheses reflect related Educational Goals of Bucknell University.

Courses

ITAL 101. Elementary Italian I. 1 Credit.

Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3,Recitation:1
Beginning language skills, practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing; elementary grammar; and introduction to Italian culture.

ITAL 101A. Intensive Elementary Italian. 1.5 Credit.

Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:6
Intensive practice in speaking, listening, reading, and writing Italian. Introduction to Italian culture. Successful completion meets the prerequisite for ITAL 103.

ITAL 102. Elementary Italian II. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3,Recitation:1
Continuation of language skills. Practice in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Introduction to Italian culture. Prerequisite: ITAL 101 or equivalent.

ITAL 103. Intermediate Italian I. 1 Credit.

Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3,Recitation:1
Review and expansion of language skills and cultural knowledge of Italy. Prerequisite: ITAL 102 or equivalent.

ITAL 104. Intermediate Italian II: Italian Civilization. 1 Credit.

Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3,Recitation:1
Continuing review of grammar emphasizing all four skills. Focus on civilization. Prerequisite: ITAL 103 or equivalent.

ITAL 201. Intermediate Italian Conversation I. .5 Credits.

Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:2; Repeatable
Concentration on development of speaking skills. Conducted in Italian by native speaker. This course can be counted only once toward the major or the minor. Prerequisite or corequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.

ITAL 202. Intermediate Italian Conversation II. .5 Credits.

Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:2; Repeatable
Concentration on development of speaking skills. Conducted in Italian by native speaker. This course can be counted only once toward the major or the minor. Prerequisite or corequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.

ITAL 205. Discovering Italy. 1 Credit.

Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3,Recitation:1
Introduction to Italian culture. Intensive practice in speaking and writing Italian. Prerequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.

ITAL 206. Exploring Italian Studies. 1 Credit.

Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
Examination of artistic products of cultural expression, such as literature, opera, film. Focus on developing a critical approach to the reading of texts. Prerequisite or corequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.

ITAL 207. Eureka! Italy and the Sciences. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course is taught in Italian. It will consider the development of science in the west and its impact on Italian culture. The focus will be on the intersection of scientific and humanistic perspectives. Coursework will include reading, writing, and short presentations in Italian. Prerequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.

ITAL 210. Italian Pop Culture (in English). 1 Credit.

Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
This course analyzes Italian popular culture products, such as comic books, music and film, in connection with Italian history and society.

ITAL 240. Love and Politics (in English). 1 Credit.

Offered Alternating Spring Semester; Lecture hours:3
Survey of major Italian writers from Middle Ages and Renaissance with reference to contemporary visual arts and music.

ITAL 248. Intermediality: Italy, Film, and the Arts. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3,Other:3
This IP course will focus on intermediality, film, and Italy. It seeks to examine the relationships of cinema with the other arts, in particular the arts of Italy. Crosslisted as ENFS 248 and UNIV 248.

ITAL 250. Introduction to Italian Cinema (in English). 1 Credit.

Offered Alternating Spring Semester; Lecture hours:3,Other:3
Survey of Italian cinema from the silent era to the present. Discussion of major Italian cinematic movements and genres within the context of history, politics, and culture.

ITAL 295. Topics in Italian Studies. 1 Credit.

Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
Study of topics in Italian culture, literature, and/or civilization.

ITAL 380. IL Mezzogiorno: Culture of Southern Italy. 1 Credit.

Offered Alternate Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3,Other:3
Study of the culture and society of southern Italy. Sources of inquiry include literature, film, and music. Prerequisite: ITAL 104.

ITAL 385. Corsets and Curses. 1 Credit.

Offered Alternating Spring Semester; Lecture hours:3
This course aims at exploring the contributions of Italian women writers, musicians and filmmakers to Italian culture in different cities. It will take into account different time periods and will relate them to give a complete picture of Italian feminist thought. Prerequisite: ITAL 104.

ITAL 390. Independent Study. .5-1 Credits.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:Varies,Other:Varies; Repeatable
Subject to be selected by student in consultation with the instructor. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

ITAL 395. Advanced Topics in Italian Studies. 1 Credit.

Offered Fall, Spring or Summer; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
Advanced study of themes or topics in Italian culture, literature, and/or civilization.

Faculty

Professor: Bernhard Kuhn (Director)

Associate Professors: Anna Paparcone (Co-chair), Lisa A. Perrone (Adjunct)