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 unique culture and its intellectual and artistic past. Students acquire the linguistic skills and cultural knowledge necessary to successfully function in an Italian environment. It is our goal to provide a transformative experience, which encourages students to step outside their comfort zone, linguistically and culturally, to gain intercultural competence and become global citizens. 

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 in Italian at an advanced-low level. 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 201	Intermediate Italian Conversation I 1	.5
ITAL 202	Intermediate Italian Conversation II 1	.5
ITAL 206	Exploring Italian Identity	1
ITAL 207	Eureka! Italy and the Sciences	1
ITAL 208	Italian Culture & the Environment	1
ITAL 210	Italian Pop Culture (in English)	1
ITAL 240	Love and Politics (in English)	1
ITAL 250	Introduction to Italian Cinema (in English)	1
ITAL 295	Topics in Italian Studies (either in Italian or English)	1
ITAL 380	IL Mezzogiorno: Culture of Southern Italy	1
ITAL 385	Corsets and Curses	1
ITAL 395	Advanced Topics in Italian Studies	1
ITAL 390	Independent Study 2	.5-1

¹

Each may be counted only once toward the major.

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

CLAS 132	Roman Civilization	1
CLAS 236	The Age of Augustus	1
CLAS 243	Archaeology of Rome	1
CLAS 262	Life in Ancient Pompeii	1
HIST 241	Roman History	1
HIST 246	Medieval Heresies and Heretics	1
LATN 101	Introductory Latin 2	1
LATN 102	Introductory Latin 2	1
LATN 200	Intermediate Latin 2	1

²

Only one course in LATN may be counted.

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. One of the following courses is required for the minor: ITAL 205 Discovering Italy, ITAL 206 Exploring Italian Studies, ITAL 207 Eureka! Italy and the Sciences or ITAL 208 Italian Culture & the Environment. 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

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 or cultural studies. (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 in order to develop a culturally decentered point of view and demonstrate progress toward intercultural competence. (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.

Faculty

Professor: Bernhard Kuhn (Director)

Associate Professors: Anna Paparcone, Lisa A. Perrone (Teaching)